A trio of former AFL players only added to the embarrassment of riches the second placed ROSEDALE boasted over their round thirteen rivals with the Blues railroading the Tigers after half time.
What started as a competitive showing by the ninth placed Gormandale, who went into the contest with their captain Luke Hegarty alongside full back Brent McFarlane on the sidelines, quickly turned into their worst nightmare as the contest went south.
Faced with the prospect of containing the Blues with the added depth of former Hawthorn ruckman Max Bailey, Andrew McQualter and Tim Clarke the Tigers were impressive early with Jaryd Gilroy given the tough assignment of containing Bailey’s impact.
Rosedale were quick out of the blocks registering the first two majors with Gormandale’s first coming eight minutes into the term. The Blues posted the quick response before Gilroy had the Tigers second with the visitors up and about as they failed to be intimidated at the task at hand.
The Tigers made it two on the run when Joe Colaciello swooped on the loose ball and snapped to lock the scores.
The quick reply came from Rosedale, Bailey combining with McQualter to reel the margin back out to two majors at the eighteen minute mark.
Jordon Sandy slotted through his first of three for the contest before McQualter added another to his first term tally, Bailey aiding in a goal assist to blow the margin out to three goals.
Ryan Burns provided a strong tackle on Ben Macreadie which halted the Blues coach in his tracks and sent the Tigers forward. Luke Francis pouncing on the ball in the Tigers 50 to snap true and stem the Blues run on the scoreboard.
As they had all term the Blues responded first through Clarke, James Hammill and Brad Caldwell setting up the Richmond VFL coach. It would be followed by another to Baileys match tally of five before Macreadie posted his sides tenth ahead of quarter time.
Trailing by five majors, Gormandale opened proceedings in the second with their first coming in under a minuted on the clock. On the move quickly and with poise the Tigers looked dangerous. Rosedale’s Jake Mowat got the reply, before a frenetic passage of play saw Sandy register the Tigers seventh at the six minute mark.
Sandy had his third, and second in under a minute, following quick vison and ball movement from Daniel Domaille. Macreadie halted the Tigers run as the Blues reeled the margin back out to six majors with Jack Tatterson, Hamill and Clarke busy in front of goals.
With the margin slowly drawing away from them it was a flat footed Tiger outfit that emerged after half time. What started as a precession of majors to the Blues finished as a run of 15 straight majors. Gormandale held goalless after what had been a promising start.
Bailey and Clarke finished the contest with five majors, the tall timber and flashy small forwards proving too hot to handle for the Tigers with Macreadie and McQaulter chiming in with four apiece.
Brad Scott was named best on ground for Rosedale with Craig Bourne and Rowan Diamond starring in the win.
Eight majors a piece to CHURCHILL’s Tim Darby and Nick Campbell were among the highlights reel as the reigning premiers moved back into the top five following the sides barnstorming 73 point victory over fellow big cats Woodside.
Booting 16 goals to five in the opening half the Cougars were at their best. Darby and Campbell’s cameo in front of goals will have opposition sides wary as they out manoeuvred their opponents and latched on to the sharp delivery by Leigh McDonald and Travis Brighton into the forward arc.
Easing the foot on the pedal the goals slowed in the second half with Churchill adding a further eight.
Woodside’s attack on the scoreboard was led by coach Daniel Risol and Shane Kilgower who finished the contest with four a piece, while Dylan Mc Lachlan collected the three votes.
Match of the round billing went to the contest between YARRAM and Heyfield however the battle between the competitions heavy weights fizzled after half time.
In exceptional form, the Demons were bolstered by the return of their book ends with full forward Justin Staley showing no signs of easing his way back into form. The Demon forward ran rampant as he combined with the inform Corbin Sutherland, the pair stretching the Kangaroos back six as they railroaded their opponents with 10 majors between them on the way to recording a, 19.17 (131) to 12.13 (85) victory.
Grinding out a handy 16 point buffer at the first change, the home side quickly had last year’s runners up chapping at their heels the Kangaroos drawing to within a major following the visitors four goal to two term.
Touted as the premiership term, the third quarter became exactly that for the fourth place Demons who through the running brigade of Grif Underwood, Louis Rodaughan and Keifer Sutherland kicked away on the scoreboard. Their attack on the ball and centre clearance count was telling, as they ruthlessly sent their side forward time and time again with Staley, Corbin Sutherland and Ryan Underwood the main antagonizers as they extended the margin out to 21 points.
With their backs against the wall, the Kangaroo’s could do little to stem the Demons flow of goals, the visitors finding themselves humbled at the final siren.
James Beha was the pick of the goal scorers for Heyfield finishing the contest with three while James Conway and Daniel Missen were among the better players.
Glengarry served it up to a slow starting Bombers outfit before TTU shook the tag and stormed away with a seven goal to one third term killing the contest.
In a game of two halves the Bombers met their match early in the piece with Glengarry led by Dean Pearce and Leigh O’Mara digging deep to match the Bombers in all facets of the game.
Within arm’s reach, three points, at the first change the Magpies continued the style of play that served them well in the opening term adding a further three majors to their tally to be within 10 at the long change.
While their efforts were gallant in the opening half, the Magpies began to fade as the Bombers small forwards Lachlan White, Brian Graham, Chase Saunders and Stephen Hawkins piled on the goals the quartet adding four a piece in the sides 22.22 (154) to 9.8 (62) score line.
Inaccuracy in front of goal didn’t hamper the Bombers from making an emphatic return to the winners list, Graham and Saunders led from the front all contest with Quinn Sinclair and Matt Stolarczyk solid contributors.
For the visitors their charge on the scoreboard was led by Shae Duncan who finished with four goals.
COWWARR and SALE CITY played out a draw with the Saints giving little away against the competitions top Dogs in an intriguing contest.
Little separated the sides in their earlier encounter, 26 points in fact on that occasion, with the margin to be even less second time around with Luke Coopers Saints proving a troubling factor for the visitors who were forced to work hard for the points, as the Saints proved to be tough competition.
Taking a 10 point lead into the first change, the Saints started strongly with Pat Tainsh and Shane Morgan influential early. The Dogs outscored the visitors in the second term to lead by nine points, with Rowan Bell and Hayden Burgiel making their impact felt in a solid quarter effort.
The Dogs mustered plenty of play in the third term, and could have extended the margin further if it wasn’t for a few wayward shots on goal. The Saints in turn troubled the scoreboard for four majors, to arrest the deficit back to a straight kick at the final break.
The Saints rallied keeping with the Dogs as the sides exchanged blow for blow in a dogged final term. Each side answering the challenge that was posed as the clock counted down on an enthralling closing stanza, the siren sounding with the scoreboard reading 15.6 (96) to 14.12 (96).
For the Saints Linden Brunt was the pick of the goal scorers with four in a solid showing, with Tommy Patle among the other notable contributors. City was well served in front of goals by Nick Grainger, Mitch Bennett and Brendan Rathdowne, while Jake Milham and Keenan Hughes were standout performers.
By Lauren Carey