Garfield miss opportunity
Garfield missed its opportunity to push closer to the West Gippsland football top five, with inaccuracy proving costly in its narrow loss to Koo wee rup, 10-13 (73) to 8-18 (66).
In a match that lived up to the ‘eight point game’ cliché, the Stars missed the chance to draw level with their rivals in the log-jam in the mid-section of the ladder.
The Demons’ fourth win put them outside of the top four on percentage, but level on points with the three teams above them, while the Stars’ loss puts them two wins behind that pack.
The Stars held sway throughout the first half, and should have had a greater lead than seven points at the main break due to its return of 4-11.
Four behinds in the third term proved costly, as the Demons booted four goals to kick away to a handy 17-point lead at the final change.
While the Stars kicked four goals to two to win the final quarter, they couldn’t quite bridge the gap as the Demons held on.
While it wasn’t Mitch Collins’ day, the big forward only just unable to clunk a few big marks, Ben Collins and Tim Miller each kicked three goals to help the Demons to victory.
Sean Nicholson, Bailey Galante, Luke McMaster, Troy Dolan, Brad Harding and Jesse Hand also stood up when it mattered most for the Demons.
Darcy Payne, Ned Marsh, Sam Batson, Adam MacGibbon and Jonathan Sauze helped keep a wasteful Stars side in the contest.
In pleasing signs for the Stars, young Thomas Fitzpatrick showed plenty of promise at senior level.
Island holds on
With Cora Lynn and Phillip Island both finals hopefuls sitting in the middle of the table, the two sides proved evenly matched with the visiting Bulldogs holding on to win 10-12 (72) to 911 (65).
The Bulldogs kicked six goals to two to kick away to a five goal lead at half time, but write off reigning Ellinbank District football premiers at your peril.
Five goals to two in the third term put the Cobras well within reach at just 10points adrift, and the Bulldogs were forced to fight to hold on.
Two goals apiece was the result of a tough final quarter, where the Cobras threatened to the very end.
Steven Pimm led the scoring for the Bulldogs, booting three goals, while James Taylor, Mark Griffin, Nick Higginson, William Van Diemen, Hayden Moore and Rhett O’Hara also helped the Island to hold on.
Nathan Langley and Lochie Peluso each kicked three goals for the Cobras. Nathan Gillis, Jason Toan, Darren Maggio, Chris Johnson, Brady and Kane White ensured the Cobras were always in a position to steal it.
Panthers keep pace
Kilcunda Bass scored a comfortable win over Nar Nar Goon to keep pace with the ladder leaders.
The match was a long awaited one for the Goon, who were playing on their home ground for the first time this season, but eventually ended in disappointment as the senior team went down 13-4 (82) to 8-11 (59).
The battling Goon, who have managed just one win on the road this season, looked like they may have a reversal of fortunes and carry on with the form that saw them take victory in the earlier grades.
The Goon took a narrow seven point lead into quarter time, and while their more fancied opponents edged to a narrow lead, the Goon remained in touch at the final change.
Aiming to keep pace with InverlochKongwak and Dalyston at the top of the ladder, the Panthers powered away in the final term to score six goals to three and take a comfortable victory.
Kris Fowler, Todd Beck, Trent Armour, Mitchell Poels, Zac Stewart and Brendan Hermann helped the Goon stay in the contest.
Bulldogs fall
Bunyip have fallen to the bottom of the ladder, handing the struggling Korumburra-Bena their first win in the West Gippsland competition, 11-17 (83) to 11-12 (78).
Having played off in last year’s Ellinbank District football grand final, the Bulldogs hit their lowest point and remain searching for their first win in the highly-anticipated West Gippsland competition.
Struggling for form and with some of their pre-season ‘recruits’ going missing in action, the Giants were on track as an early favorite for the first ‘wooden spoon’ in the new competition.
While they still failed to put four quarters together, three good quarters of football proved enough to put away the Bulldogs, albeit with a narrow margin.
Having worked their way to a 20point half time lead, the Giants appeared destined to drop their bundle again when the Bulldogs came out with ferocity in the third term, booting six goals to two to hit the front.
But the Giants were able to finish with composure, kicking two goals to one to hold on and continue a disappointing season for the Bulldogs.
Michael Cooke kicked four goals, while Ben Fitzpatrick, Ashley Snooks, Scott Braithwaite, Rhys Dixon and John Amaya also helped the Giants engineer victory.
Bunyip were best served by Joel Gibson, Michael Whyte, Brad Walker, Jason Fisher (four goals), Zac Vanssitart and Jeb McLeod in another disappointing loss.
Eagles, Magpies draw
The match between competition front runners Inverloch-Kongwak and Dalyston didn’t disappoint, ending in a thrilling draw locked at 13-10 (88) apiece.
Dalyston had been flying under the radar, and put the competition on notice that they are a genuine contender after matching it with the Sea Eagles, who had been installed as early premiership favorites.
The match was tight throughout, with the lead changing several times. The Sea Eagles’ nine point lead at the final change had been the greatest of the day, but in a fitting result neither side could be separated at the final whistle.
Tom Wyatt kicked four goals for the Sea Eagles, while Shem Hawking, Andy Soumilas, William Hetherington, Tom Hams and Michael Eales were also prominent.
Michael Kraska kicked four goals for the Magpies, while Matt Rosendale booted three majors. Kyle Kirk, Chris Graham, Leigh Earl and Kurt Thomas were also named amongst the Magpies’ best.