Round 9: Men's Football Review
by Sam Doyle
Division 1:
St Paul’s McKinnon continued their red hot form over the weekend with a solid 27 point win over a spirited Mordialloc outfit.
With the game in the balance at halftime it was the Doggies third quarter which saw the game break open where they booted 4 goals to none to give them a 37 point lead heading into the final break.
The Bloods were brave and impressive in defeat, recording more inside 50’s than their opposition and also getting the better of the Doggies in the middle with a positive clearance differential.
Stephen Muller had another day out for the Doggies booting 5 goals from his 10 disposals and claiming 6 marks in a commanding display. James Sziller and Matthew Kreymborg both impressed, gathering 22 and 25 disposals respectively.
The Doggies who now move to third will be hoping to continue their stellar form on the other side of the break and push for a top two spot. Mordialloc head into the break at 4-5 after a solid start to the year.
In what figured out to be the game of the round and the only close contest, Cheltenham beat St Kilda City by 10 points in a crucial top four clash.
The Rosellas got the job done but they will lament their accuracy in front of goal which should have handed them a more convincing win. Both teams kicked 10 goals a piece with the Saints taking their chances in front of goals which almost produced a boilover.
The Rosellas were the more dominant side all day recording +13 inside 50’s and +24 disposals but failed to find the big sticks kicking 16 behinds with their 10 goals.
Champion Dane Swan returned to St Kilda’s outfit and dazzled with 37 disposals and 3 clutch goals, in a dominant display that had the crowd on their feet.
For the Rosellas, Jackson Kilner kicked 3 goals while Daniel Vaughan continued his strong form after being named best afield.
Top of the table Cranbourne took care of second bottom Bentleigh by 51 points but the task proved tougher than most expected.
The Demons who played so well but lacked polish in front of goals which resulted in 3.12 in what could have been a much tighter affair if they finished better but nonetheless it was a great display from the Demons who were given no chance.
The Eagles did the damage in the ‘premiership quarter’ where they piled on 7 goals to 1 in what was a game defining quarter of football. The Eagles controlled the ball recording a +76 count and claiming +34 marks but struggled to convert their dominance into goals thanks to a fantastic defensive display from the Demons.
Ryan Davey and Tyson Barry both continued their goalkicking display booting 3 goals each whilst Jake Carosella ran hot with 40 disposals in a blistering display.
The Eagles who sit a game clear on top will be looking to replicate their fine form on the other side of the break whilst the Demons still remain in the top four and find themselves in a tight battle for a top two spot.
Springvale triumphed over similarly placed Port Melbourne Colts on the weekend in a crucial clash in which they came out 62 point victors.
With both teams looking to launch themselves into the top half of the ladder both teams were hungry to record the four points. The Districts were in control of the game all day leading at all breaks and never looked like losing.
It was an impressive final term from the Districts which stamped their win with authority where they kicked 7 goals to 2 in the final term.
Tyrone Vickery once again was the star of the show kicking a bag of 7 goals to take his season tally to 33 in just seven games. Sam Raru impressed with a best on ground performance in his first game back in the side whilst Justin Taylor was named best for the Colts recording his second best on ground performance in as many weeks.
Springvale who sit mid-table in sixth head into a crucial couple of weeks upon the bye in what will shape their season and their finals ambitions whilst Port Melbourne’s season is looking all but over unless they can produce a number of huge upsets.
As expected Dingley cruised to an easy win over bottom placed East Malvern recording a commanding 64 point victory.
The Dingoes who needed a win to stay in check with the top four were in complete control all day recording a whopping +151 disposal count and +79 marks controlling the game all day. Their slight inaccuracy in front of goal cost them a bigger margin and a bigger percentage boost but was still an impressive win for the Dingoes.
Lucas Walmsey again proved his ability racking up 40 touches with 31 of them coming uncontested highlighting his running capability. Rory Wallace and Daniel Farmer starred up forward with the pair each slotting 5 goals in a fine display from the star duo in attack.
