Touching tributes and droughts broken in emotional day of local footy
The longest winning drought ended and a popular player was remembered, as local footy proved more than a game. Catch up on all the action here.
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Footy was more than a game on Saturday.
Whether it was pre-game or after the final siren, footy showed its worth among the community.
Here are all the talking points from another cracking day.
FOR BILLY
Two Ballarat league clubs came together to mourn the tragic loss of Billy Sullivan on Saturday afternoon after his tragic death earlier this week.
Sullivan’s former clubs, Melton South (where he played his junior footy) and Darley went head-to-head on the field but joined in arms to celebrate his life beforehand.
They sat Sullivan’s jumper in the middle and held a moments silence.
The Western Rams won its first game in 78 games.
There was no shortage of emotion, as the Rams players, coaches and supporters celebrated the win.
MAGPIES EDGE WOORI
Teenage star Sam Toner slotted seven goals to fire Narre Warren to a thrilling five-point win over Woori Yallock in Outer East league’s Premier Division.
The Magpies kicked a late goal to snatch victory, 10.7 (67) to 9.8 (62), remaining the only undefeated side in the league.
Narre Warren is 10-0 under first-season coach Steve Kidd.
TIGERS TAME REDLEGS
Former Richmond forward Jake Aarts slotted a goal on the run as Dromana finished hard to beat Mt Eliza in the Mornington Peninsula Division 1 top-of-the-ladder clash, 9.14 (68) to 8.7 (55).
Dromana trailed by 10 points at halftime before kicking six goals to three in the second half.
Aarts finished with four goals and Billy Geurts, Billy Quigley, Nick Collier and Dean Waugh were among the best.
Dromana, 10-1, is on track to defend its crown.
ROSELLAS RUN RIOT
Cheltenham has all but cemented its spot inside the top two by defeating fellow contender Dingley, 15.8 (98) to 11.7 (73).
The Rosellas kicked seven goals to two in the second quarter to scoot out to a comfortable lead.
Former St Kilda livewire Jack Lonie was sensational in the first half, kicking three goals, but it was Sam Hayes and Austin Johnson who were the Rosellas’ best.
VFL-listed defender Michael Lewis and rising star Mitch Cook were the Dingoes’ better players.
The Rosellas remain a win clear on top of the Southern league Division 1 ladder and =three wins clear of Dingley in third.
SNOWDOGS BARK
St Bernard’s did its chances of VAFA Premier survival no harm with a 42-point win over University Blues.
Edyn Sibbald booted four last-quarter goals in the upset win while Jeremy O’Sullivan, Michael Caven, Charlie Vague and Fergus McNicol were named among the better players.
The win over a finals contender, the Snowdogs’ third of the season, saw coach Steve Alessio’s side move to seventh on percentage.
The loss drags the Blues from third to fifth place after Collegians and Old Scotch both recorded wins.
LIONS BREAK DROUGHT
Doncaster East has arrested a five-game losing streak in Eastern’s top division with a 12.13 (85) to 10.5 (65) victory over Noble Park at Pat Wright Snr. Oval.
The result consigns Noble Park to a seventh consecutive defeat, on the day the club toasted its 450th Eastern league match.
Trailing by five points at quarter-time, the Lions kicked away to a 23-point lead at the main break before the Bulls cut the deficit to just two points at the final change.
But the visiting Doncaster East wasn’t to be denied a drought-breaking win, kicking five goals to two in the last quarter.
BULLS CHARGE DOWN MAGPIES
Bundoora has held off Montmorency to claim a thrilling Northern league upset.
The Bulls led at the first and last change but were tested when the Magpies hit the front halfway through the final term.
But Bundoora responded with a goal of its own to hold on 8.5 (53) to 7.9 (51).
The loss will cost Montmorency two spots on the ladder.
THE PIGEONS POUNCE
Yarrawonga has reaffirmed its stranglehold on the Ovens and Murray league with a comprehensive win over Wodonga.
The Pigeons flexed their muscles in the second term with six of seven goals.
