Panthers hold on for thrilling finish
THE clash between Nyora and Yarragon pit two evenly matched football squads and the Reserves contest didn't disappoint as the Panthers held on to win by a solitary point, 9-7 (61) to 9-6 (60).
The Panthers kicked away early with four goals to one in the first quarter before the Saints turned the tables to level the half time score at 5-4 apiece.
It set up a thrilling finish, the Panthers holding on after also leading by the barest of margins at the final change.
Paul Harvey and Corey Binzer each scored three goals for the Panthers with Joshua Smith-Butterworth, Christopher Demicoli, Ryan Young and Daniel Burke also among the better players.
Shaun Lamb continued his strong season for the Saints with Harrison Berry, Jack Harris, Lincoln Brock, Trent Breen and Christian White also threatening to steer the result in favour of the home side.
Other matches were one-sided with Catani and Nilma-Darnum again conceding big scores.
The Blues conceded 31-26 (212) to Trafalgar while only managing one behind themselves.
Scoring was shared for the Bloods, three players finishing with four goals and a further three players put through three majors.
Leading the ruthless performance were Karl Mutke, Luke O'Neill, Adrian Romano, Jacob Matthews, Brett Cameron and Daniel Puglia.
The better players for the Blues were Brad Stone, Kaleb Boyle, Shane Kerr, Tyson Lynch, Casey Hamilton and Joel Luka.
Nilma-Darnum also managed just the one behind as eight goals from James Vela helping Lang Lang finish with 29-14 (188).
Nathan Perkins, Brandon Dalli, Brock Duggan, Liam Edgar and Daniel Makepeace helped provide opportunities for the likes of Vela up forward.
Doing their best to stem the tide for the Bombers were Tom Stear, Christopher Robinson, Henry Grant, Ezra Slade, James Clark and Adam Cameron.
Buln Buln further shored up its position in the top five by comfortably accounting for Poowong, 18-14 (122) to 0-1 (1).
Ricky McKerrow booted four goals for the visitor with Brendan Wall, Jaryd Kelly, Bryce Monahan, Jacob Pickthall and Brent Waddell also among the best.
Poowong's better players were Mitchell De Kleuver, Mitchell j Rowe, Michael Robertson, Tarkyn Taylor-Wilton, Brodie Ardley and Rhys Schulz.
Top team Ellinbank continued their good form with a strong start and finish setting up the 19-13 (127) to 5-1 (31) result over Longwarry.
The Eagles booted five goals to one in the first term and were never headed despite a competitive effort from the Crows across the second and third quarters.
Six goals in the final term blew the margin out.
David Miller, Tony Wright, Sam Barwick, Jaxon Notman and Kynan Rintoule led a strong team performance.
Mitchell Young, Jack McConville, John Werner, Bailey Osseweyer, Matt Kouris and Shaun Eckhardt led competitive patches for the Crows.