Ladder leaders ROSEDALE got the better of Heyfield in a low scoring affair, the Blues shaking the Kangaroos shackles to run home eventual 27 point victors.
It was a contest that promised plenty and certainly delivered. With their finals ambitions tethering the home side had the most to play for in what could be described as an eight point contest. Meeting a fellow finals contender for the third week running, the contest would test the resolve of the Kangaroos who demonstrated early on that they wouldn’t roll over.
With hopes of a free flowing offensive affair, spectators found themselves enthralled by a contest which rebounded back and forth between the half back lines. The ball spending most of the time going backwards and sideways. Before rebounding back to the opposition’s forward line as the sides bombed the ball errantly into their forward arcs to have it chopped off time and time again by the staunch backlines at either end.
Rosedale’s Nathan Flint broke through to register the first major of the contest. Flint playing on after Dale Fleming’s strong tackle dispossessed the Heyfield defender. It would be followed by another this time to Brandon McDonald as the Blues began to take ascendency on the contest.
Heyfield’s Jesse Jackway put the home side on the board ahead of quarter time, 2.1 (13) to Heyfield’s 1.0 (6).
James Beha’s major drew Heyfield within arm’s reach followed by consecutive behinds as the Kangaroos forwards worked hard to create an opportunity.
Rosedale coach Ben Macreadie broke through to register his first before Josh Stubbe responded to the Blues fourth to make it a four point ball game.
The Blues kicked things off in the second half with the first major in blustery conditions, before scoring dried up in a low scoring physical premiership term.
The tenacity and attack on the football wouldn’t have been lost on either coach as the sides battled hard in a low scoring ferocious third stanza which left Heyfield two goals down at the final change.
With the contest in the balance McDonald drew the margin out to one of the largest of the match three goals, followed by a major to Jack Tatterson which appeared to kill the contest.
But the never say die attitude of the Kangaroos kept them coming. A missed shot on goal to Jesse Bedggood was followed by the sides first major in over 40 minutes Wayne Knight breaking the drought as they reeled the margin back to 16 points.
There was plenty of play in the Kangaroos forward 50 however they couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard. With late majors to McDonald and Brad Caldwell after the siren ensuring the win.
Rosedale’s Rohan Diamond swopped on the loose ball time and time again, as he swept across half back making his impact felt. Luke Stuckey also made his impact felt tallying possessions in an impressive performance, with Adam Diamond and James Hammill proving a handful in the engine room.
For Heyfield Nick Dinsdale toiled hard throughout the contest, Andrew Lambie was dogged in defence while Josh Stubbe ran hard all day looking to hold the Blues playmakers Fleming and Macreadie at bay.
CHURCHILL skipped away early in the piece against Gormandale before the Cougars found themselves with a contest on their hands.
Held goalless in a lack lustre opening term, the Tigers felt the raft of coach Luke Henderson at the first change.
Noting after the contest that “he knew his side was better than that” the coach didn’t hold back hoping to steer his young chargers back on track. “We knew if we turned up and played our best footy that we were going to be really, really competitive,” Henderson said.
“I was really proud of the way the boys responded.”
And respond they did with their backs up against the wall the Tigers took the contest on booting 6.7 (43) to 2.4 (16) in the second term to put themselves in contention ahead of half time.
Reeling the margin back to 15 points, the Tigers registered the first of the premiership term, in turn stringing together seven of the last nine majors. Defender turned forward Jordon Sandy slotting through one of his two for the contest.
Tim Finch was the recipient of a double 50 metre penalty which put the Tiger midfielder in point blank range of scoring following the indiscretion by Churchill’s ruckman Dillon Leys.
In what became a defining moment of the contest the Cougars bit back, coach Allan Chandler noting the contest “typifies our year, if we drop 10 percent any side in this competition can catch us pretty quickly.”
Going on to note that his side was “lacking a couple of midfielders, we have to work our way through this. It is a great test before Yarram next week,” he said.
A test it was, Gormandale’s Sam Marks slotted through the first for the visitors in the final stanza before Holt added his third and the momentum swung the way of the reining premiers. A further and final major scored as the clock counted down on an enthralling contest.
An eight goal to nil opening term wasn’t the start that the Wildcats had hoped for in their clash on the road against a rebounding SALE CITY.
Inspired by dynamic full-forward Jake Schuback who speared home seven goals the second placed Dogs were in supreme control match-long.
Hitting the score board in the second term through Corey Kee it would be the sole major for the Wildcats as they were left to rue the barrage on the scoreboard. City boasting 11 individual goal scorers among them Nick Grainger and Jake Milham who were next best to Schuback with four a piece, three majors from Brad Walsh while Rowan Bell slotted home two.
There was no respite in the second half for the Wildcats whose backline continued to be under siege City adding 12.22 (94) to 0.1 (1) on their way to recording a 181 point trouncing.
David Piasente won clearance after clearance having been the recipient of Harry Kaadndorp’s ruck taps, the young ruckman holding his own in the contests. Abe Schuback and Milham were solid contributors as they demonstrated flair around the contests with Mitch Evans lively.
YARRAM climbed back into fourth positon following the Demons, 20.25 (145) to 5.9 (39) win over Glengarry.
Starting slowly little separated the sides on the scoreboard in the opening term before the Demons got the better of their lesser ranked opponent kicking away with a seven goal to one second stanza.
Four majors from Ryan Underwood, with three a piece to Jake Liversidge and Corbin Sutherland saw the trio feature prominently in the forward line as they quickly become the main protagonists in front of goal.
Leading by 53 points at the long change, the Demons found conditions in front of goals troubling in the premiership term. While they had their chances they had to settle for two majors from eight scoring shots before coming home with a wet sail in the fourth.
Yarram’s Trek Davis was a standout, Grif Underwood continues to demonstrate why he is one of the elite midfielders of the competition, while Jake Anderson and Louis Rodaughan where among the votes.
For the Magpies Michael Diaz was the sole multiple goal scorer with two while Chris Wangman was named best on ground.
TTU were forced to work hard for the points against old rival Cowwarr in an epic arm wrestle of a contest.
In fact there was little that separated the sides throughout the contest, four points the margin in favour of the Saints at the first change before the Bombers wrestled the ascendency to turn the tables to lead by five points ahead of half time.
The honours went the way the Saints in the third term booting four goals to three, however a string of behinds to the visitors had them placed within two points at the final change.
Going into the contest in third position one game clear of their nearest rivals, the prized double chance was on the line for the Bombers, and with that they found another gear as the Saints struggled to match their opponents run and drive in the dying stages. TTU slamming home four goals to one to register a hard fought 14 point victory, 11.10 (76) to 9.8 (62).
TTU’s charge on the scoreboard came through their small forwards Lochie White, Chase Saunders and Stephen Hawkins, with backline general Guy Sinclair’s performance sublime.
The Saints were well served by Ben Coffey and Luke Heiser, with Todd Mann booting three.
By Lauren Carey