Premiers Keep Their Finals Hopes Alive
FIFTH-PLACED Aberfeldie has closed its gap on the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division top four after scoring an important 44-point win over nemesis Greenvale in Saturday’s radio game.
In what was at times a spiteful affair at Section Road, a defensively dogged Aberfeldie side strangled the Jets for three quarters before kicking clear in the last, with Josh Pound’s four goals earning him RAWFORM Seamless Compression Player of the Day honours.
Caleb Hislop and James Peters each chipped in with two of their own as Aberfeldie choked Greenvale’s running game, with the Jets only managing to muster seven goals for the day.
Kurtis Sanajko played up forward for Greenvale and kicked two goals alongside Jon Kent.
Aberfeldie, who boasts the third-best percentage in the division, now sits just two premiership points outside the top four with four games remaining.
Final - Greenvale 7.7-49 db Aberfeldie 14.9-93
Pacco Scores Another Impressive Road Win
PASCOE Vale again proved just how dangerous it can be, especially away from home, with a dominant 71-point win over an undermanned Maribyrnong Park at Monk Oval.
The Panthers were without Lachie Hansen, Giles Guest, Ben Ross and Dean Soncin, but still had a better complement of its best 22 compared to the Lions, who were missing eight senior regulars.
Among those outs were Robbie Castello, Sam O’Brien, Scott Clarke and Caleb Vearing.
On Saturday it was a romp from the start, with Pascoe Vale storming out of the blocks with five goals to one in the opening term.
The Lions could never recover and by the second half Pascoe Vale was well clear, kicking 11 goals to four after half time.
Matt Watson was again the star up forward with four goals while Daniel Harris was valuable with three of his own.
Sam Caruso was best-on-ground.
The win kept Pascoe Vale’s slim finals hopes alive and with each of the bottom four teams to come in their run home, the Panthers are a big chance to run the table.
Final - Maribyrnong Park 7.8-50 db Pascoe Vale 18.13-121
Sharks Still In The Hunt, Bring Down Eagles
HILLSIDE was the big winner of Essendon Ford Division 1 on the weekend, producing its biggest performance of the year to knock over ladder-leader, Airport West.
The Sharks led at every change with Jordan Sinclair and Mitch Church each kicking three goals in the 33-point win.
The Eagles struggled to impact the scoreboard despite having both Clayton Rogers (three goals) and Tyson Young (two) in their forward 50.
They trailed by only 12 points at half time and ran out of steam in the second half, eventually getting blown out for only the second time this season.
They dropped to second spot after Tullamarine made light work of East Keilor.
Hillside’s kind run home gives the Sharks a massive sniff at making the final four, with East Keilor (away) and Jacana (home) to come before a Round 18 bye.
Final - Hillside 13.13-91 d Airport West 8.10-58
Near-Perfect Saints Hold Off Thunder
THE Northern Saints had to rely on super-accurate goal kicking to get past East Sunbury on Saturday.
The Saints kicked a remarkable 11.1 to the Thunder’s 10.6 in what was the closest game of the day across the three divisions.
East Sunbury led by 15 points at half time and eight at the final change but couldn’t hold on as the game drew to an exciting conclusion.
Northern kicked 3.0 to the Thunder’s 1.3 in the final term and by the final siren found itself just a single point ahead.
New-comer Alex Stewart was the hero up forward with six goals, continuing his run of strong form since breaking into the side in Round 13.
Nick Bruno was best-on-ground.
Final - East Sunbury 10.6-66 db Northern Saints 11.1-67
Bears No Match for Ladder Leading Valley
IF Saturday’s result was anything to go by, then Moonee Valley was clearly out for revenge against Burnside Heights.
The Fog had its pants pulled down by the Bears on EDFL Match of the Day back in June.
On Saturday, Moonee Valley made a big statement in response.
On the neutral turf of Hansen Reserve, the Valley was relentless against the helpless Bears, kicking at least six goals in every quarter to run away with an easy 87-point win.
Jordan Faba was out of the line-up, but Jacob Adkins stepped up to the plate with four goals for the day alongside Connor Ahern and Braden Padmore, who each kicked three.
Former Valley forward Josh Covelli kicked six for the Bears and is now the favourite to win the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 goal kicking title, but the big man didn’t have enough firepower around him to keep up with the rampant Fog.
By three-quarter time the margin was exactly 100 points, all but ensuring Burnside Heights will not be playing finals footy in 2018.
The resulting percentage boost returned Moonee Valley to the top of the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 ladder.
Final - Moonee Valley 26.16-172 d Burnside Heights 13.7-85
Dream Women’s Grand Final Dual A Step Closer To Fruition
PASCOE Vale and Burnside Heights have both advanced to the EDFL Women’s Preliminary Final stage after scoring wins at Joe Brown Oval on Sunday.
The Bears were up first in what loomed as the biggest game of the day against the Sunbury Kangaroos, and the game lived up to the hype.
The Kangaroos jumped out of the blocks with the only three goals of the opening term before Burnside Heights steadied in the second, bringing the game within a kick by half time.
Led by Bailee Said and skipper Tylah Bell, the Kangaroos managed to stay ahead during the third term but were held scoreless in the last as the Bears finished the game well, kicking the only two goals of the final term.
It came down to the wire but the favoured Bears held on, winning by four points to advance to the prelim.
The Kangaroos will have to front up again next week against local rival, Sunbury Lions.
Later in the day it was Pascoe Vale’s turn to take on Aberfeldie and the premiership favourite made light work of the challenger, keeping Abers goalless in an easy 58-point win.
Lisa Kirby and Emma Westgarth each kicked two goals while Sarah Larkings and Abigail Storer were the best players on the ground.
QF1 - Burnside Heights 6.7-43 d Sunbury Kangaroos 5.9-39
QF2 - Pascoe Vale 9.6-60 d Aberfeldie 0.2-2
Big Cats Claw Home On Elimination Sunday
THE Sunbury Lions and Westmeadows each advanced to the Semi Final stage in EDFL Women’s after scoring Elimination Final wins at Highgate on Sunday.
The Lions took on Keilor in the first game and conceded the only goal of the first quarter before steadying to claim a hard-fought seven-point win.
Only five combined goals were scored for the day but three of them went the Lions’ way, setting up a mouth-watering sudden-death clash with the Kangaroos at Canning Reserve on Sunday.
Olivia Cairo was best-on-ground with two goals.
The later game was a little more one-sided, with Westmeadows getting the job done by five goals over Strathmore.
The Tigers led at every change, with Emily Brebner (two goals) and Tylah Evans (one) performing well.
They will now play Aberfeldie at Lionheart Reserve in the other Semi Final on Sunday.
