Local footy talking points: Josh Kennedy, Tom Lamb, Nathan Jones produce matchwinning performances
Ex-AFL names starred across several clubs while ladders began to take shape in local footy competitions across the state as we mark the halfway point ...
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Ex-AFL names shone to lift their clubs to vital wins while ladders began to take shape in local footy competitions across the state as we mark the halfway point of the season.
Here are Saturday’s talking points from the state’s local footy action ...
PREMIERSHIP SWAN LIFTS BATTLING CLUB
AFL premiership player Josh P. Kennedy has helped Murrabit win its first game of the season, beating Wandella by four points in the Golden Rivers league.
As part of the Carlton Draft, former Sydney Swan Kennedy played for the Blues and helped the team end its seven-game losing streak.
He kicked a goal as the team held on to win 11.5 (71) to 9.13 (67) after Wandella made a late comeback.
Fellow former AFL player Damian Cupido kicked four goals for Murrabit, marking 1300 majors in country footy.
FORMER AFL EAGLE KICKS A BAG
Former West Coast Eagle Tom Lamb kicked a bag of 13 goals for East Brighton in its Southern Division 2 clash with bottom side Black Rock.
Lamb is in his first season with the Vampires and now has 43 goals from eight games. East Brighton won the match by 181 points to remain unbeaten on a day when its great stalwart Mark ‘Junior’ Jamieson broke the club’s games record. He played his 349th senior game for the club and will bring up his 350-game milestone next week.
In Southern Division 1, St Kilda City’s woes continued with a 36-point loss to premiership candidate Cheltenham. City has won only one match this season and finds itself in a relegation fight.
Springvale Districts kept its finals-flame aglow with a 28-point victory over a worthy Port Melbourne Colts. Gippsland recruit Daniel Helmore was best-afield by the length of Princes Highway, bagging six goals from the midfield. Key forward Matt Wetering kicked three.
EX-HAWK, FORMER DEMON LIGHT UP MPFNL
Ex-AFL Hawk and Saint Shane Savage capped a best-on-ground display with four goals to help Pines edge Bonbeach by two points, 7.13 (55) to 7.11 (53).
Former Melbourne captain Nathan Jones was prominent in Mt Eliza’s 55-point win over Frankston Bombers, 19.18 (132) to 12.5 (77).
FORMER NO.1 PICK JOINS COUNTRY RANKS
Jonathon Patton has linked with Bendigo league outfit Kangaroo Flat in a move club president Leigh Bailey hopes “gives us a bit more of a profile”.
The former GWS and Hawthorn big man played 95 AFL games from 2012-2020 after his top selection in the 2011 national draft, and signs at the country club via a friendship with the senior coach.
“The conversation started, probably a couple of weeks ago, and he’s got that bit of zest in him to get back to footy and get involved,” Bailey said.
While Patton was not selected in Kangaroo Flat’s team which took on Strathfieldsaye on Saturday, the 30-year-old could debut on June 17.
The president is hopeful of qualifying Patton for finals should the club make it.
“We’re looking at potentially five games (at a minimum),” Bailey said.
“That’s what we came to in the arrangement.
“We’re looking at playing his first game against Golden Square in a couple of weeks and then we’ll see how it moves from there.”
MILESTONE MAN PUTS ON A CLINIC
Montmorency great Pat Fitzgerald marked his 250th game with six-goal haul in a 20.9 (129) to 8.8 (56) victory over Banyule in the Northern league’s Division 1.
CLASH OF THE TITANS
Darley has knocked over Melton in a battle of the undefeated sides in the Ballarat league, 11.10 (76) to 8.17 (65). Forward Billy Myers was named best afield.
MORE COUNTRY FOOTY
The teammates of Castlemaine teenager Dallas Keogh-Frankling have played in his honour and celebrated a win in the Bendigo league.
Last week Keogh-Frankling died after collapsing following a tackle during the under-18 match between Castlemaine and Kyneton.
This week his teammates, with plenty of emotion, celebrated a win by beating Golden Square by five points.
