Reigning premier scrapes home
Reigning premier Catani again just scraped through for victory, this time against a spirited Nilma-Darnum.
It has been well documented that the Blues haven’t been playing their best football, and it took a final quarter burst to see them get over the line, 10-14 (74) to 8-11 (59).
Coming off a loss to lower ranked Poowong last week, albeit under trying circumstances, the Bombers were out to make a good start and headed into the first break with a onepoint lead.
Three goals to one in the second term opened up a buffer for the home side, an advantage they were able to keep heading into the final change thanks in some part to missed opportunities from the Blues.
A return of 2-6 from the Blues had the match in the balance at the final change, as both sides looked for a strong finish to honour their 300 game players in Trent Hughes and Owen Fitzpatrick respectively.
While Hughes was celebrating 300 games at club level, Fitzpatrick’s 300 senior appearances was a slightly more impressive feat.
The match finished on a similar tone as the Blues stormed home, booting six goals to two to overrun their opposition.
Fitzpatrick celebrated the occasions with three majors, sharing his sides’ goal kicking honours with Wade Haysom. Dale Johnson, Jackson Caddy, Nick Visser, Nathaniel Rodda, Dylan Williams and Thomas Van Diemen also helped the Blues charge home.
Mitchell Dance booted four goals for NilmaDarnum, while Nathan Campbell, Ben Campbell, Jeremy Jarred, Chris Larosa and Josh Deschepper also helped the Bombers threaten to take the match.
Buln on the rise
The young Buln Buln team proved it is on the rise, comfortably accounting for highly fancied Ellinbank 13-12 (90) to 8-8 (56).
While the Lyerbirds had their chances in previous matches against higher ranked opponents in the early stages of the season, this time they were able to break through for a much-needed confidence boosting win.
The Ellinbank side, who entered the season with high hopes of pushing deep into the finals, now find themselves in fifth.
With coach Ben Wragg missing for the visitor, Buln Buln matched the output of the Eagles early as both sides entered the first change locked at 4-3 apiece.
An arm wrestle ensued in the second term, each side registering just one goal as the Lyrebirds went into the long break with a narrow advantage.
Three goals to one in the third term opened up a handy buffer for the home side. They were able to carry that momentum forward, finishing with five goals to two to cap an impressive victory.
Bryce Monahan and Hayden Baker were key targets in the forward line, each booting five goals. Carlton Helliwell, Matt Gray, James Taylor and Jake Pierrehumbert also led the charge.
Shaun Phelan and Adam Cook scored seven goals between them to be the main targets at the other end, while Jake Harper, Franc D’Agostino, Lachlan Cove and Brett Masterson also helped keep the visitor in the contest.
Two wins for Magpies
Poowong recorded its second straight victory, holding the edge over the lowly Lang Lang, 9-11 (65) to 7-3 (45).
The Tigers entered the first change with a 10-point advantage and were up for the battle, although the Magpies responded with four goals to two to take a narrow lead into the long break.
The spirited Tigers wouldn’t go away, keeping in touch to trail by just six-points at the final change.
But the Magpies held their nerve, finishing with three goals to one to secure the four points.
Chris Doria finished with three goals in a best afield performance, while Chris Robinson, Thomas Wyatt, Jayden Sullivan, Mathew Cozzio and Thomas Harris also helped the Magpies to victory.
Josh Brown (three goals), Travis Kitchin, Brad Michie, Maxwell Healey and James Vela helped keep the Tigers in the contest.
Dusties brush aside Cats
Warragul Industrials were in control from start to finish as they brushed aside cellar dwellars Neerim-Neerim South, 19-14 (128) to 3-9 (27).
The Industrials booted six goals to nil in the first term and were never headed, increasing their lead at every change.
The Cats were competitive in a third term that saw both sides register two goals, but couldn’t sustain the effort as their fancied opponents pushed the margin into triple figures with a seven goal final quarter.
Shane Brewster destroyed the Cats, picking up possessions at will and helping himself to seven goals. Joel Crowther chipped in with four majors in his return to the senior side.
Cooper Minichiello, Tye Holland, Joel Morgan, Tyson Bale and Shane Ingham also led the dominance.
Aaron Fawcett, Ashley Lockett, Dean Stringer, Nathan Bayne, Nicholas Castle and Aiden Dibsdale were the better players for the Cats.