Local footy wrap: Flag contenders emerge amid surprise results

Teams announced themselves as genuine flag contenders, while others stumbled. There was a 17-goal quarter, career firsts and young guns firing — it’s all in our sweeping local footy wrap.

Thomas Handley celebrates goal for Geelong West on Saturday. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Geelong West held a 50-year reunion for its 1975 premiership side on Saturday and the Giants marked the occasion with a rousing seven-point win over St Albans in AFL Barwon.

Billy Goggin, who coached the flag, was warmly welcomed back and the Giants wore heritage VFA-designed red and white jumpers for the game at West Oval.

Lachie Horniblow capped a best-on-ground display with five goals for Geelong West, while Tom Handley, Ethan Liddle and Finley O’Keefe also ran hot in the 11.14 (80) to 10.13 (73) victory.

Billy Goggin helps to raise the 1975 VFA premiership flag. Picture: Mike Dugdale

LATE GOAL SINKS DOLPHINS

Frankston Dolphins suffered their first loss in a year when they fell four points short of Chelsea Heights in Southern league Division 2. The Dolphins were going for 20-straight wins but a goal at the 26-minute mark by the Demons ended the streak. Chelsea Heights got off to a fast start with Jordan Peryman and Nick Lee kicking the first two goals at Beazley Reserve. Luke Smith, Liam Frazer and Luke Clark were among the best players in the 8.14 (62) to 8.10 (58) victory.

EMERALD ON THE BOARD

Dave Johnson celebrated his first win as coach of Emerald after the Bombers held on to beat Michael Firrito’s Gembrook Cockatoo by two points, 10.10 (70) to 10.8 (69), in Outer East league Premier Division. Johnson kicked four goals while Aiden Gajanovic and Wil Gazzard ran rampant for the Bombers.

Harrison Money was among Langwarrin’s best. Picture: Valeriu Campan

KANGAS UNBEATEN

Langwarrin continued its stunning start to the Mornington Peninsula Division 1 season, beating Sorrento by 52 points to go 4-0. The Kangaroos, co-coached by Josh Beard and ex-AFL Swan Jarred Moore, won their opening three matches by one, two and three points. But they did it more comfortably on Saturday, kicking five successive goals in the third quarter to set up victory, 13.14 (92) to 6.4 (40). Langy found inspiration from Jaiden Jakubenko, Mitch Cuthbert, Jordy Bertrand, Harry Money and youngster Corey Slefendorfas.

BURRAS BLITZ

The floodgates opened at Mac Sparke Oval as Warburton Millgrove racked up 17 goals in the last quarter to trounce a hapless Yarra Junction by 238 points in Outer East Division 1. The Burras shared it around, with Tom Baker kicking seven and Bailey Humphrey and Tom Barr four apiece in the 36.30 (246) to 1.2 (8) demolition.

EAGLES, JUST

Vermont has held off a final-quarter fightback from Doncaster East to move 2-0 to start the Eastern Premier Division season. The Eagles prevailed 13.11 (89) to 10.14 (74) after leading by 22 at the half and 15 at the final change. Doncaster East’s Tom Bell finished among the best players and cut the margin to just six points with 11 minutes expired in the final term — but the hosts thundered home with the last two goals of the match. Seven-time Vermont best and fairest Lachie Johns was one of the best-afield while Angus Strachan won the Anzac Medal.

HAWKS TAME TIGERS

Reigning Eastern league Premier Division champion Balwyn has slumped to 0-2 to start the season after falling to Rowville, 10.14 (74) to 6.8 (44). Balwyn also lost to Blackburn on Good Friday, and joins Mitcham, Berwick and South Croydon winless after the opening fortnight. Meanwhile, Rowville sits alongside East Ringwood, Vermont and Blackburn unbeaten after two rounds.

