Local footy wrap: Five clubs across Victoria have shattered major losing streaks
Five clubs across Victoria registered drought-breaking wins, while there were upsets, smashings and 28 goals between three forwards in a bumper round of local footy. Catch up on it all here.
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There were droughts broken, upsets and almighty thrashings.
This weekend of local footy had close to everything.
Here’s Saturday’s wrap.
DROUGHTS BROKEN!
The streak is over for Northern league club Lalor.
The Bloods have broken their 44-game losing streak with a the-point win over Kilmore.
The two teams were inseparable at the final change but it was the Bloods who ran home winners, 8.11 (59) to 8.8 (56).
Scott Morrison kicked three while Zac Orr, Hayden Hunt, Nathan Parkes, Nicholas Anastasi, Aaron Tkocz and Moussa Ali were also massive in the memorable afternoon.
Rumbalara too snapped its 40-game Murray league losing streak, with a triumphant win over Echuca United.
Not having sung the song since 2021, Rumbalara slammed home seven majors to two in a scintillating opening stanza.
Rumba carried on their form in the second, third and fourth to complete a four-quarter performance, 21.12 (138) to 8.8 (56).
The trend continued in the Horsham and District league, with Laharum ending its 24-game losing streak.
Laharum, celebrating 150 years since its establishment, snuck home by three goals over Kalkee.
Rye, meanwhile, won its first match in nearly two years in the Mornington Peninsula league Saturday, ending its losing streak at 22 games.
The Demons - under new coach Brendon Moore - led throughout to beat Hastings by 26 points, 16.14 (110) to 12.12 (84), at Rowley Reserve.
Jess Hawkins ignited Rye with seven goals, captain Campbell Robbins was outstanding and teenagers Henry Hayes and Justin Barnes starred.
Wahgunyah weren’t spared in the drought-breaking day either, wiping its 41-game winning streak with a nine-point win over Dederang Mt-Beauty in the Tallangatta & District Football League.
PANTHERS OUTLAST MORES
Pascoe Vale has run away to an unbeaten start with a crushing win over Strathmore.
The Panthers led marginally at every change before kicking five goals to two in the final term to record a 11.17 (83) to 7.9 (59) win.
Adam Figliola and Matt Watson kicked three goals apiece while Thomas Hofert, Noah Scott, Daniel Guccione, Daman Aujla and Charles Bolmat were among the Panthers’ best.
Elsewhere, an EDFL reserves game was called off after just several minutes.
The division two clash between Hadfield and Glenroy was abandoned after an ambulance was required for a serious leg injury.
As the game was stopped for 30 minutes, play would not restart under league rules.
REMATCH REVENGE FOR SKOBS
It was sweet revenge for St Kevin’s.
SKOB has sunk reigning VAFA premier Collegians to a 0-2 start with a great win at Harry Trott Oval.
St Kevin’s looked out of sorts in the third term when it hadn’t kicked a goal in 34 minutes of footy – most of which was played with the wind.
But it managed to swiftly kick into gear late to turn a two-goal deficit into a two-goal lead ahead of the final change.
The visitors were eventually able to salvage some grand-final justice in the form of a 10.13 (73) to 8.6 (54) victory.
Liam Walters cleverly dribbled through the sealer in red time to see his side home.
Scott Beilby was terrific for Collegians while Alastair Richards was among SKOB’s best.
Collegians, which surprisingly went down to Old Melburnians last week, is now winless heading into round 3, where it will meet Old Scotch.
EAGLES STILL GROUNDED
Balwyn has consigned Eastern Premier Division powerhouse Vermont to a 0-2 start to the season with a 12.12 (84) to 5.6 (36) victory at Terrara Rd.
Balwyn led by just 11 points at the half before extending the margin to 35 at the final change off the back of a four-goal-to-none third term.
Ex-AFL Kangaroo Kayne Turner was best afield for Balwyn while Nathan Oakes finished with three goals following six the previous week.
Vermont’s next three weeks don’t get any easier, with Rowville, Noble Park and Doncaster East on the horizon.
CAN THE MAGPIES COME BACK FROM HERE?
The season of Ovens and Murray league powerhouse Wangaratta is on the canvas after the Magpies suffered their fourth straight defeat.
Winless and down by five goals at the main break, the Magpies responded in mighty fashion in the third to take a 14-point lead into three-quarter time.
