Get all the big talking points from the weekend’s VAFA footy action

The VAFA heads to the long weekend with a host of clubs yet to taste defeat, while there was a massive 10-goal haul and plenty of heart-stoppers.

Old Geelong’s Lachlan Dunell is tackled by Josh Cumberlidge of De La Salle. Picture: Josh Chadwick

It’s time for long, deep breath

The VAFA competitions are taking shape as the season reaches the King’s Birthday bye.

There are four undefeated teams still standing, while the battle for top-four spots is starting to heat up.

There were match-winning 10-goal hauls, midfield guns with leather poisoning and a couple of thrilling finishes to get the heart rate up.

Check out all the talking points from the weekend below.

EASTON OUTSTANDING FOR OLD SCOTCH

Old Scotch is the highest scoring side in Premier Men’s, with options aplenty up forward. The Cardinals’ firepower was on display on Saturday as they piled on 17 goals after quarter-time to take care of Uni Blacks by 52 points, 18.11 (119) to 10.7 (67). Brodie Easton capped a best-on-ground performance with four goals, while Henry Brown and James Tarrant slotted three apiece for the 7-1 ladder leaders. Tom Ansell was also influential. Austin Steere provided one of the highlights of the day for Blacks with a Goal of the Year nomination.

MICHIE MAGIC AS LIONS ROAR

Former Fremantle and Melbourne midfielder Vic Michie turned in a sizzling display to help Collegians beat Caulfield Grammarians by 54 points, 17.12 (114) to 9.6 (60). The Lions fired off 10 goals in the second quarter to make their winning move as Will Pewtress and Will Pocknee booted three goals each, and Will Damico and Ed Greene two apiece. Collegians have made its premiership intentions clear in the opening eight weeks of the season, banking six wins.

Will Carrington in action for University Blues. Picture: George Sal

BLUES EDGE SKOB

A spirited Uni Blues made it four wins on the spin after holding off a fast-finishing St Kevin’s by three points, 8.8 (56) to 7.11 (53). Eddy Ziebarth was instrumental for the Blues and Tom Young continued his emergence as a key forward with three clutch goals. Matt Crocker slotted two goals to continue his bright form. The Blues have worked their way into third spot, poised to push for high honours this season.

KEW SURVIVES, COBURG SNATCHES THRILLER

Kew remains undefeated on top of the Premier Women’s ladder after holding off a fast-finishing St Kevin’s. The ladder-leaders were held goalless in the final quarter at TH King Oval as the home team roared home but fell agonisingly two points short of completing the comeback. Amelia Dawborn was named best-on-ground for the victors. There was also a heart-stopper at Piranha Park as Coburg held off West Brunswick in similar fashion. The Lions could only manage one behind in the final term as the Magpies stormed home but also fell two points short. Sheridan Bennett was best afield.

SNOWDOGS STAY PERFECT

It was the top-of-the-table battle of undefeated teams but it turned into a bloodbath. St Bernard’s welcomed Fitzroy to College Oval and sent the Lions home with a 67-point shellacking. Joe Agresta, Ethan Schumann and Ben Overman were dominant in midfield, while Marcus Holland led the way with three goals. The 16.20 (116) to 7.7 (49) win confirms the Snowdogs’ premiership favouritism as they look to bounce straight back up to the top flight.

Lachlan Dunell of Old Geelong tries to get rid of the ball. Picture: Josh Chadwick

DE LA DELIGHT IN TOP-FOUR BATTLE

De La Salle moved a game clear in fourth after a stirring 15-point win over Old Geelong at Waverley Oval. The two teams were locked on four wins apiece heading into the clash and home ground advantage proved crucial. De La Salle led from the get-go, kicking five goals in the first term to jump out into a 28-point lead. Old Geelong battled back in the second term, narrowing the margin to 10 points at half-time but the home team took control again in the second half to put itself in the box seat for finals. Tom Filipovic was named best-on-ground.

CYMS JUMP CLEAR OF RELEGATION BATTLE

Outside the bottom two on percentage heading into the weekend, Williamstown CYMS produced a potentially season-turning 31-point win over Old Trinity at Fearon Reserve. CYMS are now a game and almost 20 per cent clear of Ajax in ninth. The home team was in control all day, a three-point quarter-time lead turned into a 25-point advantage at half-time and the game was all but over at the final change as the margin extended to 29 points. Jai Haines was named best-on-ground in the win, while Will Smyth, Will Bokma and Oskar Manton all booted three goals.

VULTURES CLIPPED BY FAST-FINISHING WELLERS

The top-four clash lived up to its billing, with Old Camberwell Grammarians edging Parkdale by a point in a heart-stopping come-from-behind victory. A bag of five majors from the Vultures’ Ryan MacDermid wasn’t enough to resist the Wellers’ last-quarter charge, trailing by 18 points at the final change before overrunning the hosts 12.11 (83) to 13.4 (82). The victory consolidates Old Camberwell a game clear in second spot – and two points from the top – while Parkdale holds onto fourth by two points. Former North Melbourne VFL midfielder Riley Verbi booted two goals for the Wellers in a best-afield display.

