Check out all the big results in local footy as most leagues resume

Country footy saw plenty of upsets as wind played havoc across the state. Check out the big results from the round.

Footy returned after the long weekend and there were some interesting matches played out across the state.

There were upsets galore as streaks came to an end and a couple of former AFL players had a day out.

Check out our wrap off all the major results from around the grounds.

WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S

Former AFL player Bernie Vince has dominated in his return to football, kicking eight goals for Maryborough Rovers in their massive win over Campbells Creek. Vince kicked eight goals and nine behinds, including five goals in the third term as the team won 33. 26. (224) to 3. 2. (20). The former Adelaide and Melbourne midfielder also had a lazy 36 disposals as Rovers won their third game of the season in the Maryborough Castlemaine league.

ROOSTERS TAME DEVILS

There must be something about Mars Stadium for non-Ballarat teams. North Ballarat have ended Darley’s unbeaten run in the Ballarat league with a dominant 47-point win over the Devils. Darley was unbeaten in seven games before Saturday’s clash. This is the second year in a row the Roosters have beaten a previous unbeaten side, on a long run, at Mars Stadium. Last year, the team defeated Melton by 34 points to end the Bloods 11 game winning streak. Roosters forward Jamie Quick kicked seven goals in the win.

RUN OVER FOR ROOS

Anakie’s Jordan Kavanagh and his teammates celebrated a rare win on Saturday. Picture: David Smith.

Anakie in the Geelong and District league won for the first time in four years, ending a barren run for the club. The side had lost 38 straight games before beating North Geelong by seven points on Saturday. Leading by 21 points at three quarter time the team held on against the breeze to end plenty of tough times for the club. It was their first win since round 17 in 2019.

ANOTHER DUURSMA ON THE RISE

The teenage brother of Port Adelaide player Xavier Duursma, Willem, starred for Foster in seniors as the Mid Gippsland team defeated Toora by 161 points. Willem, an under-16 Victoria Country player, kicked six goals to lead the charge for the team. The win keeps Foster in the top four in the competition.

BURNERS CLAIM SCALP

Blackburn has claimed the scalp of third-placed Vermont to reaffirm its status as an Eastern league Premier Division contender – 10.14 (74) to 8.9 (57). The Eagles held the ascendancy early with a seven-point quarter-time lead before the Burners took control to forge ahead at the main and final breaks. Entering the match in fifth spot, the result lifts Blackburn to a 6-3 record, consolidating it inside the top six at the halfway point of the season.

UPSET FOR PINES

Shane Savage playing for Pines last year. He was one of the best for the team against Mount Eliza. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Former St Kilda player Shane Savage was one of the best afield as Pines upset Mt Eliza by 16 points to keep their finals hopes alive in Division 1 in the Mornington Peninsula. Savage kicked three goals as the team won 12. 11. (83) to 9. 13. (67).

DAY OUT FOR JENKINS

Former Adelaide and Geelong forward Josh Jenkins kicked six goals for Sea Lake Nandaly as the team smashed Wedderburn by 79 points in the North Central league. Jenkins, in his third game for the club, helped the side remain unbeaten in the competition with their eighth win of the season. The 149-game AFL player has kicked 17 goals this season in his time at the Tigers.

LIONS END ECHUCA’S RUN

Seymour has ended Echuca’s 12-game unbeaten run in the Goulburn Valley league, beating the reigning premiers by 12 points. In a close game all day a final quarter burst of three goals to one helped the Lions prevail, 10. 9. (69) to 8. 9. (57). Thomas Davey, Riley Mason and Lachlan Waite each kicked two goals for Seymour. There is now a three-way tie at the top of the GV ladder with Echuca, Kyabram and Seymour all on nine wins and one loss.

MAGPIES ON TOP

Montmorency maintained its top two spot in the Northern league with a 13-point win over North Heidelberg in Division 1 on Saturday. Led by VFL-listed player Marcus Lentini, who was one of the best with three goals, the team held off a late challenge by the Bulldogs to win. North Heidelberg maintains third position on the ladder, despite the loss, and played well without their leading goalkicker, former North Melbourne and Melbourne player Majak Daw.

DRAGONS STAY UNBEATEN … JUST

Sandhurst’s Noah Walsh is tackled by an Eaglehawk player. The team remains unbeaten in the Bendigo league. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Eaglehawk can’t buy a win right now in the Bendigo league. After losing their last three matches by a combined margin of seven points, this week the team drew with Sandhurst at Canterbury Park. The Hawks couldn’t hold on to a three-quarter-time lead as the Dragons fought back to level scores at 9. 10. (64) each at full time. Sandhurst remain on top and have now won eight matches and had a draw in nine games this season.

