Wasteful East Brighton Vampires boot 23 behinds, but hold off St Kilda City Saints

SFL WRAP: Despite suffering a bout of incurable inaccuracy, East Brighton emerged victorious over St Kilda City in the weekend’s Southern Football League action.

Despite suffering a bout of incurable inaccuracy, East Brighton emerged victorious by 20 points over St Kilda City in their Southern Football League Division 1 clash at Hurlingham Park on Saturday.

On most days, 29 scoring shots to 14 would ensure a hefty victory, but the Vampires could manage just 6-23-59 to the Saints’ 5-9-39 after controlling the game everywhere but on the scoreboard.

So off target were the hosts, that their 2-10 in the first half saw them trailing their visitors by two points at the long interval before snatching an eight-point advantage at the final change. In the end, the Vampires simply had too much experience and poise to allow an upset.

Hamish Dahl put in his best effort of the season for the winners, with Will Hetherington, league medal champion Dean Williamson and Nathan Stewart among their other better players. The Saints battled hard all day to stay close in what was a plucky team effort.

Chelsea Heights held out a determined Bentleigh by seven points in a keen battle of the Demons at Beazley Reserve.

The Heighters opened up the gap in the third term after an even first half that saw less than a kick between the sides at the long break.

But with Matt Troutbeck in everything, the visitors hauled in the three-quarter-time deficit of 22 points to challenge strongly again in the final term.

Troutbeck finished with four goals, while Dale Hynes, Ryan Murphy and Scott Mortimer also did well for Bentleigh. But the Heighters deserved their victory, with Matt Terech, Jordan Peryman and Pat Morrissey among the major contributors. Ash Beasy was also handy up forward with four goals for the winners.

St Paul’s produced a big last quarter to overwhelm Clayton by 46 points at McKinnon Oval.

The Doggies had their work cut out against the persistent Clays and led by just nine points at the last break.

But with Tim Blackwood, Pete Mercoulia, Brendan Dawes and Keiran Knox showing the way, the hosts upped the ante when it mattered to win comfortably, 13-11-89 to 6-7-43.

Alex Johnson has enjoyed a stellar season for the Clays and he was again among their best, along with Dean Evangelista, Jesse henderson and Chris Morrison.

Their ladder positions are further apart than their grounds this season and top side Dingley showed no leniency to neighbour Heatherton when it handed out a 123-point thrashing at Ross Street.

The Tunners, agonisingly close to their first win of the season only seven days earlier, were no match for the stronger and faster Dingoes, who ran out easy winners, 20-22-142 to 3-1-19.

And it was a case of the young and the old leading the way for the visitors, with veteran Tony Lavars and rising youngster Todd Wills among their best.

Jack Williams was also to the fore for the Dingoes, while Dean Francis weighed in with six goals.

As he has done so often this season, Cameron Moon worked tirelessly all day for the Tunners, with Stewart Gibbs, Josh Bennett and Adam Sparrow also prominent.

Cheltenham took no prisoners in its clash against East Malvern at Jack Barker Oval and sailed to victory by 83 points in an impressive display.

The Rosellas opened full of running and quickly opened up a convincing lead, with Pat Bolger, Brett Cuy and Jackson Barclay in everything.

The Panthers’ creditable second-quarter effort, when they outscored their hosts, was their only really serious challenge of the day.

With winners all around the ground, Cheltenham slammed on 10 second-half goals to East’s two to store up some much needed confidence with the finals only weeks away.

The Rosellas had plenty of options up forward, where Pat Nicholls, Matt Andrews and Brett Collins helped themselves to four goals apiece. East were well served by Matt Carroll, Ralph Sadler, Chris Duck and the energetic Benji Neal.

In Division 2, Mordialloc had to pull out all stops to overcome a determined Oakleigh District by 11 points in a low-scoring arm-wrestle at Ben Kavanagh Reserve.

Only ten goals were kicked for the day as the defences reigned supreme before the Bloods triumphed with 6-10-46 to 4-11-35.

With Dan Kiellerup, Jake Mounsey and the brilliant Paul Fermanis in full flight, the Oaks were only four points off the pace at the last change.

But the Bloods steadied in the crisis to retain top spot on the Division Two ladder. Mordialloc’s Lachie McIver excelled in the tight contest, with the in-form Michael Barnhoom, Sean Van Velsen and Simon Fragiacomo also conspicuous.

Although a finals appearance by Murrumbeena this season may be at long odds, the plucky Lions kept their feint hopes alive with a comfortable 23-point win over an injury-stricken Springvale Districts at Newcomen Road.

Given the Demons’ long injury list, theirs was a brave fight, but to take anything away from Murrumbeena’s victory would be unfair.

Coach Steve Wright has also had his injury woes this season, but has instilled belief and persistence in the Lions. A bright opening set up their victory and although their 29-point lead at quarter-time was eroded by the fighting Vales by game’s end, they were never going to lose.

Alex Moloney (three goals) and Dean Spanos were irrepressible for the winners, while Henry Kerstens produced one of his best effort of the season to finish with six goals. Captain Courageous Gav Vassallo again led his Demons by example with another quality display that yielded three goals, while Brodie Snow also bagged three. Clinton Brooks and Craig Keenan also showed out for the hosts.