Wodonga remain a win clear in fourth despite the 8.6 (54) to 12.18 (90) defeat.
The Wangaratta derby features as a stand-alone match on Sunday.
CARO WINS FINALS LIKE THRILLER
If Caroline Springs narrow win over Yarraville Seddon is anything to go by come finals time, we’re in for a stunning Western Football League division one finals series.
Brian Lake’s men held on for a five-point victory to move ahead in the race for the double chance.
STUNNING UPSETS IN THE EDFL
Coburg Districts ended Taylors Lakes’ unbeaten start to the EDFL division two season with a thrilling eight-point win at Lionheart Reserve.
In a battle of the Lions, it was Districts who prevailed 17.10 (112) to 15.14 (104) in a high-scoring contest.
Meanwhile, Westmeadows stunned Burnside Heights by 16 points to reaffirm their status as a team to keep an eye on in the back half of the season.
MIGHTY MOE
Moe has clipped the wings of one of country footy’s biggest powers with a mighty win over Leongatha.
The Lions took it to the Parrots all day, leading at every change before eventually claiming the four points, 9.14 (68) to 8.9 (57).
The Parrots have won four of the past five premierships and are atop of the Gippsland league table again.
EAGLES SOAR
Vermont overturned a 22-point halftime deficit to topple Blackburn 13.9 (87) to 9.13 (67) in a top-five Eastern Premier Division showdown.
Entering the match in fifth, the Eagles piled on nine goals to two after the main break to leapfrog Blackburn in fourth — and lift their record to 6-4.
The victory followed a loss to East Ringwood last weekend, halting a five-game winning run.
HAWKS BLUNT HAMMERS
Hallam has handed Southern league Division 4 frontrunner Hampton its first defeat of 2024.
The Hawks kicked the last two goals of the game to sneak home, 12.10 (82) to 11.11 (77).
The Hammers were simply untouchable in the first 10 games of the season — sitting undefeated with a percentage of more than 300.
Hallam kicked five of the first six goals and then held off the fast-finishing Hammers.
DONNY DELIVERS
Donvale has sent shockwaves through the Eastern league’s Division 3, powering to a 25.12 (162) to 13.8 (86) win over Surrey Park in a top-of-the-table clash.
It’s a 28th consecutive victory for the reigning premier, which was propelled by seven goals from Matt Day and Nick Murphy with five among a wealth of contributors, as the visitors piled on nine final-quarter majors.
In a bruising encounter for Surrey Park which finished with no bench, the match was delayed some 25 minutes as Jack McLaren headlined the casualties, suffering a suspected broken leg before halftime.
Meanwhile, Fairpark has upset Silvan for its second win of the Division 3 season, 11.14 (80) to 11.9 (75).
DASHING DALES
Pearcedale boosted its finals hopes with a resounding 27-point win over flag contenders Chelsea in Mornington Peninsula Division 2.
Inspired by former Vermont star Tom Schneider, the Dales led throughout to win 11.14 (80) to 7.11 (54) and improve their record to 7-4.
Mitchell Davis and ex-league man Brett Eddy kicked three goals apiece, while Alexander Dimic, Archie McGuiness and Jayden Cole also were in everything.
EX-TIGER FILLS UP
Montrose has ended South Belgrave’s five-game winning run in Eastern’s Division 1 with a 16.14 (110) to 9.11 (65) victory in a second versus third bout at Belgrave South Recreation Reserve.
Ex-AFL Tiger Ryan Garthwaite kicked four goals for Montrose to take his season tally to a runaway 55 majors — 24 ahead of the next-best — as his side led at all changes on Saturday.
How country club landed ex-AFL forward as flag Pie set to follow
After retiring from the AFL, this former mature-age recruit will ply his trade at one of the best country clubs in Victoria. And a premiership Magpie is poised to join him.
Premiership Cat locks in his next club
Recently retired Geelong and Carlton star Zach Tuohy has confirmed his next football club, signing for a club in the state’s west in a move which will see him link up with a former teammate.