Local footy wrap: Tomahawk’s goal after siren, massive hauls
Adam Tomlinson made a surprise appearance in local footy, there was some Tom Hawkins magic and another ex-AFL man bagged a dozen goals. It’s all in a bursting-at-the-seams Local Footy Wrap.
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A former AFL star made waves with an unexpected appearance, while another ex-league man lit up the scoreboard with an impressive 12-goal haul. Meanwhile, one ruthless club left no doubt about their dominance, serving up a merciless thrashing. Dive into all the action and more in our jam-packed Local Footy Wrap...
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TOMAHAWK DELIVERS
A Tom Hawkins goal after the final siren was the perfect finish for Beaufort and its newest star.
The retired Geelong superstar booted four goals as the Crows recorded a 36-point win over Central Highlands league rivals Hepburn, kicking away in the last term.
It was Beaufort’s second win of the season but just the club’s third senior footy win since the start of 2023.
Hepburn coach Daniel Jones described Hawkins’ influence on the club as “brilliant”.
“He’s as genuine a person as you will come across,” Jones said.
“I spoke to him on the phone on Friday and he ended up in the players WhatsApp group and was getting around the boys.
“He just took over in the second half, he was clunking everything and kicking goals from everywhere.
“The goal after the siren capped it off.”
The crowd packed into Goldfields Recreation Reserve to see Hawkins in his one-off appearance as part of the Carlton Draft, an initiative which sends ex-AFL guns back to country footy for a day.
“As close to a country league grand final as you’d see,” Jones said.
“It’s a great day for our community after the difficulties of drought and having fires come through about 18 months ago.
“It enabled people to take the difficulties of life off their mind. We couldn’t be more thankful for this opportunity.”
DASHING DEMONS
Former St Kilda player Nathan Wright was best-on-ground in Chelsea Heights’ eye-catching win over Hampton Park in Southern league’s Division 2. The Demons burst out of the blocks with a six-goal opening quarter, and ran out 13.13 (91) to 7.13 (55) winners, with Jesse Murphy kicking his third five-goal haul for the season. With a 5-3 record, Chelsea Heights is up to third spot.
TOMMO’S SHARKS DEBUT
Former GWS Giants and Melbourne defender Adam Tomlinson made a memorable debut for Sorrento in the Mornington Peninsula league’s Division 1, helping the Sharks to a rousing come-from-behind win over Pines, 14.13 (97) to 10.13 (73). With North Melbourne’s VFL side having a bye, the 31-year-old pulled on the Sorrento jumper and he saw plenty of action early as Pines kicked 3.4 before the Sharks had scored. But he soon had an impact as Sorrento stormed back with a seven-goal-to-one third quarter, banking their third win of the season.
OH, WHEN THE SAINTS...
After a devastating one-point loss last week, Watsonia celebrated a heart-stopping one-point win over Lower Plenty on Saturday — its first win of the Northern league Division 2 season. It looked like it might be heartbreak again for the Saints as they trailed by 13 points midway through the fourth quarter. However, Ethan Lowe booted two goals in two minutes to turn the match on its head. Lowe finished with seven majors in a best-on-ground performance, while Jake McSwain and Ben Callaghan also impressed in the 10.16 (76) to 11.9 (75) victory.
A DOZEN FOR EX-AFL MAN
Aaron Mullett is rushing towards a century of goals after firing off 12 in Wandin’s thumping win over Gembrook Cockatoo in Outer East’s Premier Division. The ex-AFL Roo and Blue kicked the first three goals of the game and had seven by half-time as Wandin put the whip to the Brookers, winning 22.14 (146) to 7.6 (48). Mullett is up to 63 goals in seven games this season, including two bags of 12 and a haul of 10. Wandin is undefeated.
