Local footy wrap: Mitch Robinson injured, Will Howe slots 10
Upset wins and bumper goal hauls made news in local footy, while ex-AFL star Mitch Robinson was injured in a country league game. See the highlights from Saturday’s local action.
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Upset wins and bumper goal hauls made news in local footy, while ex-AFL star Mitch Robinson was injured in a country league game.
See the highlights from Saturday’s local action.
ROBINSON INJURED IN RAIDERS WIN
A seven-goal haul from Tom Bracher has lifted Wodonga Raiders to a runaway 44-point win against Corowa-Rutherglen in the Ovens and Murray league.
Bracher booted three goals in the first term and put paid to any hope of Corowa-Rutherglen winning its first match since coming out of recess with four in the final term.
The Raiders had some anxious moments when former Brisbane and Carlton player Mitch Robinson hobbled from the field early in his one-off appearance. He twinged a hamstring, but returned to the field and spent the majority of the match inside forward 50m.
Robinson’s former Brisbane teammate Cam Ellis-Yolmen also starred for the Raiders with some crucial clearances in the last term.
“It’s awesome to get a win on the board,” Ellis-Yolmen said. “Hopefully it can get us up and about for the rest of the season.”
It was Raiders’ first win since a round 1 upset against Lavington and follows the decision midweek for coach Marc Almond to bow out at the end of the season.
ROOS RUN RAMPANT
East Ringwood has reaffirmed its premiership credentials, knocking over reigning premier Rowville in a top-three Eastern Premier Division bout.
The ‘Roos led comfortably at all changes in the 13.7 (85) to 6.12 (48) victory played at Seebeck Oval, lifting the rising top-division power to two games clear in second spot for a 7-1 record.
The Hawks slip from third to fourth on percentage after Blackburn leapfrogged a spot with a 28-point win over Doncaster East.
TIGER TIME
Mitcham has handed Park Orchards its first defeat of the Eastern league Division 1 season.
The reigning premier brought the ladder-leading Sharks’ eight-match winning streak to a screeching halt in a 15.8 (98) to 3.13 (31) rout at Walker Park on Saturday.
Catapulted by a seven-goal-to-none opening term, the Tigers didn’t look back as they kept the visitors without a major for the first half.
Former VFL spearhead Jake Parente kicked four goals, while Jessie Smyth and Lucas Marro finished with three apiece.
The result marks a fifth-straight victory for Mitcham, with coach Neil Winterton declaring in the build-up: “This week will give us a bit of an indication as to where we sit.” The Tigers are back.
BARNSTORMING BUDS
A resurgent Rosebud has roared into finals contention in Mornington Peninsula league’s Division 1 after trouncing last season’s grand finalists Frankston YCW by 51 points, 19.9 (123) to 11.6 (72).
After an even first half, the Buds broke the game open with a six-goal blitz in the third quarter while restricting YCW to a goal. Ruckman Stephen Cumming was best afield while Kirk Dickson and Blake Kuipers kicked three goals apiece for Rosebud, which has won three games in a row to improve its record to 4-5.
SIZZLING SHARKS
A red-hot Bonbeach improved its record to 4-5 with a dominating 67-point win over fifth-placed Pearcedale in Mornington Peninsula league’s Division 2.
After trailing by five points at quarter time, the Sharks poured on seven goals in the second term and another six in the third to bolt away, 21.6 (132) to 10.6 (65). Jack Caspersz slotted six goals for Bonbeach, which also counted Beau Bailey, Jack Sullivan, Mitch Gent and Calvin Lee among its best.
EAGLES FLYING
Airport West cracked its duck egg with an eye-popping 90-point over East Keilor in the Essendon District league. Luca Muratore kicked five goals and Ben Nelson was best afield as the Eagles fired off seven goals in the opening quarter to rush to a 37-point lead. Seven more goals in the third term saw Airport West power clear to win 21.11 (137) to 6.9 (45).
DESPAIR FOR TIGERS
St Bede’s/Mentone Tigers remained winless in VAFA Premier B Men’s after a heart-breaking one-point loss to rivals De La Salle, 13.13 (91) to 12.18 (90). De La Salle came from behind in the last quarter as Thomas Deane-Johns and Thomas Docherty ran rampant for the winners, and Ryan O’Meara slotted four goals.
SUPER SIPOSS
Former NFL punter Arryn Siposs filled his boots playing in the Southern league for Dingley, booting six goals in a strong win. The ex-AFL Saint and NFL Eagle kicked two in the first term against Mordialloc and continued to be a focus deep forward for the rest of the afternoon. Dingley’s 103-point win over Mordialloc pushed it above next week’s opponent St Paul’s McKinnon into second spot.
DOLPHINS DOMINANT
The jostling for top spot in the Southern league’s Division 3 has never been hotter, with another ladder leader going down on Saturday. Carrum Patterson Lakes, which claimed top spot after defeating South Mornington a fortnight ago, suffered defeat to the building Frankston Dolphins. The Dolphins led by a point at the final change before kicking five goals to two in the final quarter. Matthew Baxter booted three for the Lions in the loss to improve his season tally to 38 in eight games.
BLUES BOUNCE LIONS
University Blues consolidated fourth spot in VAFA Premier with a sensational 38-point win over reigning premiers Collegians, 16.3 (103) to 9.10 (64). The Blues trailed at the first change but kicked an impressive 15.3 from that point on to seal their best win of the season. Sam Grimley kicked four goals while James Stewart slotted three.
Elsewhere, St Kevin’s handed Old Brighton its first loss of the season. SKOB were in arrears at the main and final breaks but ran home winners, 9.10 (64) to 9.8 (62). Sam Tucker kicked two last-term goals to play a starring role in the victory.
EXCELLENT EAGLES
A six-goal haul by Cambell Jolly fired Ellinbank Eagles to a stirring 23-point win over Lang Lang in the Ellinbank and District league, 11.12 (78) to 8.7 (55). The Eagles trailed by 15 points early but a five-goal-to-one third quarter saw them surge clear. It was Lang Lang’s first loss of the season, while the 7-1 Ellinbank Eagles host the undefeated Buln Buln next weekend.
HOWE MANY GOALS
Narre Warren’s Will Howe has surged to the top of the Outer East league’s goal kicking chart after slotting 10 in the Magpies’ thumping win over Berwick Springs, 23.18 (156) to 3.8 (26).
How is up to 35 goals, on track to better his 2023 return of 64.
Narre Warren is unbeaten, 8-0, under first-year coach Steve Kidd.
Woori Yallock is also undefeated after beating Gembrook Cockatoo by 58 points.
MIGHTY MAX
Healesville’s Max Donegan had a day out, firing off nine goals as the Bloods stormed to a 64-point win over Yea in Outer East league’s Division 1. It was Donegan’s second best goal haul of the season after he kicked 10 in Round 2. Under 18 star Tyler Barclay also ran hot, kicking five goals in just his third senior appearance.
VARCOE’S VIKINGS’ VICTORY
Altona climbed off the bottom of the Western league Division 1 ladder with a 27-point win over Parkside, 12.6 (78) to 8.3 (51). Travis Varcoe’s side has now won two games.
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