PEGS MARCH ON

Ladder-leading reigning premier PEGS overcame a tight first-half tussle with an eager Ormond outfit hunting for its second win of the season, with the Bombers pulling away after the main break to prevail 15.9 (99) to 11.9 (75). Riley Simmons was among PEGS’ best with four majors, while ever-reliable on-baller Scott Whillas took the best-on-ground honours. Howard Persson and Matt Oaten finished with two goals each for the Monders. PEGS sits on top of the ladder with six wins and a draw – two points ahead of Old Camberwell – while Ormond sits eighth.

ROVERS, OLD IVANHOE TOO STRONG

The Hampton Rovers snared their second win of the season, shaking off the higher-seeded Old Carey after a tight first half – courtesy of a bag of five majors from Nathan Smith. Just 12 points separated the pair at the main break – but the Rovers extended the margin to 25 by three-quarter time before winning 12.7 (79) to 7.8 (50). In a standalone Sunday clash, Old Ivanhoe (third) powered past last-placed Marcellin for a 70-point win. Luke Scuderi kicked five goals for Old Ivanhoe, while Josh Posar booted two for the hosts.

CLOKE CLAIMS 10

Oakleigh forward Aaron Cloke filled his boots on Saturday with an impressive 10-goal haul. While winless, Preston showed plenty of fight to quarter-time – trailing by only four points at the first change. Cloke then took command of the contest, as his side kicked away with 17 goals to three. Cloke was named best afield, while Tom Gillard, Will Holton, Jack Gorman, James Hunt and Jay Rossington were also among the winner’s best.

GRYPHONS MAKE IT EIGHT STRAIGHT

Glen Eira is now two games clear on top of the Division 1 ladder after hammering West Brunswick by 71 points at Packer Park on Saturday. Daniel McDonald was the star in attack, finishing with five goals, to claim best-on-ground honours, while Jack Richardson and Lewis Oliver also impressed. A five-goal burst in the first quarter put the Gryphons in command and a seven-goal final term put the cherry on top of a fine display.

DRAW TIME FOR DUO

Despite a late charge in the final quarter, Old Yarra were forced to settle for a draw against MHSOB in its Division 2 clash. The two sides played out the third draw all season in the VAFA competition with Old Yarra’s inaccuracy costing them dearly in the 16.20 (116) to 18.8 (116) result. Old Yarra kicked 5.7 in the final term to overcome a 29-point deficit but were not able to grab the vital extra point for victory. Old Yarra’s Jack Hall kicked nine goals in the game.

LOGJAM AT THE TOP

There’s a three-way battle at the top after the latest round of Division 2 in the VAFA. Three teams are now on six wins and two losses after Saturday’s matches. South Melbourne defeated Brunswick by two points to move equal with NOBS. Swans forwards Dale Stewart and Jamie Brooker kicked three goals each to score six of the eight goals for the team. They are joined at the top by Parkside who defeated Old Paradians by 53 points to move to the top on percentage.

WHITEFRIARS GET THE WOOD OVER RIVALS

Six goals to Daniel Wood saw Whitefriars move to fourth with an important 10-point win over Aquinas. The Friars, who were down by five points at the final change, charged home to secure a 17.3 (105) to 15.5 (95) win. Aquinas has been unlucky the past couple of weeks, losing three out of their last four matches by under 20 points. The team has now lost its last four matches.

TOP FOUR ON TOP

It was the top four versus the bottom four in Division 3 on the weekend. Richmond Central came the closest to causing an upset, going down to Wattle Park by 17 points. Elsewhere, ladder-leader Canterbury was too strong for fifth-placed Power House in a 47-point win, Elsternwick battered La Trobe by 70 points and Hawthorn cruised to a 86-point triumph over local rival Swinburne. Canterbury’s Tom Lowden extended his lead in the league goalkicking with a five-goal haul, taking him to 33 for the season, nine ahead of Wicks’ Julian Yeatman.

BULLS ON A CHARGE

While there’s still more than half the season to go, the Division 4 premiership looks North Brunswick’s to lose. After one of the closest relegation battles in recent history last season, when the Bulls went down on percentage despite having as many wins as fifth-place, the club has been utterly dominant in the bottom tier. A 110-point win over cellar-dweller Eley Park took the club to a perfect 8-0 record with a percentage of 276.61, three games clear of second-placed Box Hill North. The Demons had a 24-point win over St Johns, while Albert Park upset Masala by 15.

BLUES, BEAUY, CYMS, GRYPHONS STILL UNBEATEN

Five of the six women’s grades see undefeated teams on top of the ladder. Monash Blues sit atop the Premier B pile with a 7-0-1 record after keeping North Brunswick scoreless in a 76-point win. Beaumaris is yet to taste defeat in Division 1, extending their record to 8-0 with a 2.6 (18) to 0.1 (1) win over Hampton Rovers. Williamstown CYMS travelled to Parkdale and came away with a 26-point win to also make it eight from eight in Division 2, while in Division 3 Glen Eira joined their men’s team as undefeated after beating Whitefriars 8.10 (58) to 3.5 (23).