Check out all Saturday’s local footy highlights from around the grounds
The magic of local footy was again on show on Saturday with historic wins, clutch match-winning kicks and big bags. Check out all the highlights from around the grounds.
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Every weekend there are moments of magic in local footy.
Saturday saw history-making wins, extraordinary streaks continue, clutch match-winning goals, and eye-catching man-of-the-match performances.
Ex-AFL stars Marlion Pickett and Sam Gilbert made debut appearances with contrasting outcomes.
Check out the major highlights from around the grounds of Melbourne and beyond.
REDBACKS CRASH PARTY
Romsey has ruined Marlion Pickett’s Melton South debut, pinching a heart-stopping two-point win at Melton Reserve. The Richmond premiership ace booted three goals and was among the Panthers’ best but missed opportunities cruelled his hopes of a first-up victory. Trailing by 18 point at three-quarter-time, South stormed home and were within four points as the clock ticked into time-on. However, two behinds in the final minutes proved fatal as the Redbacks held on, 14.4 (88) to 12.14 (86). Skipper Jack Jedwab was Romsey’s best in the win, kicking six goals, while Jax Kinnear and Matt Burkett also impressed.
GIANTS’ HISTORIC WIN
Gisborne Giants are officially on the board in the Riddell District. The expansion club scored its maiden senior win on Saturday, knocking off Lancefield at Lancefield Park by 15 points. Captain Brad Mangan led from the front with five goals, while gun midfielder Matt Quigley produced a best-on-ground performance to lift his club over the line and sing the song for the first time. Cam Freake and Seth Warren also impressed. Lancefield’s Tom Jackson did everything in his power, bagging seven goals, but the Tigers slipped to their 21st straight defeat.
40 OF THE BEST
Harrow Balmoral have the longest winning streak in local footy and the Kangaroos reached a milestone on Saturday in their 22-point win over Pimpinio. The side recorded its 40th straight win in the Horsham league and have not been beaten in two-and-a-half years. Can the Kangaroos crack 50 sometime this year?
FEV-FEVER
AFL great Brendan Fevola and Aussie musician Guy Sebastian have combined to help a battling Melbourne local footy club to a drought-breaking win. The pair pulled on the boots for Masala Dandenong in a Victorian Amateur Football Association Division 5 clash on Saturday morning, where they held on for a 7.13 (55) to 8.5 (53) win over South Melbourne Districts. Fevola was the start of the show, finishing with six of his side’s seven goals, as the Tigers tasted their first victory since 2023.
HARRY IN THE CLUTCH
Harry O’Brien is the toast of Hurstbridge after kicking the match-winning goal with just 60 seconds left on Saturday, snatching a one-point victory over Banyule. O’Brien held his nerve to kick truly. The Bridges then held their breath as Banyule surged forward in the dying seconds but were rescued by the siren as it sounded before a mark could be taken. It ended 15.10 (100) to 14.15 (99) at Ben Frilay Oval, O’Brien’s heroics stealing Joel Naylor’s thunder as the gun forward booted seven goals.
TONNERS REVENGE
A wildly inaccurate Old Brighton has claimed the VAFA Premier Men’s grand final rematch with a 45-point win over Old Scotch. The Tonners booted 8.28 (76) to 4.7 (31) as Sam Flockart led the way with two majors.
SHARKS POUR MORE MISERY ON NORSEMEN
Park Ochards moved into a share of the league lead in Eastern Division 1 with a thumping 64-point win over Norwood at Domeney Reserve. Tom Livingstone bagged six goals in a best-on-ground performance in the 20.19 (139) to 12.3 (75) victory, while Mason Blakey and Kane Keppel also impressed. The defeat leaves the Norsemen winless after five rounds and facing the very real possibility of back-to-back relegations after dropping out of Premier Division last season.
EAGLES SKIPPER’S STAR PERFORMANCE
Airport West captain Ned Gentile was best-on-ground as his side won an Essendon District top-tier thriller by 18 points over Maribyrnong Park. The excitement machine booted five goals, alongside recruit Max Rider’s four, to get their side across the line.
VAMPIRES MASTERCLASS
It was a Southern Division 1 top-four blockbuster but East Brighton blew reigning premier Cheltenham out of the water. The Vampires romped to an 84-point triumph, 21.16 (142) to 7.16 (58) at Hurlingham Park. Blake Cochrane bagged four goals to fuel his club’s win and cement it in second place, a game behind undefeated ladder-leader Dingley.
VICTORY FOR STONECATS AND PYTHONS
Frankston YCW and Pines scored rousing wins to join three other sides on 4-1 in Mornington Peninsula Division 1. With Luca Goonan and Riley D’Arcy (five goals) in blistering form, Frankston YCW beat Mt Eliza 13.9 (87) to 9.12 (66), handing the reigning premiers their fourth defeat of the season. Pines turned a nine-point quarter-time deficit into a 39-point win over Mornington, 20.15 (135) to 14.12 (96). It was the Pythons’ fourth successive win. Rosebud, Edithvale-Aspendale and Langwarrin are also 4-1 in one of the most even starts to a season in years.
BROOKERS ON THE BOARD
A season-first win has lifted Gembrook Cockatoo off the bottom of the Outer East Premier Division ladder. Ex-league man Robin Nahas kicked two goals, as did Pat Snoxell and Joseph Verna, as the Brookers edged Officer, 8.10 (58) to 7.9 (51).