Jye Borg, of Murchison-Toolamba, spoils Zac Groombridge, of the Shepparton East Eagles. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Aidan Lloyd and Sam Woodward go at it. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

HOPPERS STILL BEST

The leading goalkicker in country footy last year has helped Murchison Toolamba remain the team to beat in the Kyabram District league. James Lloyd, who kicked 137 goals last year, kicked five as the Grasshoppers defeated Shepparton East by 26 points in the grand final replay on Saturday. Murchison Toolamba led from start to finish to remain unbeaten in 21 matches in the competition.

NO PROBLEM, PROMOTION

Boronia has started life in Eastern’s Division 1 with a 2-0 record after a 17.10 (112) to 6.8 (44) victory over Gary Ayres’ Montrose. The Hawks led by 13 points at quarter-time and didn’t look back, extending the deficit to 37 and 73 at the main and final breaks. Boronia was promoted from Division 2 at the end of last season following back-to-back premierships.

GREENVALE WINS A THRILLER

Greenvale prevailed in a five-point Essendon District league thriller against the more fancied Pascoe Vale. The Jets trailed at every break but were able to grab their first four points of the season thanks to an impressive goalkicking display, 10.5 (65) to 7.18 (60).

VARCOE’S MEN WIN A THRILLER

Travis Varcoe’s Altona picked up a thrilling one-point Western league Division 1 win over Spotswood. In a match-up between two finals aspirants, Connor Bulley was the difference up forward for the Vikings with three goals as he continued his impressive start to life with his new club.

POINT COOK ON THE BOARD

Point Cook secured its first win under new coach Saade Ghazi. The Dogs beat local rivals Point Cook Centrals by 36 points.

SHARKS BITE BULLS
Former St Kilda teammates Nathan Burke and Troy Schwarze coached against each other for the first time on Saturday — and it was Schwarze who took bragging rights. Schwarze’s Bonbeach took the whip to Burke’s Karingal, winning the Mornington Peninsula Division 2 clash by 115 points, 24.11 (155) to 6.4 (40). Bentleigh recruit Dimitri Fasoulis slotted eight goals for Bonbeach, which also counted Tom McKinley, Ben McLean, Jet Peckett and Brayden Chapple among its best players.

Tom Hogan in action for Bonbeach. Picture: Valeriu Campan

BULLDOGS BRILLIANT

Highett pulled off the upset of the Southern league Division 2 season when it defeated the highly-touted Hampton Park. Jacob Apted and Yael Hoorman slotted two goals apiece as the Bulldogs got off the leash with seven goals to one in the second quarter to set up victory, 10.21 (81) to 9.10 (64) — their first of the season.

BOMBERS BLAST OFF

Riley Ironside fired off seven goals to lead Kyabram to a 116-point win in the Goulburn Valley league. They defeated winless Shepparton United 29.19 (193) to 11.11 (77), with Zac Cerrone (four goals) and Charlie Barnett (three) also lively up forward for the 4-0 Bombers.

OLD IVANHOE REMAINS PERFECT

VAFA Premier B flag contender Old Ivanhoe maintained its perfect 3-0 record after holding on for a three-point win against Old Melburnians at Elsternwick Park. Archie Franklin, Mitch Mitris, Patrick Naish and Max Whiteman kicked two goals apiece.

OLD XAVERIANS’ IMPRESSIVE COMEBACK

Trailing by 28 points at halftime, Old Xaverians appeared to be down and out in its VAFA Premier Men’s clash with Old Haileybury. But Dan Donati’s side rallied in the second half to run out seven-point winners. Charlie MacIsaac proved to be the difference inside forward 50 with three majors.

TROUBLING SCORELINE

Essendon Doutta Stars ran out 225 point winners against East Keilor in the Essendon District league’s top tier. But the bigger concern was the fact the Cougars did not register a single score. East Keilor has kicked eight goals across its first three games. For the Stars, Bailey Ryan slotted 10 goals.

LAKERS’ SHOCK UPSET

Kinglake has pulled off what will surely be one of the upsets of the NFNL Division 3 season, taking down premiership fancy Epping by 10 points at Epping Reserve. Les Adams booted four goals, while Damian Pywell added three. The Pingers were missing ex-AFL ace Brent Macaffer and struggled to fill his boots in midfield. Daniel Rakhlin booted four goals for the home team.