The Panthers who remain winless in season 2022 will need to improve their game in a number of facets if they want to claim their first win of the season after the bye. For Dingley, they sit fifth and are knocking down the door of the top four and will aim to claim a top four spot in the weeks to come.
Division 2:
Chelsea Heights continued their impressive campaign with a 29 point win over East Brighton away from home.
Chelsea broke the game wide open in the first quarter which saw them kick 5 goals to 1 and hand them a 28 point margin at the first break which ended being only one short of the final margin highlighting the importance of their fast start.
Vincent Kovacic impressed up forward with a 3 goal haul whilst Luke Tapscott also kicked 3 goals in a best on ground performance. For the Vampires, Kai Love-Linay and Samuel Merryweather both put in strong performances in the losing side.
The Vampires will be looking to break into the top four on the other side of the break whilst Chelsea are eyeing top position on the ladder.
Top of the table Doveton continued their undefeated season with a 39 point win over top four challengers Caulfield.
Caulfield skipped away to a three goal lead at quarter time keeping the hosts goalless in the first team and looking like a real threat for the Doves of recording their first loss of the season.
It was the Doves’ second half which saw them get over the line where they kicked 8 goals to 2 which in the end gave them a comfortable win in what was an impressive fightback after an early scare.
The Bears now sit fourth and will be looking to further cement their place in the top four with a win next round. The Doves who still sit undefeated on top will be aiming to keep their place on the top of the ladder.
In the battle of the bottom two between Skye and Heatherton and both teams looking for their first win of the year, the Bombers proved too strong coming away 102 point winners.
The Bombers jumped out of the blocks early to leave their opposition in the dust and never looked back piling on the goals to finish with 18 majors.
Chris Mccann led all comers with 4 goals with three others kicking 2 goals each including both McConville’s and Brendan Weighell whilst Michael Kelly was named best afield after an impressive outing.
For the Tonners, that first win seems further away as ever after being thumped by second bottom Skye. The Bombers now have that first win monkey off their back and will be looking to pick up momentum after a big win.
To round out the results, Keysborough hosted Highett in what was a very comfortable win for the host coming away 92 point winners.
Keysborough raced out of the blocks with a 7 goal to 0 opening term which gave them a lead in which would be hard for Highett to chase down and that's how it unfolded with the Burras only extending their lead over the remaining three quarters.
Keysborough who sit comfortably third are a game out of the top two and will be hoping to break into the two after the week off. For Highett, they sith 7th with their season still alive but will need to start beating teams above them to fight for a spot in the finals.
Division 3:
Ashwood took care of Clayton by 47 points to keep their aspirations for a top two finish alive.
With the game starting out as an arm wrestle heading into the first break all square it was Ashwood’s second and third terms which proved the difference were they kicked 11 goals to 4 across those two quarters.
For the Magpies it was the performances of the likes of Fletcher Kearney, Luke Salmond and Michael Decorrado (3 goals) that helped them record a comfortable win. Whilst for the visitors, Paul Tsoucalas continued his great season kicking 4 goals in the losing side.
The two teams will head into the week off at different ends of the scale with the Magpies upto third on the ladder whilst Clayton sit second bottom.
In what was the game of the round in division 3 on the weekend, Carrum Patterson Lakes and Endeavour Hills played out a thriller, which saw Endeavour hills hold on by 5 points in a upset and memorable win for the visitors.
The game was an arm wrestle all day with barely anything to split the two teams but it was third term from the Falcons which saw them kick 7 goals in what proved the difference in the game.
Travis Hall proved pivotal up forward booting 4 goals whilst Baron Grant was named best afield and led his team to a vital four points.
Despite the loss, CPL still remain in the top four and will be aiming to cement their position in the top four after the week off. The falcons who sit in sixth are on the verge of the top four and will be out to break into the top four next outing.
Top of the table Black Rock did their premiership hopes no harm on the weekend with a clinical 37 point win on the road against the Narre South Saints.
The Saints will rue their inaccuracy in front of goals which saw them kick 7.16 compared to Black Rock who were clinical in front of the big sticks booting 15.5 in what proved the difference between the two sides on the day.
