With the top division of the SFNL having a well earned rest it didn’t stop there from being some fascinating footy played out over the weekend, check out how the other divisions fared.
Division 2:
Caulfield Bears showcased their best footy over the weekend, overcoming Skye by 56 points in front of a packed home crowd.
The Bears desperately needed the four points on offer to further cement their position in the top four heading into the last few rounds which they were able to do very comfortably playing an impressive brand of footy on the day proving way too strong for Skye.
The Bears kicked an impressive 17.10 with the second term being the most damaging were they booted 7.2 to break open the game. James Sullivan slotted 5 goals whilst Chris Smith and Ryan Farmer both chipped in with 4 goals each.
In a clash between two sides neck and neck on the table it shaped as a real even contest was to be played out however Hampton Park came away with a comfortable 27 point victory over Highett.
With both sides eager to pick up a win here and both heading in full of optimism of the thought of a win it was the Redbacks who started like a house on fire booting 7 goals to 2 in the opening term.
This first term dominance from the Redbacks proved pivotal, as Highett were able to match it with them over the next three quarters leaving the final margin to be very similar to the gap that was opened by the Redbacks in the first term.
Travis Davis impressed with 3 goals whilst Trent Thomas kicked 2 and had plenty of the ball so did Makaio Haywood who also kicked 2 goals in a best on ground performance.
In the highly anticipated battle between the divisions top two sides, it was Chelsea Heights who came away with a fabulous 3 goal win away from home against Doveton Doves in a classic.
As expected, the contest started to become a real arm wrestle immediately with both sides applying high pressure leading to just the one goal in the opening term going the way of Chelsea Heights. Chelsea Heights then produced a 4 goal to 2 second term which gave them a healthy margin heading into the main break.
The Second half then once again proved to be a real arm wrestle with no side being able to get on top leading to an even second half which saw the margin end up at 18 points proving how pivotal that second term was for Chelsea Heights in their win.
Bradley Gilder produced a stunning best on ground display booting 5 goals and seeing plenty of the footy too whilst Jacob Flannery and Aaron Rhodes also impressed.
In an absolute demolition job East Brighton destroyed Heatherton by a whopping 173 points in an extraordinarily one sided affair.
Heatherton who sit bottom of the ladder with no wins next to their name continued their struggle in season 2022 over the weekend after being completely dismantled by the Vampires in what was expected but maybe not by this severe of a margin.
The Vampires kicked a staggering 29 goals to go with just the 16 behinds with their most prolific quarter being the third term where they kicked 11 goals. Jack Rennex had a day out booting 9 goals whilst the Vampires had 13 individual goal kickers reflecting a dominant team display.
Division 3:
Top four fancies Ashwood took care of bottom placed South Yarra by 64 points in a cruisy affair for the home side.
The Magpies came into this clash as favorites but were given a scare in the opening term as South Yarra started strongly kicking 3 goals in the first term to trail by just the one goal at the first change.
The Magpies then found their groove in the second term booting 5 goals to 2 to take a healthy lead into the main break and they then produced a scintillating third term kicking 9 goals to 2 to put the game beyond reach at the final change.
Jack Purcell was magnificent up forward booting 8 goals whilst Joshua Cardamone kicked 3 goals and racked up plenty of possessions on his way to a best on ground performance.
Murrumbeena recorded a slight but convincing win over Endeavour Hills on the weekend to move to the top of the ladder recording a 17 point win.
The game provided a very even contest being a real arm wrestle throughout the day with neither side being able to get on top and control proceedings. The Beena will rue their inaccuracy in front of goals kicking 8.18 keeping the Falcons in the game and missing out on a percentage booster.
With this win, Beena now have climbed to first on the ladder and will be aiming to stay there come seasons end in three weeks time whilst Endeavour Hills have dropped to sixth and face an uphill battle to feature in finals this season.
In another tight affair in this weeks fixtures, Carrum Patterson Lakes produced a brilliant upset win over league leaders Black Rock in front of a packed Roy Dore Reserve.
