Northern Saints 15.10-100 def. by Coburg Districts 17-10.112
A PROMISING, high-calibre game was forecast during the week for these top teams and after a goal from Michael Taleb only eight seconds into the game, you knew the Northern Saints were ready for a challenge.
Coming out the gates amazingly quick, the Saints showed their speed and strength all day, while in contrast Coburg Districts showed class and length around the ground.
It stayed within a couple of kicks all day.
The Lions were led by Tom Lucin, who not only set up his forwards for a big day, but was also a part of many pressure acts to cause turnovers.
It was a shoot-out between two in-form machines Kelsey Clayton and Nathan Taylor, who both contested well in the air and helped create a great spectacle for fans.
Both finished with bags of five.
The Northern Saints’ leaders stepped up, particularly Nicholas Bruno.
An inclusion from their U19.5 side, Bruno's speed and foot skills up forward were no match for the Lions defence and after a quick, start he finished with four goals.
With a close match still on the cards at three-quarter time, Coburg Districts’ fitness prevailed in the last quarter, using their aerial ability and run off half back to score five goals to two.
Jacana 27.13-175 def. Burnside Heights 13.11-89
A high-scoring affair was the talk around the division during the week for this game and with 40 goals between Jacana and Burnside Heights, this was definitely the case.
Jacana started the game swiftly with four unanswered goals and ended the first quarter with a monstrous 33-point lead.
This was set up through not only Cameron Cloke's big six-goal haul, but with 12 other goal kickers.
That figure showed how versatile and promising many of the Jaguar players can be in front of goal, which is frightening for opposition.
Despite such a dominant display up forward by the Jags, the Bears never gave up, outscoring the Jags in the second quarter on the back of immense tackling pressure from Declan Highgate.
Josh Covelli rallied all day, never disappointing for the Bears with another bag of goals.
The crowd was vocal for Jacana and with such a massive finish to the game with nine goals in the last, the Jags overcome a tough, yet over-matched Burnside Heights by a whopping 86 points.
Keilor Park 6.6-42 def. by Roxburgh Park 21.10-136
The battle of the ‘Parks’ was one to forget for the Devils after a big five-goal first quarter and six-goal final term for the Magpies.
Their forward intensity was too strong.
Roxburgh Park are a selfless team who trust each other equally to get the job done.
This was shown through the huge 14 different goal kickers they had and shows how consistent they are across the board including John Baker, whose forward pressure acts and will to want the ball helped set up countless goals for his teammates and lifted himself to finish with four goals.
John-Carlo Ravanello again could not be faulted for the Devils for his efforts, making some powerful spoils and even creating a presence and movement up forward.
This was promising for the Devils in such a tough afternoon.
Fitness and intensity by the Magpies was no match for the Devils, who as always put their bodies on the line but couldn't match skill with the Magpies.
Moonee Valley 16.9-105 def. East Sunbury 9.10-64
It was a sluggish start to the game for the home side against a fired up East Sunbury outfit, who were able to establish a 19-point quarter time lead.
Lucas Shaw created many bursts of speed for the Thunder and while winning plenty of the ball, sparked his team at times and gave his all the entire game.
But from there Moonee Valley kicked seven goals to one in the second quarter and never looked back.
The Fog’s Ryan Gleisner used his size and strength perfectly, creating a great weapon in the air and helping his team win plenty of hard contests on the ground.
Moonee Valley ploughed through East Sunbury's defence until the siren and finished with a 41-point victory.
