Saturday night wrap: Local footy’s eye-popping return as ex-AFL names burst onto scene
The pulse beat again across Victoria with flags unfurled, bags kicked, statements made and scorching debuts from ex-AFL talents. Plenty of upsets, too. It’s all here in our wrap.
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The pulse beat again in the bush and the ‘burbs on Saturday with flags unfurled, bags kicked, statements made and scorching debuts from ex-AFL talents. Plenty of upsets, too. It’s all here in our local footy wrap ...
EX-BULLDOGS STAR IN SOUTHERN
Former Western Bulldog Robbie McComb made a scorching start to the Southern league, taking the best-afield accolade for his new club, Port Melbourne Colts, in its nine-point win over Springvale Districts at Newcomen Rd Reserve.
Joining his brother Luke at the Colts, McComb wore the No. 1 jumper and he was by some margin the number one player on the ground, regularly clearing the ball out of the middle and spearing it forward to grateful forward.
Relentless running was another feature of his performance.
Another former Western Bulldog, Charlie Clarke, made his return to the Colts and was dangerous in attack, as was Mitch Clarke, who booted five goals.
At the other end, Melbourne premiership player Michael Hibberd made a series of clearing kicks and SANFL recruit Rory Lehmann presented as a brick wall to Districts.
The Springvale club unfurled its prize recruits from Noble Park, Eastern league champions Kyle Martin and Jackson Sketcher.
Martin kicked the first goals of the match, but both were prominent without being dominant.
Cheeky half-forward Georgie Angelopoulos was best for the Demons, followed by Heyfield recruit Liam Heasley.
KEILOR BOUNCES BACK
Following a controversial off-season which saw it punished for a salary cap breach, Keilor has made an almighty statement in the EDFL’s top-flight, trouncing Deer Park 29.20 (194) to 8.7 (55) at Joe Brown Oval. The Mick McGuane-coached outfit raced out of the blocks with a six-goal-to-one opening term, with the victory propelled by Christos Kosmos (six goals) alongside captain Kane Barbuto and Liam Hude with four majors apiece.
STEVIE-J’S TOUGH START
Geelong great Steve Johnson had an anti-climatic start to his GFNL coaching career, with his Newtown & Chilwell beaten by 35 points by last year’s minor premiers St Joseph’s at Elderslie Reserve.
However, down by 57 points at the main break, Johnson was able to at least provoke a response from the Eagles as they outscored Joeys 8.4 to 4.6 in the second half.
St Joseph’s would win 15.12 (102) to 10.7 (67).
MO HOPE’S STUNNING RETURN
Former AFLW star Moana Hope returned to the footy field on Saturday, pulling on the boots for Aberfeldie in the EDFL Premier Women’s competition. In her first local game since 2021, Hope finished with seven goals as Abers recorded a monster win over Maribyrnong Park.
GIBBO BOOTS 11
Woori Yallock full-forward Taylor Gibson has made a spectacular start to the season, firing off 11 goals in the Tigers’ 87-point win over Emerald in Outer East Premier Division.
Gibson, who won the league goal-kicking last year with 65, was unstoppable as Woori won 23.8 (146) to 8.11 (59).
LAST KICK KANGAS
Langwarrin has come from 42 points behind at half-time to beat Pines by five points with the last kick of the day in Mornington Peninsula Division 1.
Chad Mulvogue slotted a goal from a free kick moments before the siren to give Langy a gripping 13.9 (87) to 12.12 (84) victory.
Meanwhile, Sorrento stunned reigning premiers Mt Eliza with a resounding 41-point win, 14.10 (94) to 6.17 (53) at Madsen Reserve. It was the perfect start for new Sharks playing-coach James Hallahan, who was prominent up forward.
AFTER THE SIREN!
St Bernard’s has sunk the Uni Blues in an after-the-siren heart-stopper at Melbourne University Oval. Leading by eight points at the final change, the Snowdogs had to wrestle back the lead in the last-gasp result, winning 12.9 (81) to 12.8 (80), with Joey Agresta calmly slotting the winner to send the crowd into raptures.
