The Hanger: Simon Goosey makes shock Mornington return, Hadfield snaps its winless EDFL run, Mitcham causes an EFL boilover and more
CHECK in to The Hanger for all the talking points from the latest round of local footy. Simon Goosey’s comeback, a Mitcham boilover and Hadfield’s breakthrough win feature this week.
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MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Legend Goosey makes shock return
Goalkicking legend Simon Goosey made a shock comeback at the age of 50 on Saturday.
With Mornington’s reserves side short of players, the man who fired off more than 1800 goals made a spur of the moment decision to pull on the boots for his first game since 2010.
Showing he’s still got it, he booted two goals — from a mark and then a snap — to help Mornington’s magoos to a 75-point win over Rosebud at Alexandra Park. But he was paying for it the next morning. “I’m sore all over — back, hip, everything…,” he said. “The mind knows but the body … I supposed I’m not conditioned to it.”
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Redlegs end long wait to taste success
“That’s 666 days, to be exact,” Dandenong coach Nathan Boyd said after his team prevailed, 17.4 (106) to 14.11 (95) over Moorabbin, to end a long drought in Division 4 of the SFL. The Redlegs’ outstanding accuracy helped their cause, as did the inspirational tackling of Antonio Gaetano whether up forward or in the midfield. Gaetano was the man for the moment in the last quarter, launching a long goal into the wind which helped inspire Dandenong to victory.
NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Panthers firm as flag favourites
Brent Macaffer produced his best performance of the season for Eltham to lead the Panthers to a 36-point win over Lower Plenty in the battle of Division 2’s unbeaten teams. The Bears led at quarter-time and halftime before Eltham slammed on 5.5 to 0.2 in the third term. Macaffer kicked four goals in the 14.14 (98) to 9.8 (62) victory, sending his side eight points
clear at the top of the ladder with a 9-0 record.
VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: Snowdogs sound a warning
Chad Jones took his season tally to 45 goals from eight games with a haul of eight majors in St Bernard’s 59-point victory over fellow Premier B flag contender Old Carey. The Snowdogs’ only loss for the season was in Round 2 against Old Carey, but there was little danger of a repeat when St Bernard’s blitzed its opponent with 11 first-half goals. The 18.15 (123) to 10.4 (64) win has the Snowdogs top of the ladder and in the box seat to claim a double chance.
ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE: They’re a happy team at Hadfield
Hadfield snapped a 34-game losing run when it knocked off Burnside Heights by 28 points in EDFL Division 2 on Saturday. The win at Martin Reserve was the club’s first at senior level since Round 8, 2016, when it defeated Northern Saints in Division 1. The Hawks were relegated from the second tier last year after a winless season but they have given first-year mentor Brett Pitts his maiden victory as coach and continue to improve after a barren period.
ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Limbach puts Lions to the sword
Craigieburn star Dean Limbach moved to the top of the EDFL Division 1 goalkicking charts on Saturday after helping himself to 10 goals against Taylors Lakes on Saturday. It marked the second time this season the boom recruit has bagged double figures after he also kicked 10 against Jacana in Round 3. The former Richmond-listed player arrived from Central Murray league club Koondrook Barham in the off-season and has 48 majors from eight games. He is now eight clear of Airport West’s Tyson Young, who managed only one major at the weekend, after starting the round in second spot.
VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: Tonners love tight games
Old Brighton prevailed for the fifth time this season in a game decided by less than three goals, defeating Uni Blues by five points in Premier Division. The Tonners are flying high in third spot on the ladder at 8-2, yet their season could have been very different had it not been for their success in close matches. The clash finished 10.14 (74) to 10.9 (69) in Old Brighton’s favour, leading coach Greg Hutchison to say: “At three-quarter time when we were still two-and-a-half goals up I thought it was headed for an OK sort of win, but they were really good in the last quarter.”
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Tigers cause massive boilover
Mitcham pulled off the upset of the season after a seven-point win over Division 2 premiership favourite Doncaster East at Walker Park.
The Tigers led at every change and finished with a 12.10 (82) to 10.15 (75) win, moving them to a 2-6-1 record.
Lucas Marro starred up forward with four goals to be the difference between the two sides, while James McCubbin finished as the other multiple goalkicker and Will Gordon put in one of his best games of the season.
RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Burras end Wallan’s run in milestone match
Diggers Rest marked itself as a premiership contender by ending Wallan’s unbeaten start to the RDFL season. The Burras have a game in hand and are fourth on the ladder, but proved their quality in Saturday’s 13.18 (96) to 11.8 (74) victory. The match was won in the opening quarter, when Diggers Rest booted five goals to one to lead by 30 points. Sean Egan continued his superb season by being named best afield. Tom Gleeson and Stephen Ruane both played their 200th match for the Burras in the victory.
AFL YARRA RANGES: McDermott clean bowls Thornton Eildon
Ross McDermott moved to 30 goals from five games for the AFL Yarra Ranges Division 2 campaign with a haul of 11 majors in Yarra Glen’s 189-point thumping of Thornton Eildon.
Yarra Glen had 11 goalkickers in the resounding victory, which came in a battle of the division’s unbeaten team against its winless side.
In Division 1, Upwey Tecoma moved a game clear of second with a 67-point hiding of Wandin.
Five teams are locked on 20 points behind the Tigers on a congested ladder.
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