VAFA Division 3 2018: Glen Eira wins top-of-the-ladder tussle with Hawthorn

Just seven points separated the two Division 3 heavyweights on Saturday, with Glen Eira getting over the top of a determined Hawthorn.

Just seven points separated the two Division 3 heavyweights at Packer Reserve on Saturday, with Glen Eira finally getting over the top of a determined Hawthorn outfit in a game that could well have gone either way.

With finals just around the corner it was a sign of what’s to come with the Gryphons consolidating top spot and premiership favouritism by edging the Hawks 17.8 (110) to 15.13 (103).

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With his side having more scoring shots than Glen Eira, Hawks coach Kade Pargeter was left to ponder one that got away.

“We kicked five goals and six behinds in the last quarter and also we put five out on the full, so we had our chances for sure,” he said.

“We were level pegging at half time and ended up being five goals down at three-quarter time and we just threw caution to the wind in the last quarter and we pegged them back.

“In many ways we were lucky to be that close but it would have been a good game to watch today, it was hotly contested and really tense at the end of the game.”

In his fifth year as coach of the Hawks, Pargeter admits the past month has been a difficult one with players being unavailable and out through injury.

“We had a few out today and so did Glen Eira but it’s been a big issue for us over the past month or so,” he said. “It’s hard to get some consistency in the way we play with so many out”.

Glen Eira won a heavyweight battle with Hawthorn on Saturday. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Alex Irwin-Ross, with six goals, was the major goalkicker for the Gryphons while, for Hawthorn, Steven Wintle kicked four.

Disappointed with the loss, Pargeter believes there is still plenty of improvement to come in his side.

“We have won 10 games in a row but lately we haven’t been able to string good quarters together,” he said. “So that will be our focus moving forward and I am confident we will be around when the whips are cracking.”

In other Division 3 games this week, Swinburne University was far too strong for La Trobe University, running out easy winners 17.23 (125) to 6.6 (42) while Canterbury maintained its hold on fourth spot on the ladder with a 19-point win over Richmond, 10.9 (69) to 7.8 (50).

In Premier, St Kevin’s stopped St Bedes/Mentone’s winning run, 15.11 (101) to 12.8 (80), while Old Xaverians moved into sixth place, level on points with De La Salle, after a convincing 16.14 (110) to 6.8 (44) win over Old Melburnians.

On the back of five goals from Lachie Waddell, Old Scotch stole a two-point win from Old Trinity, 8.8 (56) to 7.12 (54).

In Premier C, St Mary’s Salesian went down to Peninsula 13.13 (91) to 12.11 (83) to 13.13 (91) while Fitzroy had a big win against Old Camberwell Grammarians 17.7 (109) to 7.8 (50).

And, in Division 1, Kew upset finals candidates Preston Bullants 12.15 (87) to 7.11 (53).