Meringur end their barren run as metro teams stand out
Top teams faced each other and one country club ended a long winless streak. While some forwards had a day out with bags of goals. Here are 20 things from the Saturday’s action in local footy.
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There will be plenty of celebrations for one country team up north while for others premiership statements were made with some impressive wins.
Here are 20 talking points from the action on Saturday.
MURRAY BOMBERS RISE UP
Reigning GV premiers Echuca has beaten one of its biggest threats to another flag, Kyabram, by 37 points. The Murray Bombers won 15.10. (100) to 9. 9. (63) after trailing by four points at halftime. There were seven lead changes before Echuca took control midway through third. The Murray Bombers led by 10 points at three quarter time and outscored Kyabram five goals to one in last term. Mitch Kemp and Sam Reid were among the best for Echuca and small forward Kyle Mueller kicked four for Kyabram.
ABLETT AND HAWKS FALL SHORT
Two goals and 25 touches from AFL legend Gary Ablett was not enough to give Drouin their second win of the season in the Gippsland league, losing by nine points to Morwell. It was a return home of sorts for the former Brownlow Medallist and AFL premiership player with his father, Gary Ablett Sr, playing for the club in seniors and juniors before his VFL career. The Hawks made a late charge after being 42 points down in the third quarter but it wasn’t enough to win. Ablett Jr, who kicked his goals in the third and fourth term, was instrumental in the comeback but wasn’t able to get the Hawks over the line.
TIGERS CLING ON
Jake Aarts’ Dromana has kept its unbeaten record in tact with a gripping one-point win over reigning premiers Frankston YCW in the Mornington Peninsula league’s Division 1. The former AFL-Tiger kicked a goal and was named Dromana’s best in the 5.13 (43) to 6.6 (42) victory. Dromana defenders Luke Oborn and Dean Waugh were also key contributors with no goals scored in a tense final quarter.
EAGLES FLY IN FINAL TERM
Vermont has sent a premiership statement in the Eastern league Premier Division, beating Balwyn by 27-points in their top-two clash. With scores level at three-quarter time, the Eagles soared in the final term, kicking five goals to one to secure the win which puts them on top of the ladder on percentage. The Eagles now lead Balwyn by four points but have East Ringwood join them on 40 points after the Roos won by 10 points over Noble Park. Eagles players Jamieson Rossiter and Lachlan Rathjen kicked three goals in the win.
KEILOR MAKE STATEMENT
If there was ever any doubt Keilor was the team to beat in the Essendon District league Premier Division, the Blues ended it on Saturday. The team smashed Strathmore by 76 points for their 13th straight win this season. Christos Kosmos was one of the best for the Blues, kicking three goals with Western Jets young gun Jovan Petric kicking four for the ladder leaders.
TWO VITAL POINTS
Dingley and Springvale District couldn’t be separated at full time in the Southern league Division 1 clash, playing out the first draw in the competition all season. The Dingoes will rue inaccurate kicking, scoring 6. 11. (47) to Springvale’s 6. 5. (47). Dingley defender Kristen Feehan was one of the best, shutting down Springvale full forward Matt Wetering, who also got injured in the second quarter. Both sides remain in the top five, following the draw, with Springvale in third and Dingley in fifth.
WINLESS STREAK OVER
Meringur has broken a 38-game losing streak, beating Werrimull in the Millewa league by 16 points. The Kangaroos won for the first time since July 20, 2019, when the team defeated Gol Go. Four players from the Kangaroos kicked two goals each in the historic win for the country club.
FIRST WIN FOR BEARS
Lower Plenty held on late for their first win in the Northern league Division 2 competition, beating Panton Hill by four points. After being down by the same margin at half time, the Bears kicked four goals, six behinds, to two goals, two behinds, to lead by two goals at the last change. Despite Panton Hill winning the final term, the Bears held on for their first win since August 13 last year against the same team.
SEAGULLS FLY HIGH
Chelsea got the percentage-boosting win it was after, trouncing Rye by 163 points in MPFNL Division 2. The Seagulls had 13 different goal kickers, with Anthony Beale booting five, in the whopping 30.15 (195) to 4.8 (32) result. Chelsea is 8-6 and in fourth spot.
