Local footy wrap: Lloyd, Moorcroft, Robinson, Carlisle step up in bumper Saturday of action
A host of former AFL stars laced up the boots in cameo appearances across the state, while the wet and wintry conditions paved the way for an avalanche of upsets.
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A host of former AFL stars laced up the boots in cameo appearances across the state – including ex-Essendon sharpshooter Matthew Lloyd – while the wet and wintry conditions paved the way for an avalanche of upsets.
All the major talking points from a bumper Saturday of action ...
LLOYD LACES UP
Former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd has helped Old Collegians to a narrow victory over Kolora-Noorat in the Warrnambool & District league.
Snared by the Warriors for a one-off appearance as part of the Carlton Draft initiative, the 46-year-old was instrumental in the 6.8 (44) to 4.8 (32) win according to Old Collegians president Simon Dawson.
“He kicked one goal, but set up the last goal we kicked to steady us,” Dawson said.
“(He also had) a couple of hard-ball gets – he wasn’t just out the back trying to get the cheap kicks, so it was good.”
A bumper crowd assembled at Davidson Oval to watch the 2000 premiership hero lace up the boots.
“It was unreal,” Dawson said.
“It was pretty cold and a bit of rain about, but it was still a pretty good crowd and they had a pretty good day.
“(Lloyd’s) been super – he’s bought in with the boys and he’s been watching our scores in the past month or so since we drafted him. It was great.”
HIGH-FLYER RETURNS
At age 48, former AFL flyer Gary Moorcroft made a surprise appearance for Thorpdale in the Mid Gippsland league and helped the Blues pull away from Mirboo North and win by 36 points.
Moorcroft, who retired from South Morang in the Northern league at the end of last season, kicked a goal for Thorpy, who are coached by another ex-Bomber, Jason Winderlich.
Winderlich was named in the best for his side, which celebrated club mainstay Ray Pickering’s 250th game.
Pickering booted two goals on a day when they were scarce.
Fierce rivals Fish Creek and Foster played out a tense, tight finish at Terrill Park, with the Creekers filching a five-point win.
Star Darcy Berryman kicked four of Fishy’s five goals, taking his season’s tally to 39.
Yinnar held the ladder lead by defeating Boolarra by 62 points.
In the North Gippsland league, Woodside stayed unbeaten from 10 matches when it held out a persistent Heyfield by 25 points.
Coach and former Collingwood AFL rookie Dan Farmer slotted four goals.
The Ellinbank and District league also has an undefeated team, Buln Buln, which is perfect from 12 outings.
But it was hard work for the Lyrebirds on Saturday, pushed all the way by Ellinbank in rugged conditions before prevailing by four points.
ROBBO BOOSTS PANTHERS
Ex-AFL star Mitch Robinson kicked two goals to help propel Eltham to a critical 36-point win over Macleod in a NFNL Division 1 relegation battle at Central Park. The former Carlton and Brisbane Lions midfielder was a timely boost for the Panthers, who now move two games clear of the Kangas at the bottom of the ladder.
CARLISLE MAKES WALLAN DEBUT
Former Essendon and St Kilda star Jake Carlisle stepped up for Wallan for the first time as the Magpies claimed a strong 26-point win over RDFNL finals rival Romsey. Carlisle has made a mid-season move from EDFL outfit Craigieburn. The result is a crucial turnaround for Wallan, which lost to Riddell by 18 points last weekend and sees the Magpies jump back up to third ahead of the Bombers.
VERMONT UPSETS RIVAL
Vermont has held on to inflict Balwyn its first loss of the Eastern league Premier Division season.
The Eagles weathered a final-quarter push from the hosts in the 8.11 (59) to 6.10 (46) victory after leading by 20 points at three-quarter time.
Balwyn drew within a goal ticking into time-on of the final term.
The result ends the ladder-leading Tigers’ run of 10 consecutive victories.
TIGERS TOUGH IT OUT
St Bede’s-Mentone has broken its drought in VAFA’s Premier B.
The Tigers snared their first victory of the season on Saturday, upsetting Caulfield Grammarians, 12.12 (84) to 10.9 (69), at Glen Huntly Park after going winless from their opening 10 matches.
Grammarians entered the match four wins clear of St Bede’s-Mentone, which had been edging closer to a maiden victory in recent weeks.
The Tigers – who had Melbourne Category B rookie Kyah Farris-White playing in the ruck, kicked to a 16-point lead at the main break after the teams couldn’t be split in the opening term. A five-goal-to-two third quarter extended the margin to 35 points at the final change.
Jack Behnk finished with three goals for St Bede’s-Mentone, alongside Darcy Fountain and Liam Segar with two apiece.
MARVELLOUS MITCHAM
Reigning premier Mitcham has claimed yet another scalp in Eastern’s Division 1, knocking over potential finals rival Montrose.
