The Hanger: Local footy headlines including Adrian Gileno’s 12-goal match, two monster hauls from the WRFL and Whittlesea ending an 11-game losing streak

IN this week’s edition of The Hanger — Whittlesea ends an 11-match losing streak, Russell Robertson kicks 15 goals for Doveton and all the local footy headlines you need to know.

WELCOME to this week’s edition of The Hanger, your destination for all the talking points from the weekend’s local footy matches.

Whittlesea coach Jim Atkins' smile on the final siren as his team snaps an 11-game losing streak by beating Montmorency. Picture: Nathan McNeill.

NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Whittlesea ends long losing streak

Two days after their coach Jim Atkins announced he would be stepping down at the end of 2018, Whittlesea produced an inspired effort to end an 11-match losing streak. The Eagles defeated Montmorency by nine points, 13.8 (86) to 10.17 (77), to draw level with ninth-placed Hurstbridge on eight points. Those teams meet in the last round of the Northern Football League season in a match which could decide which team faces the drop to Division 2 for 2019.

FULL STORY HERE

Old Scotch and De La Salle are among six sides in danger of a bottom-two finish in VAFA Premier.

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: Six sides in relegation danger

Six teams in VAFA Premier Division face the prospect of relegation at the end of the campaign with only six points between fifth-placed University Blues and bottom side St Bedes/Mentone Tigers. Old Xaverians, Old Scotch, De La Salle and Old Melburnians are all tied on 20 points with the latter in the bottom two due to its percentage of 75.18. Old Scotch’s victory over fourth-placed Old Trinity on Saturday kept it in the mix for a finals berth.

FULL STORY HERE

Tom Wallis has helped lift Essendon Doutta Stars off the bottom of the ladder.

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Doutta Stars off the bottom

Essendon Doutta Stars climbed off the canvas in EDFL Premier Division with its second consecutive win over Avondale Heights on Saturday. The Stars backed up their first victory of 2018 against West Coburg by claiming a 23-point victory over the Heights, 19.8 (122) to 15.9 (99). While the Burgers have a game in hand due to a split round, Essendon Doutta Stars is in the box seat to stay up thanks to its superior percentage. West Coburg will have its chance to respond to the challenge when it takes on Keilor in Round 14.

Ethan Foreman was one of the matchwinners for Kyneton against Gisborne.

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Kyneton beats rival Gisborne in a thriller

They don’t come much bigger than the Kyneton-Gisborne derby in the Bendigo Football League and the rivals delivered a match for the ages on Saturday. The Tigers prevailed 15.12 (102) to 15.11 (101), enhancing their chances of claiming a top-three berth and double chance come finals. Ethan Foreman moved to 37 goals for the season with a haul of four in the nailbiting win, while star on-baller Rhys Magin bagged three and has 32 majors for the campaign. The loss was a blow for Gisborne’s finals chances, leaving the Dogs and a game and percentage out of the top five.

FULL STORY HERE

Murrumbeena produced an inspiring last-term fightback against Highett.

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Murrumbeena stages inspired comeback

Murrumbeena could hardly have started its top-four battle against Highett any worse on Saturday. Held scoreless in the first term, the top-two side was still facing a four-goal deficit as the teams turned for home with a quarter to play. What unfolded in the last 30 minutes put their flag rivals on notice in Division 2. After kicking 6.5 in three quarters, Murrumbeena slammed on 7.5 to 2.2 to claim a nine-point win and open a three-game buffer in second. Harley Ambrose and Cory Hargrave engineered their side’s last-quarter surge.

Jarrod (pictured) and Jordan Bannister combined for 13 goals on Saturday.

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: Bannister boys combine for 13 goals

Therry Penola is shaping as a serious flag contender in VAFA Division 1 and the combination of Jarrod and Jordan Bannister will be crucial to its chances of success. The Lions were expected to account for Ivanhoe on Saturday and produced a 17.16 (118) to 7.10 (52) triumph, with the Bannister brothers combining for 13 of their side’s goals. Former AFL player and umpire Jordan returned to Therry Penola this year, while Jarrod has long been one of the VAFA’s premier forwards and has 51 majors from eight games in 2018. Therry Penola is third in its first season under coach Dean Rioli, two points behind Ormond.

Russell Robertson keeps flying high for Southern FL club Doveton.

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Robertson boots 15 in rout

Much like he did throughout his AFL career with high-flying theatrics, Russell Robertson continues to outdo himself in the SFL with Doveton. After playing in the club’s premiership last season, the former Melbourne forward has excelled in his six games this year with 31 majors. Robertson lifted his average to more than five goals per game in 2018 with a monstrous haul of 15 majors in his team’s crushing win over Caulfield at the weekend.

FULL STORY HERE

Dromana dodged an almighty scare from Tyabb on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Dromana dodges serious scare from Tyabb

One team was on top of the ladder. The other was in the bottom two. Yet midway through the last quarter of Dromana’s clash against Tyabb, one of the boilovers of the season was on the cards. The Yabbies hit the front 15 minutes into the fourth quarter, forcing Dromana to dig deep to clinch an 11.19 (85) to 10.14 (74) triumph. Post-match, Tigers coach Rikki Johnston conceded his side could have been rolled, saying “probably if a few things had gone other ways then we may have been in a different scenario”.

FULL STORY HERE

East Burwood’s Adrian Gileno celebrates a goal.

EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: East Burwood forward bags a dozen

Journeyman forward Adrian Gileno booted 12 goals as East Burwood scored a percentage boosting win over Nunawading. Gileno’s haul moved him into second on the Eastern Football League Division 4 goalkicking table with 61 majors for the year, while the Rams improved their per cent from 146.01 to 161.99 to jump to second on the ladder. The 25.23 (173) to 3.6 (24) result also extended Nunawading’s losing streak to 57 games, with the Lions’ last win coming back in Round 10, 2015.

Chris Stewart hit double figures for Deer Park on Saturday against Sunshine. Picture: David Smith.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Stewart dominates grand final rematch

Chris Stewart was dominant with 10 majors as Deer Park sounded a warning to its premiership rivals with a 90-point thumping of Sunshine on Saturday. Stewart took his goals tally to 35 from 12 matches this year as he proved too much for the Sunshine defence in a 23.9 (147) to 8.9 (57) win. Stewart’s haul wasn’t the biggest in WRFL Division 1 though, with Altona’s in-form spearhead Patrick Rose slotting 11 majors against Albion.