The Hanger: Tom Rogers keeps Eltham’s streak alive, Drew Petrie makes a successful cameo and Glen Orden breaks through
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WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Hawks fly to first win of 2018
This season was always going to be a challenge for Glen Orden as it started its rebuild after a year in recess. The Hawks did not compete at senior level in 2017 after being crippled by a player shortage. The club has returned to the field this season in the WRFL’s lowest competition — Division 3 — and snapped a run of nine consecutive losses on Saturday. Glen Orden led at every change against North Sunshine at Dempster Park and prevailed by 11 points, 7.18 (60) to 8.1 (49). The Hawks have been competitive without winning, with five of their defeats coming by five goals or less. Hopefully this victory — the club’s first since Round 19, 2016, when it was in Division 2 — gives Phil Crea’s team a much-needed injection of confidence.
ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Strathmore’s young guns shine
Few would have given Strathmore a chance of toppling Greenvale when the squads dropped on Friday. Coach Nathan Grima, Nick Lower, Andrew Horne, Hamish McIntosh, Tyson Mitchem and James Dwyer were listed as outs for the pivotal Premier Division clash at Section Rd. But the Mores underlined their depth and status as a contender with a 58-point victory over last year’s runner-up. Greenvale was without two stars of their own — Addam Maric and Courtenay Dempsey — but it was outclassed from the start. It was an important win for Strathmore, too, as it left the sixth-placed side just half a game behind reigning premier Aberfeldie, which sits in fourth spot. The Mores have knocked off Abers and the Jets in the past three weeks. With six teams in contention for the flag, the remaining weeks of the home-and-away campaign will be enthralling.
NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Rogers seals Eltham’s win on the buzzer
Half-back flanker Tom Rogers capitalised on a freekick awarded with less than a minute to play to keep Eltham’s unbeaten season intact in Division 2. The siren sounded seconds after Rogers floated a left-foot set shot through, which just snuck inside the right goalpost. His effort was enough for the Panthers to snatch a 9.6 (60) to 8.11 (59) victory over Eltham and win its 11th consecutive game in 2018 to sit well clear at the top of the ladder.
BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Magin with seconds to spare
Former Gold Coast midfielder Alik Magin was the hero as Sunbury edged to a nailbiting win over East Point. The Lions trailed by 15 points heading into time-on in the last term before goals from Ben Guthrie and Grant Valles got them within two points. Magin bobbed up with the winning goal in the nick of time, with the siren sounding when the ball was ferried back to the middle of Clarke Oval. Sunbury prevailed 11.12 (78) to 11.8 (74) to sit fifth after 10 rounds.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Petrie hauls Pearcedale to victory
In front of a healthy crowd, former North Melbourne and West Coast big man Drew Petrie hauled Pearcedale to an eight-point win over Devon Meadows on Saturday. Petrie asked to be put in the ruck at three-quarter-time of a cameo appearance for the Dales and delivered as they claimed a 10.8 (68) to 9.6 (60) win. “At three-quarter time he asked me if he could play in the ruck just to make sure that we got over the line,’’ Pearcedale coach Leigh Stewart said.
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Robertson still flying high at Doveton
He might be approaching 40, but high-flying former Melbourne forward Russell Robertson keeps delivering in the Southern Football League for Doveton. After kicking 51 goals in 10 games last year, the ex-Demons forward has 16 goals in five matches in 2018. His haul this year includes six goals in Doveton’s victory over East Brighton on Saturday, 17.11 (113) to 11.8 (74).
VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: Snowdogs clear out at the top
If there was any doubt about the flag favourite in VAFA Premier B, there no longer is. St Bernard’s has assumed that mantle after claiming wins over its two closest rivals — Old Carey and Uni Blacks — in the past three weeks. On Saturday, the Snowdogs toppled Uni Blacks 15.6 (96) to 11.13 (79) after leading by 35 points at quarter-time. Ex-AFL forward Chad Jones moved to 50 goals from nine games for the season with a haul of five majors in the 17-point triumph.
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Williams on target for Norwood
Norwood spearhead Leigh Williams took the lead in the Eastern Football League Division 1 goalkicking race after booting eight goals in the Norsemen’s 64-point win over East Ringwood. Williams, who has topped the goalkicking charts in two of the past three seasons, has 49 goals for the season, overtaking Vermont star Brett Eddy by two with seven games remaining in the season. Eddy had 25 goals from his first four games to put him on course to crack the ton, but has managed just 19 from his following six outings.
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‘Shook me up’: Ex-AFL player’s concussion toll, uncertain future
Dion Johnstone has changed local teams, but the former Melbourne player is well aware his career is in a delicate position after a concerning number of head knocks.