The Tigers, who entered the match in fifth spot, led the second-placed Demons all afternoon in the 8.11 (59) to 4.9 (33) victory, played in wet and wintry conditions at Walker Park.
Mitcham – without a host of key names including co-captain Jackson Glossop – led by three points at quarter-time before kicking away to a 16-point advantage at the half. The hosts extended the buffer to 20 at the final change.
Lucas Marro led the charge for the Tigers in attack with two majors among seven individual goalkickers, while ruckman Tom Lovell and midfielders Jesse Uren and Jesse Cherry were in the best.
TIGERS TAME NARRE
Upwey Tecoma continued its march to the Outer East league Premier Division finals with a stunning victory over ladder-leading Narre Warren, 8.6 (54) to 5.14 (44).
The Tigers kicked seven goals to three after halftime to improve their record to 8-3 and end Narre’s unbeaten run.
Andrew Bartils, Carmine Porcaro and Daniel Waters kicked two goals apiece for Upwey Tecoma, which has won four on the bounce.
MIGHTY MUSTANGS
Mooroolbark has pulled off an almighty upset, defeating Beaconsfield 10.5 (65) to 5.11 (41) in Eastern’s Division 1.
The young Mustangs entered the match in sixth – three games behind the Eagles in fourth – as the hosts led by 14 points at the half before keeping the visitors goalless in the third for a 27-point lead at the last break.
The result lifts the Mustangs to a 6-6 record after starting the season 0-3.
Dual league medallist Austin Smith was best afield for Mooroolbark, while Trent Georgiou and Jackson Gilbee finished with three goals each.
PYTHONS, LANGY SCORE ROUSING WINS
Pines and Langwarrin have pulled off boilover wins to throw open the finals race in Mornington Peninsula league Division 1.
Pines led throughout to stun reigning premiers Dromana, 7.3 (45) to 5.9 (39), and edge closer to the top five.
Langwarrin banked its third win in a row when it stormed home to beat second-placed Mt Eliza, 8.9 (57) to 4.10 (34).
The Kangaroos kicked four unanswered goals in the last quarter, improving their record to 5-7.
DEVILS BREAK THROUGH
Wantirna South has won its first match of the Eastern league Division 1 season, upsetting Bayswater 14.4 (88) to 7.6 (48).
The Devils, led by Jason Heffernan in his first season in charge as coach, went winless through their opening 11 matches.
Spearheaded by three goals apiece to Liam Hewitt and Marcus Jordan, Wantirna South led at all changes, including by 44 at the half, before Baysie cut the deficit to just 12 points at three-quarter time.
But Heffernan’s men weren’t to be denied, finishing with five goals to none in the final term.
PASCOE VALE’S STATEMENT
Pascoe Vale has emerged as Keilor’s biggest EDFL Premier Division challenger with a 60-point thumping of Strathmore. Rhys Ritchie marked his return to the senior side with three goals while Matt Stillman and Matt Watson were named in the best.
ANOTHER WFNL DRAW
Werribee Districts hasn’t lost this season but the reigning premier was dealt its second draw of the year by Yarraville Seddon. The visiting Yarraville rallied from 20 points down at the final break to come away with a share of the spoils. Better players for Districts included Harrison White and Michael Luxford.
COUGARS ON THE MARCH
After a 0-9 start Northcote Park has now won three NFNL Division 2 matches on the trot and is eyeing what would be a stunning finals charge. The Cougars demolished Lower Plenty at Montmorency Park by 60 points, kicking 11 goals to three after half-time. James Krikas and Jacob Thompson both booted three goals. Amazingly, Northcote Park is now just two games outside the top-five.
CHELT’S NARROW ESCAPE
Cheltenham has narrowly avoided one of the boilovers of the Southern league season.
The unbeaten Rosellas were challenged all day by host Cranbourne in a wet and windy affair at Livingston Reserve.
The Eagles held the Rosellas at bay for three quarters but the premiership favourites pushed ahead in the last to win, 9.15 (69) to 6.12 (48).
Cheltenham was without Jack Lonie but was aided by VFL Dolphin, Ollie Moran.
Cranbourne looks to be the only side with the blueprint to challenge the Rosellas, as the only team to beat them in the past two years.
Elsewhere in Division 1, Dingley snared a win over Springvale Districts to solidify itself as a top-three outfit.
LAKES POUR MORE MISERY ON TURTLES
Kinglake secured its third win of the NFNL Division 3 season and condemned Old Eltham Collegians to a fifth straight defeat. The Lakers claimed a thrilling five-point win at Eltham College, holding off a desperate Turtles comeback from 18 points down at three-quarter-time. Damian Pywell booted a match-high four goals, while Rohan King and Liam Styles were instrumental for Kinglake.
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