Local footy wrap: Justin Van Unen kicks 1000th goal as draft fancy Luke Trainor wins APS thriller
A star forward brought up a four-figure milestone, as a draft prospect delivered in an APS thriller. Meanwhile, one of local footy’s longest winning streaks came to an end.
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A star forward brought up a four-figure milestone, a draft hopeful delivered in an APS thriller, while one of local footy’s longest winning streaks came to an end. And a country match was abandoned.
All the major talking points from a bumper Saturday of local footy ...
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A Central Highlands match between Newlyn and Springbank was abandoned on Saturday after players and umpires reportedly suffered signs of hypothermia amid the wet and wintry conditions.
MORE: Country match abandoned at half-time
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VAN UNEN NOTCHES 1000
One of grassroots footy’s most damaging forwards of the past decade has saluted his 1000th career goal.
Former ‘The Recruit’ star Justin Van Unen brought up the four-figure milestone playing for Kilsyth in Eastern’s Division 4 on Saturday, as his side fell to top-four rival Chirnside Park, 7.6 (48) to 10.6 (66).
The decorated and well-travelled spearhead joined Kilsyth at the end of last year fresh off a premiership with Outer East club Powelltown.
No stranger to the Eastern league, he bagged 80 majors for Doncaster East in 2011 before hauls of 86 and 77 for Vermont across 2013 and ’14.
He’s twice cracked the ton in a season, at Rye in 2012 and Mt Eliza in ’15.
An appearance on reality television program The Recruit followed in 2016, leading to a spot on Essendon’s VFL list.
The former Oakleigh Charger nailed 96 goals for Wandin in 2018, crossing to Southern outfit Dingley for 2021 and ’22.
Kilsyth sits 20 points clear in fourth on the ladder with four home-and-away games remaining.
FALCONS END VALES’ RUN
One of local footy’s longest winning streaks is no more.
Knox has ended Donvale’s 31-game stretch with a 6.11 (47) to 6.6 (42) victory in Eastern’s Division 3 – the Vales’ first loss since Round 3, 2023.
The Falcons led at all changes, including by 14 points at the half and four at three-quarter time.
Donvale, which won 17 matches in a row on the way to the Division 3 premiership last year, remains eight points ahead on top of the ladder – while Knox has moved 12 points clear in third spot.
AFL HOPEFUL STARS
Luke Trainor has done it again.
The star defender has tightened Brighton Grammar’s grip on the APS title in another swing forward.
Trainor, touted as one of the best defenders in the this year’s AFL draft, was put forward no less than six days after he delivered Vic Metro the national championship with a goal after the siren.
With scores level late in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Trainor beat two opponents with a stunning mark before kicking his side ahead of Haileybury College with a long point.
The behind was the final score of the game as the siren sounded shortly after.
Brighton led at the main break but a wasteful third term had it trailing by two goals at three-quarter time.
Haileybury then kicked the first of the last quarter to make Brighton’s task in wet and windy conditions all the more difficult.
Levi Ashcroft, who was closely monitored all day, got to work in the middle and played a strong hand in Brighton’s final-quarter comeback.
Haileybury went inside 50 prior to Trainor’s point but Brighton captain Sam Linder bravely stood under a high ball and hit a perfect outlet kick to allow the Tonners forward.
The 5.12 (42) to 6.5 (41) win pushes Brighton a win clear of Haileybury with two rounds left.
“My god was that an amazing advertisement for APS football,” Brighton Grammar School head of sport Jack Joslin said.
“It’s unfortunate there had to be a winner today.”
Brighton Grammar 1.0 1.2 2.7 5.12 (42)
Haileybury College 0.0 0.4 4.5 6.5 (41)
Goals:
BGS: C. Richardson, J. Dolan, A. Butler, A. Lambert, A. Ludowyke
HYC: K. Mountford (2), M. Kirkwood-Scott, H. Armstrong, J. Lawrence, J. Blight
BRILLIANT BOMBERS
It must be one of the more extraordinary performances of the local footy season. In the Riddell District top-of-the-table clash ladder-leader Riddell held second-placed – and reigning premier – Diggers Rest goalless for the entire match. The Burras scored just three behinds at Riddell’s Creek Reserve as the Bombers made a stunning title statement with a 91-point triumph. Ben Sonogan, Matthew Darby, Dylan Tarczon and Tommy Alkemade all impressed, while Dean Galea, Haydn Ross and Darby finished with three goals each.
