The heat is on Rye as Red Hill rattles home to make late lunge for finals in Nepean league
A LATE-surging Red Hill is poised to snatch a finals berth in Nepean league – and it could be at the expense of one-time flag fancy Rye.
South East
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A LATE-surging Red Hill is poised to snatch a finals berth in Nepean league – and it could be at the expense of one-time flag fancy Rye.
The desperate scramble for finals spots will be decided in next weekend’s crucial last round of the season.
So tight is the competition, second down to sixth are all on 44 points, separated only by percentage.
Red Hill, sixth, thumped Frankston by 113 points to loom large.
The Hillmen face eighth-placed Dromana in the last round and if they win - and Rye lose to Sorrento – they would make the finals.
“We have to win but we have to hope Sorrento beat Rye,’’ Red Hill coach Tony Blackford said.
Blackford said his side would prepare for its game against Dromana like a final.
“It’s like a final in a sense,’’ he said.
“As long as we apply ourselves like we have over the past month – we’ve won five out of the last six.’’
Blackford said he believes Red Hill deserves to make the finals.
“I do. And Rye will say that they deserve to, too,’’ he said.
Rye finds itself under the pump after dropping its past two games, including a 47-point loss to Somerville on Saturday.
Rye trailed at each change as Somerville, fuelled by Josh Collie and Jed Sutton (four goals), cleared out for a 18.8 (116) to 9.15 (69) win.
Rye is in the hot seat and the Demons will need their high-priced recruits to step up this week.
Former Port Melbourne premiership star Myles Pitt slotted seven goals to help Sorrento to an eight-goal win over Dromana.
Leigh Treeby, Ryan Potter and Nick Muller also impressed as the Sharks (11-4) continued their march to the finals.
Ladder leader Rosebud had 61 scoring shots on its way to a 178-point crunching of Tyabb. Jason Bristow, Rob Forrest and Ryan Spooner dominated and Tom Baker led the scoring with six majors.
Third-placed Hastings came from behind to beat Crib Point by 66 points.
In Peninsula league, Mt Eliza spearhead Justin Van Unen limped from the ground after slotting eight goals against Karingal on Saturday to move to 95 for the season.
“I think he just got a knock on the shin or something like that but he’s fine,’’ Mt Eliza coach John Georgiou said.
With another two rounds plus finals to go dynamic “JV” should power past a century.
Mt Eliza made light work of winless Karingal, surging to a 26.21 (177) to 6.4 (40) win to remain a game clear on top of the ladder.
The Redlegs celebrated another three milestones – Darren Booth and Rohan Heasley both played their 150th game and Jack Egan his 100th.
Starting the game on 87 goals, Van Unen kicked two goals in the opening two minutes before Karingal’s Aaron Paxton kept him in reasonable check. Sam Wettenhall and Tim Strickland both booted four goals.
Frankston YCW coach Scott Mathers was typically understated after his Stonecats dispatched third-placed Mornington by 65 points to make it nine wins in a row.
“We’re in pretty good form,’’ Mathers said. “I’d rather have our blokes playing well than hoping to click.’’
The grand final rematch was close at half time before the Stonecats outscored Mornington 11 goals to three in the second half.
Alarm went through the Frankston YCW camp when star ruckman Ash Eames suffered an ankle injury in the second term but Mathers said he has been cleared of serious damage.
David Bodley led the onslaught for YCW with five goals and Scott MacLeod capped a best-on-ground display with three goals.
Mathers said his side was focused heading towards yet another finals campaign.
“The experience in our group keeps driving the younger ones,’’ he said.
Edi-Asp coach Graeme Yeats says it was one of his side’s toughest games of the season.
In a bruising encounter, the Eagles beat local rivals Bonbeach by 22 points on Saturday to continue their march to the Peninsula league finals.
They’ve won six of their past seven games.
“I thought it was one of the tougher games that we’ve been involved in all year, physically,’’ Yeats said after the 10.15 (75) to 8.5 (53) win at Shark Park.
“Bonbeach always come to play when they play us. We had to really work hard to achieve that result. They made us earn every possession we got and we certainly had a lot of sore boys after the game.’’
Scores were level at half-time before Edi-Asp kicked two unanswered goals in the third term to open up a 15-point break. It was decisive in a tight tussle.
Yeats was delighted with the input of his younger players, notably Under 19s Darcy Warke (four goals), Sean Fisher and Liam Harris.
“Really pleased with those boys,’’ Yeats aid. “In a tough, physical game they all stood up. It’s great for the club’s future.’’
Eagles ball magnet Matt Clark was named best-on-ground and prime mover Tim Mavric also impressed.
Chris Bryan was Bonbeach’s best player after booting three goals, while Gary Carpenter, Sheldon Price and Matt Douglas also did well.
With two rounds remaining, Edi-Asp can still snatch a top-three spot, but Yeats said it wasn’t a priority.
“The first port of call is to make finals and win a final,’’ he said. “I think we are heading in that direction.
“I love the finals. It can be really gratifying or it can be really devastating. That cut-throat stuff, I really enjoy that.’’
In other games, Langwarrin thrashed Chelsea by 11 goals, and Pines beat Seaford by 66 points, with Aaron Edwards and Guy Hendry both kicking seven.
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