Local footy wrap: Lindenow’s Peter Harrison kicks 42 goals, ex-AFL Dee inspires Mt Eliza
A country footballer filled his boots with an almighty haul of goals, and an ex-AFL Dee turned it on ...
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A country footballer filled his boots with an almighty haul of goals, an ex-AFL Dee turned it on and an Eastern club toasted its second perfect home-and-away season in four years.
Meanwhile, finals hopes were renewed – and shattered – across the leagues.
It’s all here in this weekend’s local footy wrap ...
THE CATS’ PYJAMAS
What a day out for Lindenow’s Peter Harrison.
The vice-captain filled his boots with a whopping 42 goals in the Cats’ 43.9 (267) to 0.1 (1) victory over Paynesville in an East Gippsland league under-17.5 clash at AJ Freeman Reserve on Saturday morning.
Harrison, 18, has 78 goals from 15 matches played in the under-17.5s this year – with Saturday’s haul comfortably accounting for his previous season-best of six.
JONES INSPIRES REDLEGS
Former Melbourne captain Nathan Jones was named best-afield for Mt Eliza in its rousing 16-point win over reigning champions Frankston YCW.
Jones, in his third match for the season, was influential in the midfield as the Redlegs kicked four goals to one in the last quarter to win 12.12 (84) to 10.8 (68) and cement a finals spot in MPFNL Division 1.
Teenager Ziggy Toledo was also outstanding for Mt Eliza, slotting three goals.
SAINTS’ UNBEATEN SEASON
South Belgrave has finished the Eastern league Division 1 season unbeaten on top of the ladder, following a 19.19 (133) to 6.12 (48) win over Croydon.
It’s the second time in four years the Saints have completed a perfect home-and-away campaign – last completing the feat in 2019 on the way to the Division 3 premiership.
South Belgrave was promoted to Division 1 – the league’s second tier – this season following a flag in Division 2 in 2022.
Saturday’s win marks 18 in a row this season – and 24 overall stretching back to last year.
HAWKS SING SONG
Hallam broke through for its first win in Outer East league when it held off Belgrave by three points, 9.11 (65) to 9.8 (62).
Hawks skipper Joel Danilo Nathan Jerram and Jack Sharlassian kicked two goals each as the Hawks finally sung their song after 12 straight losses since crossing from Southern league.
STRATHMORE STORMS HOME
Pascoe Vale and Strathmore have played out a second-versus-third thriller in the Essendon District league’s Premier Division, with the ‘Mores holding on by four points – 11.9 (75) to 10.11 (71).
Dealt a 31-point quarter-time deficit, Strathmore drew within two points at the half and five at the final change before overrunning the Panthers in the last term.
OUTER EAST BOILOVER
Berwick Springs has staged a heart-stopping come-from-behind upset of Emerald in a 1 v. 2 thriller in the Outer East’s Division 1, scraping home by three points – 15.13 (103) to 15.10 (100).
Down 19 points at half-time, the second-seeded Titans closed the gap to just nine at the last change before edging ahead in the final term.
Thomas Nelson, Daniel Ousley, Ethan Damato and Ty Ellison finished with two goals each for Berwick Springs.
KILSYTH’S SEVEN-DECADE-FIRST
Kilsyth has finished the home-and-away season on top of the ladder for the first time in 71 years.
The Eastern league Division 4 outfit has claimed the minor premiership – four points clear – despite second-placed Surrey Park handing the Cougars just their third loss of the season on Saturday, 10.11 (71) to 3.13 (31).
The pair meet again next weekend for a spot in the grand final.
TIGERS BOUNCE KANGAS’ FINALS HOPES
Heidelberg has made light work of Macleod in the NFNL’s Division 1, winning by 100 points to deny the Kangas a finals berth. Entering the weekend a game-and-a-half out of the top-five, Macleod needed to win its last three games to remain in the finals hunt. But the ladder-leading Tigers had other ideas, notching their 14th win of the season to go with one draw and a loss.
WELLERS WHACK FLAG RIVAL
The ladder-leading Old Camberwell Grammarians have held off their closest premiership rival in the VAFA’s Premier C, accounting for second-seeded Old Ivanhoe.
The 16.9 (105) to 12.11 (83) victory lifts the Wellers to a 12-2 record with two home-and-away rounds remaining, while Old Ivanhoe slips to third on the ladder – with PEGS claiming third after proving too strong for Marcellin.
VIKINGS’ STATEMENT
Altona has tipped Spotswood out of the WRFL’s Division 1 top four following a 9.17 (71) to 6.4 (40) victory. The Vikings failed to register a major in the opening term, kicking a wasteful 0.5 before overturning a 13-point deficit to lead by 16 at the half – and didn’t look back.
Saad El-Hawli, Mitchell Vandenberg and James Callaway each finished with two goals for the victors.
Spotswood slips to sixth while Altona sits a game clear in second spot.
COLTS BACK IN BUSINESS
Port Melbourne Colts surged back into the SFNL Division 1 top five with a nail-biting win over St Paul’s McKinnon.
The Colts and Dogs have had contrasting months with respective winning and losing records.
The Colts have bucked the trend however, edging out Jason Heffernan’s men 11.10 (76) to 10.15 (75).
The victorious home side kicked four unanswered goals to lead 30-2 at the first change, but each interval thereafter had the pair separated by less than a kick.
After losing to Cranbourne last week, the Colts found themselves out of the five on percentage behind the Dogs, but will return to finals contention as a result of the win.
Justin Taylor was – as he has been all season – incredible for the Colts, while Eren Soylemez kicked three important goals.
SPRINGY SINKS EAGLES
Springvale Districts have pushed reigning premier Cranbourne down to fourth position in Southern’s Division 1 with a 9.9 (63) to 7.16 (58) win.
Daniel Helmore put the Dees up by three goals with 19 minutes gone in the final term before the Eagles kicked two quick ones to breathe live back into the match.
League medallist favourite Zak Roscoe was influential for the Eagles with another three-goal outing.
STARS TOO STRONG
Maribyrnong Park’s hopes of avoiding relegation from the Essendon District league’s top-flight have received a major blow following a 16.19 (115) to 5.7 (37) loss to the Essendon Doutta Stars.
Two home-and-away rounds remain, with the Lions now eight points behind Avondale Heights and the Stars – with finals-bound Strathmore and seventh-placed Airport West to close out the season.
YABBIES STUN PANTHERS
Tyabb finished its season with a flourish, upsetting finals-bound Devon Meadows by seven points, 11.11 (77) to 10.10 (70) in MPFNL Division 2.
Yabbies co-coach Sam Fox kicked four goals while Mark Banham and Simon Rahilly were also outstanding for the winners.
It was a costly loss for Devon Meadows, letting slip an opportunity to secure the finals double chance.
Hawks and ‘the hard way’: Promotion at last for triple-premiership power
It has won it three times in the same tier of competition, but at long last, Boronia has earned promotion after another Division 2 grand final triumph on Sunday.
‘Let’s go’: East Ringwood out to etch two-decade first
Just two years after promotion, the Roos will shoot for their first Eastern league top-division premiership since 2002 after bringing reigning premier Rowville’s back-to-back flag dream to an end on Saturday.