EX-BLUE IMPRESSES
Former AFL man Dylan Buckley’s presence wasn’t enough to lift Toora to a third win of the season, as the Mid Gippsland league outfit fell to a finals-bound Yinnar, 1.4 (10) to 4.9 (33) on Saturday.
Buckley, 31, turned out a best-afield showing after linking with the Magpies as part of the Carlton Draft promotion. He played 41 AFL matches across Carlton and GWS from 2012 to 2019.
EAGLES FLYING
Full of momentum, Somerville jumped into the top five with a 59-point win over Pearcedale in Mornington Peninsula Division 2.
The Eagles started fast and kept Pearcedale goalless until the last quarter to make it six wins in a row, 12.16 (86) to 3.11 (29).
Corey Battams shone in the gloom with four goals while Lochie Fewster, Lachlan Williams, Miller Stewart, Ben Kaddatz and Aiden Finn were in everything.
BURRAS BRILLIANT
Lachlan Hewitt capped a best on ground performance with five goals as Warburton Millgrove beat Belgrave in Outer East league Division 1.
Tyson Henry, Tim McKail, Nelson Aldridge, Andrew Trende and Liam Barnard also had a big say in the 10.13 (73) to 5.7 (37) win which improves the Burras’ record to 10-3 and cements a top-three spot.
DRAW SEALS CONTENDERS
Cheltenham and St Paul’s McKinnon have all but cemented the top two spots on the Southern league ladder after they played out a thrilling draw.
Both undermanned, the top-of-the-table Rosellas and building Bulldogs were inseparable at 36-apiece.
There were five lead changes in trying conditions at McKinnon Reserve.
The result keeps Cheltenham four points clear of St Paul’s McKinnon with just one of the top four sides on the run home.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are now six points clear of Dingley.
East Brighton and Cranbourne recorded expected wins while Springvale Districts made Port Melbourne Colts’ bid for a finals berth much harder.
In Division 2, Endeavour Hills handed Caulfield Bears their third consecutive loss.
The Bears had lost by a collective six points its past two matches before the 16-point loss to the Falcons.
The win all but ensures the Falcons remain in Division 2 if double relegation is introduced later this year.
PYTHONS POWER
The Pines faithful turned out in droves to watch favourite son Beau Hendry clock up his 300th game in red and green at Eric Bell Reserve.
And in a dream outcome, the Pythons snatched a thrilling victory over Rosebud, 6.8 (44) to 5.9 (39), with Liam Cox kicking the winning goal in the dying moments.
Hendry was chaired off, clutching his jumper in a show of dedication to Pines, for which his father Gordon played over 500 games and his brother Guy over 200.
STARS’ BIG GUNS FIRE
VFL guns Patrick Farrant and Tyson Pickett both kicked two goals but it was Fitzroy Stars’ defence that inspired a 31-point win over Mernda. In a one-v-three clash of Northern Division 3 premiership contenders at Sir Doug Nicholls Oval, the Stars held the Demons to a single goal after quarter-time. The home side ran out 8.7 (55) to 3.6 (24) victors to retain its place on top of the ladder.
OAKS WIN UGLY
Oakleigh District has dealt Upper Ferntree Gully’s finals hopes a hammer blow in Eastern’s Division 3 after snatching a three-point victory.
Trailing by eight points at the half, the Oaks cut the margin to just three points at three-quarter time before edging ahead in the final term to win 6.4 (40) to 5.7 (37) in wet and muddy conditions at Kings Park.
The loss sends Upper Gully two games behind the top five with three home-and-away matches remaining – while the Oaks consolidate their spot in the finals race in fifth.
Simon Black was the hero for the visitors, kicking truly for the matchwinning goal eight minutes into the last quarter.
OLD HAILEYBURY HOLDS ON
Old Haileybury held off a fast-finishing St Bedes/Mentone to avoid the shock of the VAFA Premier B season. The Bloods ran out seven-point winners as the last-placed Tigers stormed home.
NORTH BRUNSWICK’S UNBEATEN RUN ENDS
St John’s ended North Brunswick’s undefeated VAFA Division 3 run in emphatic fashion. It ran out 62-point winners with Clayton Emery, Jayden Rudd, Michael Ashman, Austin Waters, Jon Grima and Damon McCormack all impressing.
ALBION REMAINS UNBEATEN, JUST
Albion held off a fast-finishing Newport to win a WFNL Division 2 thriller. The flag favourite hasn’t been tested in weeks and withstood the challenge.
KEILOR BRUSHES PAST CHALLENGER
Keilor showed why it is so strong with a 41-point win over Pascoe Vale. Skipper Kane Barbuto and Jermarl Daly kicked three each.
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