VALES LEAD PACK
Donvale has staved off yet another challenger in Eastern’s Division 3 with a 19-point victory over Scoresby in a 1 v 2 bout. The Vales raced out of the blocks early, piling on 10 first-half goals for a 37-point lead at the half. But the visitors weren’t to be dismissed quietly with 10 second-half majors — including six in the last term. The result lifts Donvale to a 7-1 record and a game clear on top of the ladder.
VULTURES REMAIN UNBEATEN
Parkdale Vultures remain the only unbeaten side in VAFA Premier C after prevailing in a game worthy of a grand final against Ajax. Owen Lalor’s side ran out 13.6 (84) to 11.8 (74) winners to move to 8-0 on the season. Lewis Castle led the forward line for the Vultures in the absence of Mitch Brown, finishing with three goals, while Kai Day and Lloyd Bailey two apiece.
LIONS STUN HAWKS
Doncaster East has handed Rowville a second consecutive loss in Eastern’s Premier Division with a 13.8 (86) to 8.10 (58) upset on the road. Trailing by 14 points at quarter time and two at the half, the visitors rattled home a six-goal-to-one second half. Rowville — upset by Berwick the previous round — sits third on the ladder and now shares a 4-3 record with Doncaster East at the mid-season break. Meanwhile, South Croydon won its second match in a row after starting the season 0-5, defeating Berwick by 58 points at Cheong Park.
NO MERCY
In their debut Riddell District season, Gisborne Giants have been more than competitive, sticking with teams for large portions of each game. However, reigning premier Riddell showed the fledgling club no mercy on Saturday, handing out a 157-point belting at Riddells Creek Reserve. Local footy goalkicking great Dean Galea finished with seven goals in the 30.22 (202) to 7.3 (45) mauling, while Matt Panuccio was prolific.
SWANNY FIRES FOR POINT COOK
Brownlow Medal winner Dane Swan was the star attraction in Point Cook’s 23-point win over Altona in the Western league’s top tier. The former Magpies star booted three goals in his one-off appearance to get the better of former Collingwood teammate Travis Varcoe who was in charge of the Vikings.
WATERS’ BIG UPSET
With just one win from its opening six matches, the odds were firmly stacked against Bayswater in its trip to Holm Park Reserve to take on one of Eastern Division 1’s teams to beat. What followed was a mammoth upset, with the visitors stunning the top-four outfit 10.8 (68) to 9.8 (62) after trailing by seven points at three-quarter time. Paul Haasbroek and Christian Poe finished with two goals apiece for the Waters.
WINNING STREAK OVER
Harrow Balmoral’s run of 42 straight wins is over after Noradjuha Quantong beat the Kangaroos by 35 points in the Horsham District league. The Kangaroos had not lost since the end of the 2022 season and won back-to-back flags in unbeaten seasons in 2023 and 2024. But the Bombers, who lost to Harrow Balmoral in last year’s decider, got the perfect revenge, racing to a 27-point lead at half time before surviving a Kangaroos comeback in the third term to prevail 13.9 (87) to 8.4 (52).
SURREY BOLTS HOME
Surrey Park overturned a 19-point half-time deficit to pip the Waverley Blues, 14.11 (95) to 13.15 (93) in Eastern’s Division 2. The victory entrenches Surrey two games clear in third spot with a 6-2 record at the mid-year break, while the Blues sit seventh with three wins and five losses.
BLOODS FIRE INTO FOUR
Warrandyte has leapfrogged into Eastern Division 4’s top four with a 13.9 (87) to 5.10 (40) victory over crosstown rival Bulleen Templestowe. On the back foot early, the Bloods rallied in the second term, closing a 12-point quarter-time margin to just two at the half before taking control late in the third for a 25-point lead at the final change. The hosts didn’t relent, putting the foot on the throat in the last term. Jack Wilson finished with three majors while Josh Appleby and Koby Gilmour kicked two apiece. The victory lifts Warrandyte to a 3-4 record at the mid-season break, denying the Bullants a spot in the four, who had also entered the match with two wins.