But an arm-wrestle of a fourth quarter ultimately resulted in the Magpies going down by two points.
Yarrawonga new recruit Perry Lewis-Smith was the matchwinner in the end, with two goals — including the final one — in the fourth term on debut.
Matt Casey was also electric for the Pigeons, taking two brave marks and applying several strong tackles.
The Magpies take on the winless Myrtleford next week while the Pigeons improve their record to 4-0.
BULLDOGS MAUL BLOODHOUNDS
St Paul’s McKinnon has continued its rattling start to the Southern league Division 1 season by thrashing Mordialloc.
The Bulldogs, under new coach Andy Scott, have scooted to a 3-0 start to the year.
Two-time league medal winner Matthew Kreymborg is in commanding form for the Bulldogs, adding four goals to his tally in Saturday’s 15.22 (112) to 1.5 (11) win.
The Bloods failed to kick a goal in the first half, which adds to the ugly collective of just 2.4 in first halves this year.
With Chelsea Heights next week, St Paul’s McKinnon should go into its round 5 clash with reigning premier Cheltenham undefeated.
Port Melbourne Colts, Springvale Districts, Dingley and Cheltenham were the other winners across Division 1.
HILLS ARRIVE IN TIME
Red Hill rattled home with the last three scores of the game to snatch a one-point win over Sorrento in Mornington Peninsula league’s Division 1.
The Hillmen hit the front with two minutes to go, prevailing 11.15 (81) to 11.14 (80).
Dylan Atkins, Michael Griechen and Harry Wynn-Pope were superb for Red Hill.
Oliver Jackson kicked four goals for the winners It means seven sides - Dromana, Sorrento, Mt Eliza, Red Hill, Frankston YCW, Frankston Bombers, Pines - are locked on 2-1 after three rounds in MPFNL’s top grade.
BLOODS BLITZ
Healesville went on a goalkicking frenzy to start its season in Outer East league’s Division 1, trouncing Powelltown by 280 points, 44.19 (283) to 0.3 (3).
Ex-AFL froward Aaron Edwards kicked 10 goals, as did Max Donegan, while Charlie Warren slotted through eight majors.
Meanwhile, Officer secured its first win in Premier division, upsetting Mt Evelyn by 13 points.
Youngster Riley Wierzbicki slotted four goals in the 15.9 (99) to 12.14 (86) victory.
EX-AFL STARS SOAR EAGLES
Nathan Vardy kicked five and Steven Motlop two, as North Warrnambool claimed a 79-point win over Port Fairy.
Motlop, on debut, was named best afield for the Eagles alongside Adam Wines, Jett Bermingham, Luke Wines, Felix Jones and Bailey Jenkinson.
The Eagles are now 2-1 having lost to only South Warrnambool in round 1.
POWER FEEL THE PINCH
Wonthaggi has sunk to a 0-4 start in the Gippsland league after going down to Morwell on Saturday.
The Power led by three points at the final change but were overrun by the Tigers in the last to lose 7.8 (50) to 9.8 (62).
Tyler Hillier kicked three for the Tigers while Brandon Mcauliffe, Aidan Quigley, Archie Grant, Sam Walsh, Jackson Burr and Brandon Bailey were all sensational.
LATCHFORD LEADS RESURGENT RINGWOOD
A resurgent Ringwood stunned 2023 grand finalist Heathmont in the Eastern league’s Division 2 on Friday night.
The 10.10 (70) to 3.4 (22) victory lifts the Redbacks to a 3-0 start after missing the finals last season.
Ringwood raced to a 42-point lead at the main break, courtesy of a five-goal-to-none second term after just 10 points separated the teams at quarter-time.
VFL-listed ruckman Jett Latchford finished best afield for the Redbacks, while Harry George and Josh Meerkotter fired with three goals apiece.
In Division 4, Chirnside Park has reaffirmed its flag credentials, defeating premiership rival Scoresby, 13.11 (89) to 10.9 (69), at Kimberley Reserve.
It’s the Panthers’ second win of the season from three starts, with their only loss coming at the hands of 2023 grand finalist Kilsyth in Round 1.
Saturday’s result exacts some revenge for Chirnside Park, after Scoresby ended its 2023 campaign in last year’s elimination final.
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