WALLAN ON THE BOARD

Last year’s Riddell District league grand finallists have had a disjointed start to the season, the Round 1 bye, a loss to Riddell and then the Easter bye. However, the Magpies are finally on the board with a 29-point win over Romsey at Romsey Park on Saturday. The Redbacks were two points in front at three-quarter-time but were held goalless, while the visitors piled on five unanswered goals to run out 13.7 (85) to 8.8 (56) winners.

BRIDGES, BULLDOGS ALL SQUARE

An enthralling end-to-end contest as seen Hurstbridge and North Heidelberg share the points at Ben Frilay Oval on Saturday. Brock Chircop saved the day for the Bulldogs, securing them two points with a last gasp goal to level the scores. It came just 60 seconds after Will Cookson had given the Bridges a late lead. Chircop finished with three majors for the day, as did Bailey Jordan for the home team.

KANGAS CLAIM BIANCHIN CUP

Macleod claimed an impressive 35-point win over St Mary’s at DeWinton Reserve to cement themselves as one of the top teams in NFNL Division 2. Both clubs came into the season with new coaches, the Kangas led by Nick Lynch, while his premiership teammate, Jack Bianchin, is now coach of St Mary’s. The Burras led by six points at three-quarter-time but were overrun by a rampant home team, which kicked six majors in the final term. Darcy Barden contined his outstanding start to the year with a five-goal haul.

EASTERN ANZAC SPECIALS

It was a smorgasbord of footy in the Eastern league on Anzac Day, headlined by Blackburn rattling home with a six-goal final term to down South Croydon, 12.10 (82) to 9.9 (63), after trailing virtually all afternoon. Meanwhile, East Ringwood held off Mitcham by six points under lights in Premier Division, South Belgrave shook off a determined Beaconsfield by 22 points in Division 1, Ringwood (Division 2) edged Heathmont by 13, and Kilsyth ran out 50-point victors over Warrandyte in Division 4.

LET’S GO

The last country leagues kick-started their seasons on Saturday with the Golden Rivers and Upper Murray leagues getting underway. Reigning grand finalists Ultima and Hay in the Golden Rivers league had wins over Wandella and Moulamein by 51 and 33 points respectively. The other game saw Murrabit win by 21 points over Macorna. In the Upper Murray league, there was one game, with Bullioh smashing Corryong by 196 points. Ashley Murray kicked 16 goals for the Bulldogs.

KANGAROOS STAR DELIVERS

East Point’s Matthew Johnston continues to show why he’s one of the best footballers in country footy, kicking five goals in the Kangaroos’ 44 point win over Redan. Last year’s Henderson Medallist helped his side come back from four goals down at quarter time to secure a comfortable win in the end. East Point is unbeaten in four games and is currently on top in the Ballarat league.

GULLS ON RISE

Five goals to former Pakenham player James Harrison has helped Warragul to a 69-point win over Sale in the Gippsland league. Led by ex-AFL player Jed Lamb the team kicked seven opening-term goals before doing the same in the third term to blow the game wide open. The Gulls are now 2-1 and have started on the right foot to play finals for the first time since 2016.

ROVERS MOVE TO TOP

The Wangaratta Rovers have taken top spot in the Ovens and Murray ladder after beating Lavington by seven points. In a hard-fought contest, three goals in four minutes in the final term, including one to coach Sam Murray, helped the Eagles overcome the Panthers 9.16 (70) to 9.9 (63). The Rovers had eight individual goalkickers.

EAGLES SOAR

Robinvale Euston continued its hot start to the Sunraysia league season, beating South Mildura 20.15 (135) to 9.8 (62) to go 3-0 on top of the ladder. Joseph Mezzatesta was dominant with four goals as the Eagles powered home with seven last-quarter goals. Nick Neyland, Achilles Panopoulos and Ethan Gill kicked three goals each.