UNI BLACKS CAUSE A BOILOVER
University Blacks stunned powerhouse St Kevin’s by a single kick in a highly entertaining VAFA Premier Men’s game. Blacks kicked five goals to four in the final term to hold on for a thrilling win as Matt Grocott continued his impressive season with three goals.
DEER PARK’S GREATEST WIN?
Deer Park has laid claim to the biggest home-and-away season win in its history after stunning Aberfeldie by 19 points in the Essendon District league’s Premier Division. The Lions won 15.15 (105) to 12.14 (86) as skipper Spiros Amarantidis, Josh Chatfield, ex-AFL defender Trent McKenzie and Lachlan Smart all kicked two apiece.
PASCOE VALE RESPONDS AFTER TURBULENT WEEK
Pascoe Vale picked up its second win of the season just days after the departure of Leigh Tudor as coach with a 63-point thumping of Airport West. Noah Scott did the most damage in front of goal with three majors.
ANOTHER PERFECT 10
Patrick Fitzgerald was a handful in Northern league’s Division 1, so he was always going to dominate at Division 3 level. The goalkicking great bagged his second 10-goal haul of the season on Saturday, fuelling Laurimar’s 145-point smashing of Lalor at Laurimar Reserve. Fitzgerald now has 43 majors in eight outings this season. After the Bloods secured their first win in 16 matches last week, the Power brought them back to earth with a 26.17 (173) to 4.4 (28) hammering. Bailey Macleod and Cooper Cusinato also impressed.
MONT COMEBACK
Newly re-signed Montmorency coach Nick Rutley reached into his bag of motivation and found some magic on Saturday. At three-quarter-time, the Magpies trailed second-placed Hurstbridge by 18 points. They would then pour on seven goals to one in a dominant fourth quarter to claim a 17-point victory at Montmorency Park. After a turbulent week, it was a critical win for Montmorency’s top-two hopes. Flynn Riley was named best-on-ground, while Marcus Lentini and Jordan Steele also impressed. Ben Paterson finished with four goals.
MILESTONE GAME A CLASSIC
The Ballarat Swans held off a last quarter comeback from Redan to win the 200th game between the two sides by a point at City Oval. The Swans and Lions became the third rivalry to notch 200 games against each other in the Ballarat league — and the Swans claimed bragging rights, winning 14.11 (95) to 14.10 (94). Ballarat led by 23 points at the final break before Redan kicked six last quarter goals to set up a grandstand finish. The Swans stayed in the top-six with their fourth win of the season. Ex-AFL player Biggie Nyuon kicked three goals for the Swans.
EXCELLENT ECHUCA
Cameron Valentine was the surprise goal kicker as Echuca handed Shepparton Swans their first defeat of the season in the Goulburn Valley league. Valentine, who hadn’t kicked a goal in five games this season, slotted four as Echuca jumped the Swans to lead 35-4 in the second quarter, and went on to win 7.8 (50) to 4.9 (33). Former GWS Giants grand final player Sam Reid was best-on-ground for Echuca. Meanwhile, Kyabram is the only undefeated side in the league after beating the Shepparton Bears by nine points.
GLENROY’S UNBEATEN RUN ENDS
Rupertswood has become the first Essendon District league Division 2 team to get the better of Glenroy this season, securing an eight-point win away from home. The Sharks led at every break to come away with the four points.
PANTHERS POWER HOME
A six-goal final term has seen Lavington have its best win in years over the Wangaratta Magpies in the Ovens and Murray league. The Panthers won by 22 points after leading by one point at the final break. The win moves the Panthers inside the top-four and on track to play finals. Tim Oosterhoff kicked six goals for Lavington.
MAGPIES SWOOP
Sale produced the comeback of the round in Gippsland league, turning a quarter-time deficit of 15 points into a five-point victory over Bairnsdale, 12.11 (83) to 11.12 (78). Tom Campbell and Tom Wrigglesworth were lively up forward with three and two goals respectively, while Cooper Whitehill was best-afield for the 2-5 Magpies.
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