Tallangatta, Horsham, Ovens and Murray: Chiltern wins late season thriller

Mark Doolan has won best and fairests and kicked bags of goals in his great career, but a premiership has eluded him. Here’s why this may be his year.

The best chance Mark Doolan has had to play in a senior flag team was in 2003 for Wodonga Raiders when the club finished minor premiers, but bombed out in straight sets.

The 38-year-old won the first of a club record five best and fairests a year later and in the twilight of his career, premiership success is a real possibility at Chiltern, which has climbed to the top of the Tallangatta and District league ladder.

Doolan kicked five goals in Chiltern’s thrilling one-point win over Kiewa-Sandy Creek on Saturday in only his fourth appearance this season due to a nagging calf injury.

“It’s really exciting,” he said.

“I think our group has learnt a lot from being competitive for the last couple of years.

“We’re now in the position where we get ourselves in a tight situation we know how to act.

“(Premierships) are very hard to win.

“But I think we’re well positioned and we’ve got the group that is certainly capable when we do things right.”

Doolan played more than 200 matches for Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens and Murray league before taking on the coaching job at Chiltern in 2014-15.

He has also played in preliminary finals for Chiltern and West Perth.

Chiltern was well placed to push for a flag last year - it sat second on the ladder when the season was abandoned due to Covid.

Its only losses this season have been to Barnawartha and Beechworth, which are also finals bound.

Chiltern, the home club of former AFL stars Nigel and Matthew Lappin, has yet to win a flag in the Tallangatta and District league since switching from the Ovens and King league in 2003.

EARLIER

Chiltern has taken over top spot on the Tallangatta and District league ladder after a thrilling one-point win against fellow flag contender Kiewa-Sandy Creek on Saturday.

Kiewa-Sandy Creek had dropped only one match heading into the late season blockbuster clash and looked set to secure the minor premiership when it led by nearly four goals early in the second term.

Key forward Connor Newnham kicked three goals in the first term before developing the goalkicking yips including missing a shot late in the match that would have put Kiewa-Sandy Creek back in front.

At the other end of the ground, veteran Chiltern forward Mark Doolan booted five goals including three in the second quarter to almost single-handedly bring his team back to within two points at halftime.

Chiltern had another winner in midfielder Tom Bracher, who began the season playing at VFL level with Richmond, with his brother Nick also in the best.

Chiltern has moved to top spot on the Tallangatta league ladder with finals fast approaching. ⁦@theweeklytimes⁩ ⁦@ctryfootyscores⁩ pic.twitter.com/FkkP4NzPXq

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) July 30, 2022

Scott Meyer was the best big man on the ground and boosted his league medal winning prospects.

Another Chiltern tall Kyle Magee also pulled in some important marks in the final quarter and down back Fin Lappin and Caleb Boxall were calm in a crisis.

Rhys Ritchie booted the matchwinning point for Chiltern when the match looked headed for a draw.

Chiltern beat Kiewa-Sandy Creek at home by three points early in the season.

But Chiltern coach Luke Brookes said beating the previous ladders at their home ground was crucial with finals in sight.

“Kiewa is the benchmark of this league and they wouldn’t have lost at home too often,” he said.

“It gives us some belief going forward.

“We didn’t win no cup here today, but it’s a step in the right direction.

“It’s all good winning games by 15, 20 goals, but this is what footy is about, these tough wins away from home.”

Chiltern is hoping to regain Bodie Hibberson from injury in the run to the finals with Kiewa-Sandy Creek desperate to get game time into Newnham, Jordyn Croucher and Jack Andrew in the last three games.

“One point is not a nice feeling,” Kiewa Sandy-Creek coach Jack Neil said.

“But both games we’ve played have been really close.

“It was a good game.

“There was a little lapse there in the second quarter and we went away from a few key things.

“A good side like that took the opportunity and cashed in.”

Dillon Blaszczyk, Joshua Hicks and Cameron Evans were among the best for Kiewa-Sandy Creek.

HORSHAM AND DISTRICT

Rupanyup remained on top of the ladder with a 12-point win against second-placed Harrow-Balmoral on Saturday.

The ladder leaders took advantage of kicking with the breeze in the opening term to lead by 28 points at quarter time before defending strongly in the second to have the match well under control at halftime.

A late goal from Jarryd Graham opened the margin to a game high 32 points.

Jack Musgrove kicked three of Rupanyup’s five goals in the opening term onslaught with defenders Daniel Weetra and Daniel Schaper also on top.

Former Brisbane player Michael Close was one of Harrow-Balmoral’s best against Rupanyup. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

Former Brisbane Lions player Michael Close was Harrow-Balmoral’s best player and spent time at both ends of the ground.

Teammate Peter Staude won his share of his touches in the midfield.

Jack Kreuzberger was best-on-ground for Rupanyup with three goals.

Harrow-Balmoral has slipped from second to third on the ladder with Kalkee’s 115-point thrashing of Natimuk United.

OVENS AND MURRAY

Yarrawonga’s star forward Leigh Williams has made an impressive return from injury to kick eight goals in a 25-point win against Corowa-Rutherglen.

Williams made a delayed start to the year before booting 44 goals in a mid-season hot streak that ended with a back injury against Lavington a month ago.

Leigh Williams has kicked more than 50 goals for Yarrawonga since being recruited from metro club Norwood. Picture: AAP/ Chris Eastman

Williams was one of the dominant forwards of the Eastern Football League for Norwood before joining Yarrawonga which sits second on the ladder behind Wangaratta.

He kicked five of his eight goals on Saturday in the second term as Yarrawonga eventually got on top of Corowa-Rutherglen.

Yarrawonga’s Leigh Masters was also a star down back.

Yarrawonga and Wangaratta meet in the final match of the home and away season.

Originally published as Tallangatta, Horsham, Ovens and Murray: Chiltern wins late season thriller