WAYWARD VALES SINK EAGLES

Donvale has moved a game clear into top spot on the Eastern league Division 3 ladder after dethroning Ferntree Gully in a come-from-behind win, 10.21 (81) to 10.2 (62). The Vales overturned a four-point three-quarter time deficit, rattling home with the breeze kicking 2.11 to sink the Eagles, who went scoreless in the final term. Matt Day finished with three goals for Donvale while Jack Flannery and Gavin Kalisperis kicked two each for Ferntree Gully.

MAROONS CELEBRATE RETURN

Newbridge have returned to their home ground in style, beating Calivil in the Loddon Valley league for their second win in seniors for the season. The Maroons played at home for the first time since floods ravaged their ground in October last year. Since then the club and Newbridge Recreation Reserve have spent 2.5 million dollars fixing the place up. Newbridge led from start to finish, beating Calivil by 18 points with Christopher Dixon kicking three goals for the winners.

SAINTS STILL MARCHING

Koroit’s premiership chances remain alive but the team had to fight again for victory, this time against Cobden. After beating Terang Mortlake after the siren last week, the team won by five points against the Bombers on Saturday at Victoria Park. The team kept Cobden goalless in the final term and overcame a three-point deficit to move to fourth on the ladder. Clem Nagorcka and Paddy O’Sullivan combined for four of Koroit’s six goals for the game.

FRANKSTON HOLD ON

Frankston YCW’s Darcy Murr and his team are going strong this season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Reigning premiers in the Mornington Peninsula, Frankston YCW held off a challenge from Langwarrin to remain in the top two in Division 1. The Stonecats kicked away in the final quarter, kicking seven goals in a strong breeze to win by 48 points. Matt Troutbeck was outstanding for the Stonecats, kicking three goals.

HOPPERS CONTINUE RISE

North Albury mid-season resurgence continues under former Collingwood player Tim Broomhead. Down by 31 points against Wodonga at quarter time the team bounce back to win by eight points. Broomhead had 27 touches including 8 in last term. The Hoppers are now sixth on the ladder and are just one game behind Wodonga, in fourth, who have now lost four in a row after starting the season with five straight wins.

BREEZE FAVOURS DINGLEY

Dingley remain on top in the Southern league after beating Bentleigh by 15 points in a game dominated by the wind at Bentleigh Reserve. At one end, 24 of the 27 goals were kicked, with Dingley using the breeze in the last quarter to overturn a 15-point deficit to win by the same margin. The team is percentage ahead of Cheltenham, with both teams on seven wins and one loss for the season.

EAGLES FLY HIGH

Yarraville Seddon Eagles have upset Altona in the Western Region Division 1 in a confidence building win for the young side. The Eagles won their third game of the season, beating third placed Altona 10. 9. (69) to 8. 14. (62). Without former Collingwood and Geelong player Travis Varcoe the Eagles led for all four quarter to beat an inaccurate Vikings side.

ABERS BOUNCE BACK

Aberfeldie has brought some stability back to their season by beating East Keilor in the Essendon District league Division 1 competition at Clifton Park. The Abers won their second game in five matches with an impressive 31-point win over the third placed East Keilor team. Jack Mapleson kicked three goals and was one of the best on ground for the home side.

XAVS WIN FOR CLUB LEGEND

It was a good day out for Edward Ralph and his Old Xaverians teammates. Photo by Josh Chadwick

Old Xaverians kept in touching distance with the VAFA Premier Division finals with an impressive 48-point win over Old Brighton. Under the watchful eyes of new AFL CEO Andrew Dillon, who called the game on the live stream for a quarter, the Xavs kicked away with the breeze in the first term and were never headed. Dillon is a former Old Xaverians player who won six premierships with the club. Grant Valles kicked three goals for the Xavs as the team moved to four wins and four losses and sixth on the ladder, one game out from finals.

RIDDELL FINDING FORM

The reigning premiers in the Riddell District league have beaten Wallan by nine points to jump into the finals spots for the first time this season. The Bombers have now won two of their past three games to move to three wins and four losses. In a low scoring game, Riddell charged home in the final quarter, overcoming a six-point deficit to win. Riddell is now fifth on the ladder, two games behind third.

KANGAROOS SMASH RIVALS

Harrow Balmoral continue to be the benchmark in the Horsham District league, thumping Swifts by 116 points on Saturday in the latest round. The Kangaroos had the contest won by half time, kicking 10 goals to one behind to set up a 68-point lead. From there the side were never threatened as the Kangaroos won their ninth straight game. The team has won eight of those matches by more than 80 points in a dominant display in the competition this season.