Senior Football Round Recap
By Jason Barbin
DIVISION 1
Cheltenham has won through to the second semi-final next week, after coming from behind to defeat East Malvern by 15 points at Ben Kavanagh Reserve.
The Rosellas trailed by 12 points at the final change, but booted the last four goals of the game to take the lead midway through the final term.
Daniel Vaughan was the star of the day, named best on ground for the victors alongside Jack Worrall and Dylan Weickardt while Drew Kelly booted two final quarter goals.
East Malvern got off to the perfect start, booting four of the first five goals of the game to lead by 21 points at the first break, before Cheltenham reduced the margin to 11 points at the main break after keeping the Panthers scoreless in the second.
The two sides fought out a tightly contested third term, but it was the Panthers leading by 12 points going into the final break.
Neither side was able to convert early into the fourth quarter, but it was Cheltenham who broke the dam with Kelly booting his first after 11 minutes.
From there the floodgates opened, as the Rosellas booted three goals in nine minutes to take the lead, before holding on for the win.
Chris Carey was best on for East Malvern while Alex Hywood booted three goals.
The day they made their division one finals debut Port Melbourne Colts got their first finals win in division one, ending the season of reigning premiers St Pauls by 10 points at Ben Kavanagh Reserve.
Colts led the game from start to finish, but didn’t have it all their own way, with St Pauls overcoming a sluggish start to get to within six points in the final term.
Port Melbourne got off to a flyer, booting four of the first five goals of the game to lead by 22 points at the quarter time break.
St Pauls began to make its move in the second term, with Stephen Muller and Matt Kryemborg combining for five goals to cut the margin to eight points and give themselves momentum heading into the second half.
The Colts were able to wrest back control in the third however, booting two goals to three in the third to increase the margin to 13 points at the final change.
Tim Roberts goaled for the Dogs early in the fourth to cut the margin to six points, but the Colts were able to boot the next and stave off a Dogs’ comeback to seal the win.
DIVISION 2
Springvale Districts are through to the division two grand final after dispatching Murrumbeena with a strong second half to finish as 19-point winners.
The Districts led by just five points at the half time interval, but booted four goals to two in the second half to pull away from the Beena.
George Angelopoulos was the star with two goals for the Districts, while Nathan Brown and Daniel Morris were also impressive, along with Matt Wetering who booted three goals.
Springvale Districts started in excellent form, booting four straight goals in the first quarter to lead by 11 points at the end of the term.
Murrumbeena hit back in a tightly contested second term, booting two goals to one to cut the margin to just five points by half time.
The momentum went the other way in the third however, with the Districts booting two goals to two behind to jump ahead by 17 points.
With the game on the line, Murrumbeena fought hard in the last, but were unable to make significant inroads into the deficit, with each side kicking two goals, as Springvale went on to win by 19.
Ryan Kitchin was named Murrumbeena’s best along with defender Matt Lello.
Doveton Eagles has held off Keysborough in an absolute thriller at Jack Barker Oval to win by eight points and move onto the preliminary final next week.
The Eagles led by 35 points at the final break, but conceding five goals in the last had the margin down to one point before a late goal gave Doveton the win.
Nick and Michael Beer were the stars of the day, named Doveton’s best on ground alongside Darryl Thomas while Russell Robertson booted three goals.
Keysborough hit the lead early in the contest, booting two goals to one in the first to lead by eight points, before Doveton surged ahead in the second with five unanswered goals to take a 25-point gap into half time.
The Burra were able to close to within 19 points inside the first minute of the third, but the Eagles gained control from there and three of the next four goals to take a 35-point buffer at the final change.
Keysborough began its run early in the fourth, booting five unanswered goals to get to within a point of the Eagles before they scored late to go ahead by eight points and eventually win.
Chris Bryan was best on for the Burra alongside Anthony Brannan.
DIVISION 3
Clayton is through to the division three grand final after a commanding 40-point victory against Endeavour Hills at Ross Street Reserve.
The Clays won the game in the opening half, piling on seven goals to two to lead by 29 points at the main break.
Chris Morrison was simply superb for the victors with two goals in a best afield effort, while Jack Coutts was outstanding with four goals alongside Jesse Henderson and Byron Hoe.
Six goals in the first term couldn’t have been more of a perfect start for Clayton, as it also kept Endeavour Hills goalless to lead by 36 points at the first change.
While the Falcons were able to hit back in the second, cutting the lead to 29 at half time, the game was put beyond doubt in the third, with the Clays booting four goals to one to hold a commanding 48-point buffer at the final change.
Endeavour Hills was again able to finish the game off strongly with four goals in the last, but it was a case of too little to late as the Clays went on to win by 40 points.
Brendan Moldrich was best on ground for Endeavour Hills alongside Nick Terrill.
DIVISION 4
A stirring second quarter effort has ensured a place in the division four grand final for South Yarra after it defeated Frankston Dolphins.
With the scores tied at the end of the opening term, the Lions took control of the game in the second with five goals to one behind to create a five-goal buffer at the main break.
Mark Symons put together one of his best games of the season and was South Yarra’s best on ground alongside playing coach Scott Stegehuis and star ruckman Julian Belfrage.
The two sides played out an entertaining first term, each kicking three goals to have the scores level at the first break, before the Lions broke through and built a handy five-goal lead by half time.
Frankston was able to chip away at the buffer slightly during the third term, booting two goals to one to cut the lead down to 24 points at the final change.
Even though the Dolphins were able to keep South Yarra goalless in the final term, they were unable to make a significant deficit into the deficit and South Yarra was able to hold on for an 18-point win.
Calum Eiffler was named best afield for Frankston while Brendan Murphy was also impressive.