RECRUIT FIRES FOR PARKSIDE
Parkside picked up a timely win heading into the Western league’s interleague break with a 58-point rout of Point Cook Centrals. Jordan Fialkis was best afield, he joined the club in the off-season, and finished with three goals. Last year’s leading goalkicker Tom Condon finished with five.
PERFECT 10
Laurimar’s Patrick Fitzpatrick has produced a virtuoso performance, booting 10 goals, to power the Power’s 33-point win over Kinglake. In an enthralling end-to-end high-scoring contest, Laurimar prevailed 21.9 (135) to 16.6 (102) at Memorial Oval. Man-of-the-match Fitzpatrick’s 10 majors takes him to 26 for the season and top of the competition goalkicking charts, while Ethan Bateman and Cam Maloney also impressed. Bailey Robinson was Kinglake’s best, while Damien Pywell kicked four goals.
BLUES’ BEST
Waverley Blues have pulled off a stunning 12-point over joint ladder-leader Mulgrave in a thrilling high-scoring contest at Mulgrave Reserve. The Blues ambushed the hosts in the first quarter, booting five goals and held their nerve to win 17.10 (112) to 15.10 (100) victory. Waverley had won just one game in the opening month, while the Lions were in a three-way tie for first but now drop a game behind Templestowe and Surry Park.
PREMIERSHIP STATEMENT
Kyabram has ended Echuca’s unbeaten run in the Goulburn Valley league with a 35-point win. An explosive last quarter was the difference with Kyabram kicking seven goals to two to power past the Mighty Bombers. Charlie Barnett and Tom Holman each kicked four goals for the Bombers. Echuca was unbeaten in 21 games before the loss to Kyabram.
PRIME TRAIN UPSTAGED
The Basin welcomed social media star Tom “Prime Train” Baulch to Batterham Reserve but he was upstaged in a 30-point win over Scoresby. While Baulch kicked three goals, it was Lachlan Saunders-Emerson who stole the show with six majors in a best-on-ground performance. It helped the Bears knock off the Magpies, previously joint ladder-leaders, 17.7 (109) to 12.7 (79). Liam West and Luke Scott also impressed in the win.
BULLANTS PRODUCE A STUNNING UPSET
Preston Bullants stunned VAFA Division 1 premiership contender Kew in an 18-point victory. The visitors booted eight goals to four after half-time to come away with the win. Alex Cincotta, Benedict Douglas, Josh Malkoun and coach Tom Hill kicked two apiece.
WEST COBURG’S REMINDER
They’ve made the last three Division 1 grand finals, albeit suffering defeat in all, but West Coburg produced a timely reminder of its strength with a 10-point win over St Albans. Jesse Martini impressed with three goals.
MAGPIES FLY HOME
Belgrave has posted its first win of the Outer East Division 1 season with a gripping one-point triumph over Yea. Yea led by eight points at the last change but Belgrave clawed its way to the lead in the dying moments, with best-on-ground Chris Campbell booting a vital goal as the Magpies won 12.16 (88) to 13.9 (87).
BOMBERS DOMINANT
Frankston Bombers continued its unbeaten start to the Mornington Peninsula Division 2 season with a 36-point win over Pearcedale, 15.14 (104) to 8.20 (68). Former VFL star Khan Haretuku slotted four goals for the winners, who counted ruckman Harrison Prior as their best player.
HEATHERTON POUNCES
Heatherton scored its second win of the Southern Division 3 season, taking down high-flying St Kilda City. The Tonners celebrated their 1985 premiership reunion in style, claiming a nail-biting five-point win at Heatherton Reserve. The Saints, meanwhile, will be left to rue woeful inaccuracy in the 8.10 (58) to 6.17 (53) defeat. Julian Lam, Lukah Wilson and Shaun Cusack were best afield for the hosts, while Jacob Beswick booted three goals.
BROOMHEAD STARS FOR HOOPERS
Former Collingwood player Tim Broomhead is continuing to help North Albury become a legitimate contender for this year’s Ovens and Murray premiership. He kicked four goals and was one of the best in the Hoppers’ 73-point win over bottom-placed Wodonga Raiders. North Albury is 4-1 to start the year and second on the ladder, sandwiched between the Wangaratta Rovers and Magpies. In other results, Wodonga defeated Yarrawonga by 35 points, Myrtleford smashed Corowa Rutherglen by 73 points with Albury beat Lavington by 28.
EAGLES ROCK IN HAMPDEN
A final-term comeback has seen North Warrnambool remain unbeaten in the top of the table clash with Portland. The Eagles won by six points in the game between the two unbeaten sides. The Tigers led for the first three quarters before North Warrnambool kicked four goals to one to prevail. The Eagles won without former AFL players Michael Barlow and Steven Motlop who weren’t playing.
SUNBURY ENDS ROOS’ RUN
East Point’s unbeaten start to the season has ended in the Ballarat league at the hands of Sunbury with the Lions winning by 45 points at Clarke Oval. Five goals to Jake Sutton helped Sunbury win its fourth game of the season. Sunbury is now third of the ladder, establishing themselves as a premiership contender with the likes of the Kangaroos, Melton and Darley.
Originally published as Check out all Saturday’s local footy highlights from around the grounds
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