It was just their second win of the season and ended the Bulldogs unbeaten run in the competition.
Meanwhile, Albury has stormed to the top of the Ovens and Murray league after beating Wodonga by 44 points at Martin Park.
Coached by former Richmond and Gold Coast player Anthony Miles, it was another ex-AFL player who starred with Jeff Garlett kicking three goals.
Albury now sits on top after Yarrawonga was beaten by the Wangaratta Rovers by 32 points.
Former AFL rising star winner Lewis Taylor played his first game for Terang Mortlake as it beat Hamilton by 68 points in the Hampden league.
The win continues the Bloods’ impressive form this season with the team winning all but one game so far.
Maryborough Rovers will get ultimate bragging rights after beating Royal Park in the Maryborough Castlemaine league by six points.
The game was the last for the two against each other before both amalgamate with each other ahead of next season.
The Rovers were down at half time but fought back in the third quarter to lead by 17 points at the final change.
Royal Park, despite a late quarter surge, could not come back.
Maryborough Rovers won for the first time in eight years against the Tigers.
VAFA PREMIER DIVISION
Old Melburnians surprised Old Brighton with a 27-point victory at Elsternwick Park. Meanwhile, Old Scotch continued its rousing season with a 52-point victory over University Blacks.
HAWKS TAKE FLIGHT IN EFNL PREMIER DIVISION
Rowville has secured a vital win ahead of the mid-season bye in the Eastern league’s Premier Division, halting an in-form Norwood outfit 13.11 (89) to 10.9 (69). Both sides entered the match holding a 4-3 record after upset victories the previous round – with Norwood turfing East Ringwood from the top of the ladder after edging reigning premier Noble Park a fortnight earlier. Saturday’s result lifts Rowville to a 5-3 record following a 2022 grand final berth – a clash with a winless Park Orchards awaits the Hawks after the bye.
SAINTS WIN NINE STRAIGHT
South Belgrave remains unbeaten on top of the Eastern league Division 1 ladder after a ninth-straight win to close out the first half of the season, defeating Croydon 14.16 (100) to 9.9 (63). The Blues jumped the Saints early for a 12-point quarter-time lead before the ladder-leader edged ahead by nine at the main break. A six-goal-to-one third term put the result beyond doubt at the final change. South Belgrave was promoted from Division 2 at the end of last season following its premiership win.
DOCKERS GROUND JETS IN TOP-FOUR CLASH
Fourth-placed Templestowe has reaffirmed its premiership credentials in the Eastern league’s Division 2, defeating third-placed Heathmont, 13.14 (92) to 9.6 (60). Just 10 points separated the pair at half-time before Templestowe extended the margin to 29 points at the final change, led by gun recruit Dean Limbach with a three-goal third term – finishing with five for the match. Limbach’s effort follows on from a bag of seven the previous week in his first match for the club. The result lifts the Dockers’ to a 7-2 record ahead of the mid-season bye.
LIONS SNAP LOSING-STREAK
Fairpark has snapped a five-game losing streak in the Eastern league’s Division 3, holding off the Whitehorse Pioneers to win 14.13 (97) to 11.18 (84) after leading by just six points at three-quarter time. The win is the Lions’ first since Round 3.
EASTERN DIVISION 4 UPSET
Forest Hill has handed Kilsyth its first loss of the Eastern league Division 4 season, upsetting the ladder-leader, 18.3 (111) to 9.13 (67). The Zebras raced out to a 34-point quarter-time lead – and didn’t look back – extending the margin to 36 and 46 at the main and final breaks. A draw with second-placed Surrey Park had been the only blemish on Kilsyth’s season from seven starts ahead of Saturday’s match.
WESTERN REGION
Spotswood has sent a wave through the Western Region league with a 43-point win over reigning premier Altona. Spotty kicked 10 goals to one in the second half as Brandon Walshe booted four.
ESSENDON DISTRICT
Burnside Heights caused a massive boilover in Division 2 of the Essendon District league with a 31-point win over premiership favourite Oak Park.
The Bears led at every change but were able to break the game open in the second half.
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