Ellinbank creep into top five
Ellinbank’s comfortable victory over Buln Buln was enough for it creep back into the Ellinbank District Football League top five by the slimmest of margins.
With the Lyrebirds fighting to keep their season alive, the Eagles were able to kick away in the second half after leading by just 15-points at half time to win 16-13 (109) to 5-7 (37).
With Poowong not enjoying as great a margin over Lang Lang, the Eagles leapfrogged the Magpies into fifth spot.
The Lyrebirds led by two-points at the first change and were still in the hunt at half time, trailing by 15-points.
But they were unable to sustain it, with a brutal third term from the Eagles putting the result beyond doubt. Six goals while keeping the Lyrebirds to one behind opened an unassailable 54-point margin at the final change.
Having gained the momentum, the Eagles finished strongly with five goals to two in the final term.
Tim Mashado booted five goals, while Adam Cook and Matt Barrand each chipped in with three majors. Michael Urie, Ashley Wallace, Jared Lane and Tom Robertson also helped the Eagles to a dominant second half.
Trent Baker, Thomas Axford, Matt Gray, Ryan Bishop, Charlie Park and Jake Pierrehumbert led the way in a competitive first half from the Lyrebirds.
Magpies slip out
Poowong slipped out of the top five despite its comfortable victory over Lang Lang, 14-6 (90) to 5-5 (35).
With less and 0.2 per cent separating Poowong from the fifth-placed Ellinbank, the Magpies would be ruing a wasteful second term that let the Tigers back into the contest.
Having kicked five goals to no score in the first term, the Magpies took the foot off the pedal as the Tigers kicked four goals to one to close the gap to just 13-points at the long break.
Restricting the Tigers to just one behind in the third term re-established the quarter time buffer before the Magpies finished strongly, kicking five goals to one in the final term.
Jack Hazendonk booted six goals, while Jake Cochrane chipped in with three majors. Jayden Sullivan, Thomas Wyatt, James Doria and Stephen Joyce also helped the Magpies control most of the match.
Joseph Dalgleish, Troy McPherson, Sam Kendall, Josh Brown and William McGindle helped the Tigers win the second term and get back into the contest.
Dusties hold third
Warragul Industrials ensured it would hold onto third position on the ladder with a comfortable victory over Neerim-Neerim South, 15-6 (96) to 7-6 (48).
The Industrials had to overcome a slow start where the Cats scored the only goal of the first term to sensationally lead at the first change.
Six goals to two in the second term restored order as the Industrials took a 19-point lead into the long break.
The Industrials again doubled the Cats’ output in the third term with another six goals to three to open a handy 37-point buffer at the final change.
Three goals to one in the final term finished the job.
Tyson Bale booted three goals in a best afield effort, while Travis Ogden, Joel Morgan, Shane Brewster, Tye Holland and Jack O’Neil helped the Industrials take control after quarter time.
Toby Bayne, Tim Beaurain, Dean Stringer, Steven Ladds, Ashley Lockett and Jack Griffiths helped the Cats to a strong start.
Blues take points
Catani overcame a spirited challenge from Nilma-Darnum as it continues its bid to shore up a finals berth.
With a six-point advantage to its fifth and sixth-placed rivals, the Blues’ position is still not assured with the Bombers showing they can be vulnerable.
A high scoring first term with nine goals between the sides threatened to consign the Blues to a shootout, and while the Blues managed to regain some control they went for large periods where they weren’t able to break the plucky Bombers.
Five goals to one in the second term opened a 38-point advantage at the long break and it proved the difference as the Blues went on to win 15-16 (106) to 10-7 (67).
The Bombers won a torrid third term and kept with the Blues in the final term, but the half time deficit proved too much to overcome.
In a rare day for the Blues, Owen Fitzpatrick did not finish its leading goal scorer with those honours going to Tom Keily with four.
Paul Pattison, Cody Harrison, Nick Visser, Trent and Liam Adams helped the Blues in a match winning second quarter.
Mitchell Dance booted five goals for NilmaDarnum, while Hayden Potts chipped in with three majors.
Ben Campbell, Jeremy Jarred, Luke Bartlett, Chris Larosa and Brent Simons also led a competitive effort from the Bombers.