ROOSTERS CELEBRATE IN STYLE
North Ballarat celebrated its 1963, 1973, 1983 and 2013 senior premiership reunion in style with a 29-point win over Ballarat in the Ballarat league. After a slow start the Roosters got on top in the second half, kicking seven goals to two to gain their eighth win of the season and move into the top-two. VFL player Jack Riding kicked three goals with captain Tom Bromley-Lynch doing the same.
TITANS TREMENDOUS
Berwick Springs continued its march to the Outer East league Division 1 finals with a powerful 87-point win over Belgrave, 22.13 (145) to 9.4 (58). Lucas Smith slotted five goals and Jayden Malek and Hayden Stagg dominated for the Titans.
DOUBLE FIGURES FOR GILBERT
Kinglake’s Leigh Gilbert has kicked 15 goals as the Northern league Division 3 side smashed Lalor by 221 points. The Lakers led by 118 points at half time before putting on a show in the second half, with 18 goals, including 10 in the final term. Gilbert now has 31 goals for the season, almost doubling his tally with the 15 he kicked against Lalor. The Bloods have now lost their past 38 matches in the competition.
BULLS TOPPLE PIES
Bundoora has kept their top-two chances in the Northern league Division 1 alive with a stunning 39 point win over Montmorency. The Bulls led from start to finish and could have won by more if their goalkicking was better. The team kicked 9. 16. (70) to 4. 7. (31). Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond small forward Sam Lloyd kicked six goals for the Bulls in the win. The team is now just four points from Montmorency on the ladder.
DRAGONS LOSE IN BENDIGO
Golden Square ended Sandhurst’s unbeaten run in the Bendigo league to become the premiership favourite. The Bulldogs started poorly, conceding six of the first eight goals, but bounced back to win by 24 points. Golden Square kept Sandhurst goalless in the final term to win. Last year’s leading goalkicker in the competition, Joel Brett, kicked six goals for the Bulldogs in the win. The team is now half a win behind Sandhurst at the top.
TIGERS CONTINUE TO ROAR
Werribee Districts remains the team to beat in the Western Region Division 1 competition after smashing Altona by 52 points in the battle between the top two teams. The Tigers kept the Vikings to just one goal after half time as the ladder leaders won their 13th straight game. The team is now four games clear at the top with Altona moving to third after Point Cook, with their win over Hoppers Crossing, jumping them to second. Lachlan Rainbow and Liam Robinson kicked two goals each in the win.
GRENFELL IN SIGHT OF 100
Marong’s Brandyn Grenfell needs six more goals next week to become the first player in local footy to kick 100 goals. The forward kicked 13 goals for the Panthers against Calivil United to keep the teams unbeaten run alive in the Loddon Valley league. The 127-point win was Marong’s 27th in a row.
UNBEATEN RUN OVER
Sunshine defeated Parkside to end their unbeaten run in the Western Region Division 2 competition. A dominant second quarter to the Kangaroos, which saw them kick seven goals to two, set up the 28-point win over the Magpies. The Pies had won their first 10 games in a row before falling to Sunshine. Kangaroos forward Charly Williams kicked seven goals in the win to put Sunshine in third, three games behind Parkside who are on top.
SWANS TEAM TO BEAT
South Warrnambool have fought off a major challenge from Koroit to remain the team to beat in the Hampden league. After a strong start, kicking the first five goals of the match, the Swans had to survive a late challenge from the seven time reigning premier, who kicked four goals in the final term to storm back. The Swans were able to hold on to keep themselves two games clear of the rest of the competition. Koroit, with the loss, is now third.
BULLDOGS FIND BARK
Wandin won their first game in three rounds, holding off a strong Olinda Ferny Creek, to maintain second spot in the Outer East Premier Division. In a close contest all day, the team was down at quarter time but was able to lead at the end of the final three terms to win by three points. Wandin’s Clinton Johnson continued his good form, kicking three goals for the Bulldogs, with former Collingwood player Matt Scharenberg kicking three goals for the Bloods.
EVANS KICKS A BAG
Nathalia’s Liam Evans kicked 17 goals in the sides 173-point win over Rumbalara in the Murray league. The forward has now kicked 61 goals for the season and it is his second haul of more than 10 goals this year.
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