The Hanger: Aaron Edwards bags 13 goals in rout, Ash Close brings out ‘The Moose’ and Deer Park starts to flex its muscle
MONSTER goal hauls, a competition powerhouse showing its true colours and Brendan Fevola’s return to the field dominate this week’s headlines in our weekly column, The Hanger.
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MONSTER goal hauls, a competition powerhouse showing its true colours and Brendan Fevola’s return to the field dominate this week’s headlines in our weekly column, The Hanger.
AND DON’T MISS — part one of our feature series on the ex-AFL players who feature for local footy teams across Melbourne: Story here.
Essendon District Football League: Wonderful Watson’s massive goal haul
Is Pascoe Vale’s Matthew Watson the recruit of the season? The former Carlton player bagged nine goals — his best return of 2018 — in his side’s 89-point win over Glenroy on Saturday to take his season tally to 39 from eight games. Watson is the leading goalkicker in Premier Division and sits two clear of Keilor’s Dean Galea. While other off-season acquisitions may have received more headlines, Watson is causing myriad headaches for opposition defences. The 25-year-old signed with his junior club in November after five years in the AFL system and two seasons with WAFL outfit East Fremantle.
Riddell District Football League: Weir destroys hapless Lancefield
Melton Centrals’ Dylan Weir feasted on a free-flowing supply from his midfield to boot an astonishing 19 goals in his team’s thumping RDFL victory over Lancefield on Saturday. Weir, who is in his first year with the club, took his season tally to 38 goals from seven games in 2018 as Centrals racked up a cricket score in the 29.17 (191) to 3.8 (26) flogging. Melton Centrals sits in seventh spot on the ladder with three wins.
Ballarat Football League: Fev bags four in his return for Melton South
He’s back! Brendan Fevola made his first appearance for 2018 in Round 6 of the BFL season on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to lift Melton South over the line as it fell to a 25-point defeat against Lake Wendouree. Fevola, who is in his second season as co-coach at the Panthers, made an instant impact after Achilles tendon surgery delayed his start to 2018, booting four goals and earning a mention in his team’s best. Fevola booted 56 goals from 15 games for Melton South last season.
Western Region Football League: Deer Park dominating again
After a three-point win in last year’s grand final and a 1-2 start to the campaign, some pondered if Deer Park’s five-year stranglehold on the WRFL Division 1 competition was over. But, not for the first time, it’s time to think again. The Lions have won their past five matches by an average of more than 80 points and hammered Caroline Springs by 140 points on Saturday. Jase Perkins bagged eight goals in the 29.10 (184) to 6.8 (44) win and with class on every line, the club’s bid for a remarkable sixth flag in a row is on track. Third-placed Deer Park will next tackle unbeaten ladder-leader Werribee Districts on May 16 in what looms as a mouth-watering clash.
Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League: Edwards bags 13 in romp
Pines spearhead Aaron Edwards fired off 13 goals in the Pythons’ thumping 103-point win over Bonbeach. Since returning from a knee reconstruction in Round 3, the former AFL man has gone from strength to strength; his past two outings netting 20 goals. Edwards finished with 13.4 as Pines piled on 24.13 (157) to 8.6 (54) at Shark Park. “He had a great day,’’ Pines coach Paddy Swayn said.
Northern Football League: Close brings out ‘The Moose’
Northcote Park spearhead Ash Close gained the nickname ‘The Moose’ after he crowned a 10-goal haul for his former club Old Ivanhoe with an antlers celebration. Cougars coach Matt McLennan got to see the celebration first-hand for the first time when Close kicked his 10th major in a 44-point win over Hurstbridge. “It was definitely a highlight and a bit of fun,” McLennan said.
Riddell District Football League: Wallan claims battle of undefeated teams
Only one of Rupertswood and Wallan was going to come out of their RDFL top-of-the-table clash with an unblemished record. The Magpies soared to the top of the ladder with a grinding seven-point win, 8.12 (60) to 7.11 (53). Brenton Cox played his best game of the season for Wallan, which stretched its unbeaten start to 2018 to seven games.
Victorian Amateur Football Association: Yeatman dobs 11 in thumping win
Julian Yeatman booted 11 goals as Elsternwick romped to its third win of the Division 4 campaign, beating Masala 20.20 (164) to 8.12 (60).
Remarkably, Yeatman has been unable to train freely and fully due to injuries, yet he now has 35 majors in total.
“Jules Yeatman has played the whole season with one arm and one leg; we’ve been praying for the (upcoming) bye to hurry up so he can get a week off,” Elsternwick coach Leigh Horsburgh said.
“He comes out and kicks 11 and he’s probably going at about 60 per cent.”
SOCIAL WATCH
A lazy 40 touches for ex-Magpie Kyle Martin as Noble Park, ninth, trounces Rowville, second, in the @footyefl, 17.15 to 11.17. What a star.
— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) June 2, 2018
Son of a footy gun joins Sea Lake-Nandaly
The North Central premiers of the past two seasons could be even stronger as they eye a third successive flag.
Ex-WAFL players sign at country club
A country club determined to make amends after missing finals for the first time in more than 20 years has gone on a recruiting spree landing a quartet of ex-WAFL players.