St Bernard’s win it AFTER THE SIREN!!
— VAFA (@VAFA_HQ) April 5, 2025
How good is VAFA footy â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/gC6k24t0Ll
TIGERS FLEX
334 points. That’s Heidelberg’s combined winning margin across seniors and reserves against North Heidelberg on Saturday. After unfurling their premiership flags, the reserves kicked off with a 204-point win and the seniors followed it with a 130-point triumph. Jack Andrew and Jordan Smith both booted five goals in the 25.14 (164) to 5.4 (34) win at 2pm. An ominous warning to the rest of the competition.
BULLANTS’ BIG ARRIVAL
Bulleen Templestowe snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to mark its Eastern league debut in style, edging cross-town rival Warrandyte 7.5 (47) to 6.8 (44) in a Division 4 nailbiter.
Trailing by 15 points at the final change, the former VAFA club charged home through two final-quarter goals to key recruit Tom Davis – before Andrew Sinclair pounced on the winner with 18 minutes expired, courtesy of a Josh Sticca burst out of the middle.
Daniel Martino finished with two goals alongside Davis and Sinclair for Bulleen Templestowe in front of a pulsating crowd at Ted Ajani Reserve.
PEGS HOLDS ON
PEGS scraped home with a two-point win over Prahran in VAFA’s Premier C competition – overturning a two-point three-quarter time deficit to win 10.9 (69) to 10.7 (67). Jack Fenner starred with four goals for the victors, while Mitchell Baker-West, Jackson Kerr and Oscar Bales were also among the best. Patrick Marks finished with three majors for Prahran.
YOUNG FILLS HIS BOOTS
Airport West star Tyson Young made a dominant start to the season as the Eagles ran out 190-point winners against East Keilor in EDFL Premier Division. Young, a former VFL player, booted 10 goals in a stunning best on ground display, with Chris Nield booting five.
HUNTER CLAIMS BATTLE OF EX-AFL STARS
Lachie Hunter walked away victorious against three-time AFL premiership hero Bachar Houli as the pair made their debuts for Spotswood and Newport respectively. Spotswood ran out 26-point winners.
OLD SCOTCH OFF TO PERFECT START
Mark Gnatt’s Old Scotch has its VAFA Premier Men’s defence off to the perfect start after holding on for a 14-point win over St Kevin’s in a rematch of last year’s preliminary final. Sam Grant, Henry Brown and Jack Lipscombe were all impressive.
DINGOES BITE BACK
Dingley has turned the tables on Cheltenham in the Southern league Division 1 grand final rematch, romping to a 15.12 (102) to 5.11 (41) victory. Holding Chelt goalless for a half with a 49-point lead at the main break, the Dingoes didn’t relent, piling on another seven majors in the second half in the 61-point drubbing. Cheltenham edged Dingley by two points in last year’s decider.
OLD CAMBERWELL PREVAILS IN A THRILLER
Old Camberwell managed to walk away with a one-point win against Old Trinity in VAFA Premier B after surviving a major scare. Leading by 41 points at the final change, Old Trinity stormed home but couldn’t complete the comeback. Ben Hart’s goal in the last proved pivotal for the victors.
LIONS ROAR
Pakenham has quickly made an impact in Outer East Division 1, scoring a come-from-behind 27-point win over Yea, 12.13 (85) to 9.4 (58). The Lions, under new coach Justin Stanton, kicked six goals to two in the second half, with Bailey Stiles and Josh Haggar kicking three goals apiece.
SAINTS’ STATEMENT
Smarting after a straight-sets exit from the finals last season, Eastern Division 1 power South Belgrave announced itself as a team to beat this year after a 15.16 (106) to 9.10 (64) victory over last year’s runner-up and minor premier, Park Orchards. The Saints led at all changes, turning a 12-point quarter-time buffer into a 20-point advantage by the main break – and 30 by three-quarter time.