Caulfield shot a game clear of fellow finals contender Highett with a gutsy 19-point win over the Bulldogs in a tight tussle at Turner Road.

Goals were at a premium all day and little separated the sides on the scoreboard, with only three points between them at the last break.

But it was the Bears who did best when it mattered to claw their way to an important victory, 9-12-66 to 6-11-47. Joel Butler led the way for the Bears with six goals, with Jake Buggy and Jason Twirdy also prominent.

Stalwart Travis Cooper and Jason Angove were among their many other effective contributors, while the Bulldogs were kept right in it by Tom Brown, Jess Elms, Ary Friedman and the ageless Pete Poelsma, the SFL’s answer to Dustin Fletcher.

Hampton kept a persistent and fast-finishing Doveton Eagles at bay to record a 20-point win at Peterson Street.

With Josh Burbidge back to his best and Joshua Kerrigan enjoying a day out, the Hammers led at every break before allowing their visitors to make inroads in the final term.

Justin Isaac was again at the forefront for the winners, while coach Chris Worner and Brendan Bennett shared the goalkicking honours with three apiece.

Corrie Wilson continued his great recent form for the Eagles with another gutsy effort, with Matt Fristad, coach Clint Wilson and Keith Dobson also worthy of mention.

Moorabbin may be facing almost certain relegation back to Division Three, but there’s no questioning their spunk and endeavour. Teams much higher up the ladder have suffered bigger defeats at the hands of the powerful Skye on their own dunghill at Carrum Downs Reserve than the Kangaroos’ 59-point loss last Saturday.

Sure, the Bombers probably just did what they had to do, but the pesky Roos ignored the scoreboard and kept having a go.

Shaun Jackson, Matt Johansson and Alex Baker were among those who followed the belligerent example of coach Dave Stynes.

But in the end, the Bombers simply had too much class, with Ben Telindert, Jim Martinson and Aaron Percy among their many clear winners.

In Division 3, Sandown kept its feint hopes of a top-three finish alive with an impressive 33-point win over Ashwood at Essex Heights Reserve.

With only two games remaining, the Cobras must win both and hope other results go their way, but regardless of that outcome, Saturday’s effort augers well for the finals.

The visitors grabbed the initiative in the third term after a competitive first half, with Frank Martinicchio (four goals), Matt Menzies, John Frenken and Jesse Tregea (three goals) among their many winners.

Coach Paul Wineberg led by example for the Magpies and was well supported by Chris Meyers, who booted five goals. Brett Figas and Trevor Shepherd also impressed for the hosts.

Carrum Patterson Lakes pulled away after half-time to account for Dandenong by 57 points at Greaves Reserve.

With Kaine Bundy, Ryan Forsyth, Kaine Salisbury (three goals) and Shannon Brown giving plenty of cheek, the Redlegs kept their visitors honest early but could not sustain the effort.

Suddenly the likes of Chris Mouritz, Chris Hatzis and Sam Watterson began to exert their influence for the Lions, while Paul Mauracher put in what was possibly his best game of the season. In the end, it was the Lions comfortably, 16-12-108 to 7-9-51.

Lyndale romped home by 76 points against an undermanned Endeavour Hills at Barry Simon Reserve.
Although the Falcons have shown great improvement this season, the Pumas showed who was boss from the outset and had the game well won by half-time, keeping their hosts goal-less to that point.

Ordell Buntine and Jayden Malek were everywhere for the Pumas, while Trevor Kumetaitis ruled his half of the ground with seven goals. Jarryd Burke, Matt Peake and Ben Swift did best for the Falcons.

Mount Waverley wrapped up top spot and the week’s rest come finals time when it outclassed South Yarra by 118 points at Mayfield Reserve.

The Mountain Lions may have been excused for taking their foot off the pedal in the circumstances but did exactly the opposite when they surged home with a nine-goal final quarter to completely bury the stunned Lions.

Despite the efforts of Kieron Finlayson, Josh Gledhill and Eamon Hannay, among others, the Yarras were powerless to stop the steamroller that is Mount Waverley.

Again the winners named no best players — perhaps in an attempt to keep their finals foes guessing, but more likely an administrative oversight.

Black Rock reacted savagely to its surprise loss a week earlier when it trounced a hapless Hallam by 100 points at Hallam Reserve.

The Jets were in no mood for leniency and apart from a mediocre second term when they were outscored, were ruthless in their approach at the footy for most of the day.

Tom Dewar was in sparkling touch and capped a best-on-ground effort with eight goals, while Sam Maitland, Cory Durie and Nick Hellyer wrought havoc further afield.

If it wasn’t for the power of hyphens, the Hawks may have been in even more trouble, with Stephen Richards-Gill and Jack Barrie-Sewell leading the resistance for the hosts.

THIS WEEK

DIV 1

Bentleigh v Cheltenham

East Malvern v St Paul’s

Clayton v Heatherton

St Kilda City v Chelsea Heights

Dingley v East Brighton

DIV 2

Caulfield v Hampton

Murrumbeena v Mordialloc

Doveton Eagles v Springvale Dist

Oakleigh Dist v Skye

Moorabbin v Highett

DIV 3

Lyndale v Black Rock

Endeavour Hills v Mt Waverley

Sandown v Hallam

South Yarra v Dandenong

Carrum Patt Lakes v Ashwood

End part 1