Black Rock came into this clash top of the ladder and warm favorites but were met with a CPL side who were full of energy and played some fast flowing footy in which Black Rock were not able to stop.
Carrum Patterson Lakes did the damage in the first half outplaying their opposition in most aspects to record a 6 goal to 2 goal half which gave them a healthy halftime lead. However, as you'd expect from a top team Black Rock fought back in the second half getting the better of CPL in that half but it wasn't enough as they could only just reduce the damage.
Rohan Bleeker produced a stunning best on ground display booting 3 goals whilst also racking up plenty of the footy but he wasn't alone with a number of other standouts for CPL on the day leading them to a fantastic 19 point upset win.
In an exciting high scoring contest between the Narre South Saints and Clayton, the Saints eventually came away with a 25 point victory.
The Saints headed into the game as warm favorites but were immediately faced with a tough challenge with Clayton holding a 2 point lead at quarter time after producing a fabulous opening term.
The Saints then gained ascendancy in what was a fabulous second term of fast flowing and high scoring football which saw the Saints kick 8 goals whilst the Clays also kicked 4 of their own in a brilliant term of football. The Saints getting away in the second term proved pivotal with that +4 four goal term being the difference.
We saw two star forwards at their best for both of their teams with Alex Mackenzie booting 7 majors whilst for the Clays Paul Tsoucalas slotting a 9 very impressive goals in a losing side.
Division 4:
In a crucial battle between fifth placed Lyndale and fourth placed South Mornington, the Tigers romped to an impressive 78 point victory away from home.
The Tigers made their intentions very clear early on with an impressive seven goal opening term which set them up for a big win. They then went on to kick 11 goals to 4 in the second half to extend their lead and take home a comfortable win.
Josh Abela and Jack Knox were dominant up forward with the pair kicking 7 and 5 goals respectively. The Tigers now move 4 games ahead of Lyndale after this affair.
Premiership contenders Lydnhurst put up an impressive display against lowly placed Cerberus coming away 140 point winners.
The Lightning certainly came into this clash as red hot favorites and showed their class early on and dominated the outing from start to finish controlling possession and dictating the play.
It was a dominant 8 goal to 1 first half that set the platform for a big with a huge 14 goal to zero second half to put the exclamation mark on a dominant display. Hamish Browning booted 6 whilst Jarryd Mcgrath kicked 5 of his own.
Hallam overcame a spirited Hampton outfit over the weekend, eventually coming away 36 point victors in a scrappy contest.
The hosts in Hampton came out full of spirit to really take the game up to the Hawks with their manic pressure causing the Hawks to dig deep in their victory. Although the Hammers were right in the contest particularly early on they failed to hit the scoreboard.
It was a fantastic team display from the Hawks which saw them have ten individual goal scorers reflecting their team first attitude that was displayed throughout the day to come away with an impressive victory on the road.
In the clash between the top and bottom teams of the division, Frankston as expected obliterated Doveton by 140 points.
The Dolphins absolutely dominated the Eagles in all areas of the game and for the most part it looked like a training drill for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins remain undefeated at the top of the tree whilst the Eagles sit bottom with just the one win next to their name.
In the only tight contest over the round and easily the game of the week, the Moorabbin Kangaroos got over the line against Dandenong by 13 points in an absolute thrilling contest.
With the two sides heading into this clash neck and neck and the ladder and both fighting to stay in the hunt for finals it was set up to be a classic and it delivered. The Kangaroos jumped out of the blocks early with an impressive first term and another brilliant second quarter to take a 6 goal to 2 lead into half time, holding a 27 point lead.
Then the Redlegs lifted in the third term booting 3 goals to none to reduce the margin to just ten points at the final change, the last quarter produced a nail biting finish with a real arm wrestle being played out with neither team being able to get on top.
The Kangaroos booted 4 goals in the last quarter to get over the line whilst the Redlegs kicked 3 of their own but it wasn't enough in the end as they fell just short.