WELCOME BACK
Macleod and Laurimar returned to Division 2 and 3 respectively and were met with harsh reality checks. The Kangas hosted last year’s Division 2 grand finalist Diamond Creek and suffered a 41-point defeat. Michael Hurley’s three goals a bright spot in the 16.11 (107) to 10.6 (66) loss. Meanwhile, the Power welcomed red-hot flag favourite Fitzroy Stars and suffered a 24-point loss. The Stars spearhead Patty Farrant booted seven majors in the 15.5 (95) to 11.5 (71) victory. He’s now kicked eight, eight and seven in his last three outings for the club.
MELTON STILL TEAM TO BEAT
Melton has spoiled the debut of ex-AFL player Nick Hind at Darley, beating the Devils in what could be a grand final preview of the competition by 12 points, 9.13.67 to 8.7.55 win.
The Bloods, who unfurled last year’s flag at home at Macpherson Park, won the contest in the final quarter, kicking four goals to three, after a close contest all day.
Hind, playing in the midfield, kicked two goals for Darley with Michael Edwards kicking four on debut for the Devils.
Bloods stalwarts Ryan Carter and Braedan Kight kicked two goals for Melton in the win.
SON-OF-A-GUN STARS
Oscar Brownless had a best on ground performance in Sea Lake Nandaly’s 48-point win over Wedderburn in the North Central league.
The midfielder on debut, who was on Geelong’s VFL list in 2021, kicked a goal and dominated in the middle for the reigning premiers.
He won’t be the only former Geelong player to play for the Tigers this year with Josh Jenkins confirming he’ll come back to the club this year after playing for Sea Lake Nandaly for the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, newly merged club Calder United Lions started life in the competition with a 151-point win over Donald.
The Lions were formed after Nullawil and Wycheproof amalgamated at the end of last season.
DIGGERS DOMINATE
After almost 30 years away, Melton South made its Riddell District return but couldn’t end its long losing streak. The Panthers winless run now sits at an even 40 games after a 62-point drubbing from Diggers Rest. Diggers are among the premiership favourites in the competition, so it was always going to be a tough initiation for the club, which crossed from the Ballarat league. Ex-AFL talent Sam Darley was in the line-up, while South will get Marlion Pickett back in a couple of weeks. Diggers Rest proved too good 17.9 (111) to 7.7 (49)
NO WORRIES, SURREY
Promoted outfit Surrey Park has hit Eastern’s Division 2 with a 14-point win, surviving a last-quarter surge from Wantirna South. Surrey Park – which has climbed two divisions in two years following back-to-back premierships – led the relegated Devils by 10 points at half-time before a six-goal-to-two third term set it on course for a big victory. But the visitors had other ideas – finishing with a rush of six majors to three. Young gun Tom Smith starred for Surrey with six goals.
EDFL UPSET
After not playing EDFL Division 2 finals last season, Coburg Districts has emerged as a sleeper in the premiership race. In ex-AFL man Damien Cavka’s first game as coach, the Lions secured a 37-point win over grand finalist Westmeadows as Jack McNamara led the way with six goals. Cavka managed three.
TIGERS ROAR AGAIN
Portland has ended its 33-game winless streak in the Hampden league in emphatic fashion, smashing Koroit by 53 points in the opening round of the season.
After not winning a match last year, and being winless since Anzac Day in 2023, the club went on a recruiting spree to bounce back.
And it did just that sending a statement to the rest of the competition against a team fancied to be a premiership contender.
Ex-AFL player Jeff Garlett kicked three goals, while fellow forward Jake Wilson kicked five.
MAGPIES RUIN FILO’S CELEBRATION
The Wangaratta Magpies have spoiled Wangaratta Rovers stalwart Brodie Filo’s 500th game of senior footy with a 12-point win in the opening game of the Ovens and Murray league.
A five-goal final term was enough to beat their rivals, 15.8.(98) to 13.8.(86).
New recruits Parker Heatley and Jasper Craven kicked three goals.
Live stream: Clubs brace for VFL inclusions in big VAFA clash
State league guns could trigger a swing of changes at the selection table as Old Brighton and Old Haileybury get set to collide in VAFA Premier Men’s on Saturday. See how to watch it LIVE.
Greenwood’s big hope for Reservoir
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