The contest was appetising from the opening bounce with key match ups across the ground indicating the battle that was to eventuate.
The inclusion of three former AFL players in Andrew McQualter, Max Bailey and Tim Clarke to Rosedale's line-up added yet another dimension to a game that ebbed and flowed, and had something for everyone.
Rosedale's Frazar Brouns baring the bulk of the ruck work, with support from Bailey against James Beha and Shaun Humphreys, Kangaroos Scott Anderson handed the task of holding Bailey at bay at full forward and then there was the contest that would play out in the midfield with McQualter, Dale Fleming, Jake Mowat and the Diamond brothers Rowan and Adam pitted against Josh Stubbe and the Woodland brothers Kodie and Jack. The contest promised plenty.
In a frenetic opening five minutes of play, Rosedale settled quickly moving the ball forward with conviction. In what would be a match winning barnstorming opening term for the Blues, the Kangaroos were left flat footed and wanting as the back line struggled to hold the man of the first term, Bailey, at bay. A raft of turnovers and poor ball use looked to have killed off any chance the Kangaroos had of ensuring victory, as they struggled to clear half back.
On the burst from the centre clearance, Rohan Diamond sent the Blues forward for the opener of the contest, Brandon McDonald scoring true. Coach Ben Macreadie made it two on the run, as his side demonstrated what the coach was seeking from them "turn up to play and get our running game going" and that is exactly what the Blues did in a blistering 25 minutes of play.
Jack Tatterson made it a third straight with the leap of Brouns matching Beha in the ruck contest. Tatterson swinging around on his favoured foot to goal.
The Kangaroos defence were under siege, Bailey's 206cm frame causing headaches, as the visitors resorted to dropping three defenders back on him looking to spoil the tall forward in the marking contest. But as much as that worked to some degree, Bailey quickly brought the ball down with Gerard Barnes propping to pick up the ball and score the home sides fourth from the goal square.
Bailey opened his account for the match, with several other first term shots going astray.
Ferocious tackling by Jack Woodland, Nic Dowse and Tom McMillan aided Heyfield as they worked hard to hold the ball in their forward 50, a free kick resulted in Luke Pratt scoring the visitors sole major for the term.
Trailing by 39 points at the first change, Heyfield were rattled, the Blues making the most of their opponents undisciplined and error ridden play. The panicked visitors at times were reduced to merely hacking the ball out of defence only to see it land back in the safe hands of a Rosedale forward.
Clarke opening his account as the Blues margin threatened to blow out, before Heyfield registered their second through Josh Stubbe, but as they had done early in the piece Rosedale responded through Brad Scott a snap over the shoulder slotting through his third.
Josh Stubbe added another to his match tally, before majors to Jordon Stubbe and Jack Woodland saw the Kangaroos draw level with four majors scored by each side for the term.
The Kangaroos had their chances in the third term, but costly misses in front of goal kept the visitors at bay. The goals flowed freely in a hard hitting premiership term, which saw Rosedale lose McQualter with a hamstring, and the Kangaroos began to make their impact felt in the centre clearance count as goal sneak Joel Dinsdale quickly became the forward of the second half. Pipping up to score several of his match tally five.
Establishing a four goal break at the final change, the Blues hummed along in the final term holding off the Kangaroos several challenges to win, 20.12 (132) to 15.16 (106).
In a David and Goliath contest, the Magpies were pitted against one of the competitions inform sides in YARRAM, who came into the contest fresh on the back of two confident boosting victories on the road.
The Magpies found themselves on the back foot early with a six goal opening blitz by the Demons all but killing the contest in the opening 25 minutes of play. Led by Andrew Kiely (nine), Corbin Sutherland (six) and Ryan Underwood (five), the trio were among eight individual with the goals coming quick and fast, the home side boasting over 45 shots at goal on their way to claiming top spot on the premiership ladder standings.
The Demons didn't take their foot off the pedal in the final term, slotting home 15 goals to one in a precession of goals which left the Magpies defence under siege and in awe of the run and class the Demons displayed. Yarram posting a 156 point victory, 31.14 (200) to 6.8 (44).
Glengarry chipped away at the scoreboard however the side's lack of forward prowess and a costly final term did little to reduce the margin. Glengarry's Robbie Elrick, Jason Gee and Leigh O'Mara were tireless in their efforts.
For the home side Kiely continued his dominance of the past month, Underwood has been on song since returning to the line-up from injury and big man Lukas Jenkins presence and agility set up endless passages of play.
Despite nine of the sides best 22 sitting on the sidelines for the round six clash against Cowwarr, TTU dug deep to claim a morale boosting win against a formidable opponent.
Within a kick at the main change the Saints looked a chance to take the points but failed to sustain their intensity, the Bombers posting seven goals to three after the long break to record their second win at home, 13.8 (86) to 8.13 (61)
The contest was one of two halves with many believing the Saints were short changed not to lead at the long break after dominating passages of play and forcing TTU to play the game on the visitor's terms. However the pendulum swung the way of the Bombers in the second half, as they regained their composure and focus to chip away at the scoreboard and all but dry up the Saints scoring options.
The Bombers scoring options were limited to just four individuals, however their impact was felt by the Saints back six, Lachlan White the pick with four, while Brian Graham, Chase Saunders and Stephen Hawkins made the most of their chances the trio finishing with three apiece.
Despite winning the second half on the scoreboard, Gormandale could not claw back CHURCHILL's nine goal half time margin which proved telling at the final siren.
Appearing down and out, the Tigers mounted an epic comeback after the main change which saw Gormandale boot 14 goals to 10, to draw to within five goals at the final siren. The comeback was in vast contrast to the opening half which saw the home side with a return of 2.4 (16), as the reigning premiers flexed their muscle boasting 20 scoring shots for a score of 11.9 (75).
The goals came quick and fast for the visitors, Chris Williams booted a bag of five, Nick Campbell had the ball on a string on his way to adding four to his season tally of 19, with team mate Tim Darby standing tall in the forward line with three majors.
It was the Cougars at their best early, led by best on ground and coach Allan Chandler with experienced engine room specialists Brandon Mahoney and Travis Brighton dictating the game on their terms as they exploded out of the blocks leaving the home side in their wake.
The Tigers defensive pressure, which coach Luke Henderson had highlighted as key prior to the match, improved significantly in the second term as they harassed their opponent into making mistakes and capitalised on the Cougars errors. The home side was well served by young ruckman Al Jenkins, Ryan Burns served the side well with Toby Bye among the votes.
Second placed SALE CITY proved too classy in the contest on the road against Woodside. The Dogs nine goal to five opening half setting up the sides 20.18 (138) to 11.12 (79) victory.
Taking some time to settle into the contest, it was the Dogs solid second term which set the tone, with the visitors never faulting in the contest against the seventh placed Wildcats.
Led by their experienced campaigners of best on ground David Piasente, Matt Lutze and Jake Milham the Dogs experience came to the fore, with the younger pups of Brandon Rathnow and Mitch Bennett standing tall in front of goals scoring four and three respectively.
Relentless with their ferocious attack on the ball and man, a signature of the Dogs style, the second placed City ensured victory was theirs City slammed home seven goals to three in the final term to claim their fifth win of the season.
The premiership term was an even affair with the sides exchanging blows on the scoreboard, Woodside's Daniel Risol and Ryan Foat ensuring the challenge on the scoreboard, Shane Kilgower continued his impressive form of past weeks collecting the three votes in a noteworthy performance.
By Lauren Carey