In Particular, it was Byron Wright who booted 8 majors in a best on ground performance in a ruthless display from the Black Rock star. Callum Reed also impressed for Black Rock whilst Daniel Chin was impressive in the losing team.
Black Rock head into the week off sitting pretty at the top of the ladder with a one game gap over the next best whilst the Saints sit just outside the top four and will be aiming to break in the top four over the next few games.
Bottom placed South Yarra was set to host the Murrumbeena Lions at Leigh Park, the home of South Yarra.
The Lions won via a forfeit.
Murrumbeena who sit second on the ladder are pressing for a top of the table finish and will look to cantier their strong form in the weeks to come.
Division 4:
Frankston Dolphins recorded an expected but commanding victory against lowly placed Lyndale disposing of their opposition by 69 points.
The Dolphins set the game up with a blistering nine goal opening term which gave them a game breaking lead in which they built on for the remaining three quarters to go on and win comfortably and boot 18 goals in a fine display.
Richard Mathers booted 5 majors to continue his fine start to the season whilst Jackson Smith was named best afield kicking three goals and racking up a high number of disposals.
Frankston still remain undefeated in season 2022 while Lyndale sit 8th with their season on the line heading into the week off.
In what looked the most competitive fixture of the round Hampton defeated Cerberus by 3 goals in a tight affair at Peterson Street Reserve.
The Hammers who needed a win to keep their season alive were met with a spirited Cerberus outfit who kicked 5 goals in the first term to hold a twenty point lead at the first break.
Hampton clawed their way back in the second and third quarter to go into the final break trailing by just the two points. The Hammers produced a fantastic last quarter kicking 4 goals to 1 handing them an 18 point win.
In a game where there were no clear standouts it was a brilliant team effort by the Hammers to give them the win against a team in Cerberus who were so brave and impressive in defeat.
Doveton hosted the South Mornington Tigers in what shaped as a one sided affair and carried out to be that way with the tigers coming away 100 point victors.
Bottom placed, Doveton were hoping to produce their second win of the season but were no match for the Tigers who piled on 18 goals to 2 in a scintillating display.
Josh Abela and Leon Grant proved too much to handle for the Eagles as the pair kicked 7 and 4 goals respectively. Jacob Rowler produced a brilliant game for the Tigers amassing plenty of the footy and using it to effect.
The Tigers who sit fourth place on the ladder will be looking to cement their place in the top four after the week off. The Eagles who are bottom of the ladder will be aiming to record their second win of the season in two weeks time.
In what was an extraordinary demolition job, Lyndhurst recorded a whopping 180 point victory, yes 180 points against the Moorabbin Kangaroos in a breath-taking display.
The Lightning, who piled on an incredible 36 goals to well and truly surpass the 200 point barrier asserted their dominance right from the very first bounce and continued it throughout the four quarters booting at least 7 goals in each term.
No one expected the margin to be this big which reflects a complete team performance by the lightning who had 17 different goal kickers on the weekend with Jarryd McGrath the pick of them booting 9 goals, which has taken his season goal tally to 39 in just the 8 games.
Lyndhurst are now breathing down the heels of top placed Frankston and will be looking to claim top spot in the weeks to follow. For the Kangaroos, who now sit sixth they will be looking to bounce back from a miserable day.
Hallam Klu-Roong produced an impressive victory over the weekend knocking off 5th placed Dandenong by 65 points in a comfortable win in their Indigenous Round.
Klu-Roong needed the win to stay in check with the top two and they produced a game-defining last quarter booting 7 goals to none to pick up the four points. The winning margin however could have been a lot larger with the Hawks recording 20 behinds to amass 31 to 6 scoring shots in what was a dominant display.
In what was an impressive all round team display from the Hawks, Dylan Vanderwert was named best afield continuing his strong from this season, whilst goal kicking machine Jack Sharlassian booted another 3 goals to take his season tally to 38.
For the Redlegs, who proved no match for the Hawks will be looking to respond in two weeks time with a win to keep in touch with the top four,
