MARBY INFLICT DAGGER ON COUGARS
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Maribyrnong Park has thrown a massive hurdle to East Keilor in its race for a finals berth in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division as the Lions knocked off the Cougars by four points at Monk Oval.
In tough, slippery conditions, both teams wrestled for the lead throughout the day with each of the quarter breaks not breaking beyond double digits at any point.
As the seesawing contest unfolded, nothing would split the sides at three-quarter time with both teams locked at 61 points apiece, albeit an inaccurate Marby side were keeping the Cougars in it as 8.13 played 9.7.
The two teams would trade minor scores to start the final stanza before a Jonah Horo soccer-goal would break the scoring stalemate.
As the rain continued to pour alongside the Maribyrnong River, the Cougars desperately tried to surge forward but to no avail, falling agonizingly short on the day.
While a finals appearance seems unlikely for the Lions at this point, it was a sweet victory for the home-team after going down to East Keilor after the siren in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Darcy Griffin finished with two goals for the victors while brother of Carlton gun, Patrick, Joshua Cripps snagged a major in his Maribyrnong Park debut.
Tim Bongetti (three) and Charles Van Der Byl (two) were the only multiple goal scorers for the Cougars.
The loss sees the Cougars now sitting one game outside the top four with a big game to come in Round 15 as they welcome Aberfeldie to Overland Reserve.
Maribyrnong Park will travel to Raeburn Reserve to play Pascoe Vale.
FOG MAKE IT TWO WINS IN TWO WEEKS
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Moonee Valley secured an all important win in the Rookie Me Division One relegation battle, defeating the Sunbury Kangaroos to the tune of 50 points at Eric Boardman Reserve on Saturday.
Heading into the contest as ninth v tenth, both teams had all to play for with survival in the EDFL's second tier on the line.
It was the Fog who took ascendency early, breaking out to a 23-point lead at the first change after kicking towards Mitchells Lane, the traditional scoring end of the Kangaroos' home ground.
Sunbury would kick back in the second term, but inaccuracy would rue the Kangaroos as they put three goals eight on the board to Moonee Valley's four behinds to make it a one-point ball game in favour of the Fog at half-time.
A rev up in the sheds from Ian Denny saw Moonee Valley fire once again in the third quarter, kicking five goals to two to lead by 23 points ahead of a crucial final term.
However, steady heads prevailed for the Fog as a seven-goal flurry in favour of the away team saw the black-and-white kick away to put the final result beyond doubt.
Co-captain Bevan Newell played a vital role in the win for Moonee Valley while the exploits of William Agius down back for the Fog saw the tenacious utility win Nena and Pasadena best-on-ground honours.
Jack Newman kicked three goal in another strong display up forward and was partnered by the return of former Division Two Team of the Year forward, Jordan Faba, who also kicked three goals in his first senior game since the 2019 Strathmore Community Bank Division Two decider.
For the home side, Mitchell Kook battled manfully throughout the day and Tierone Cuffe managed a single major as one of the Kangaroos' better performers.
Round 16 sees Moonee Valley back at home against Hillside while Sunbury will hit the road to Shore Reserve as they take on West Coburg.
DEVILS CLAIM DIVISION TWO FAVOURTISM
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Keilor Park have gone two games clear atop of the Strathmore Community Bank Division Two after knocking off fellow flag fancy Oak Park by 42 points.
With the Devils triumphing over the Kangaroos for the second time this season, many would suggest that Keilor Park are now premiership favourites in the division as finals creep closer.
The Devils took the lead early in the top of the table contest, as they opened up a 15-point gap at the first break.
A two-goal-to-one second term kept Oak Park in the contest at half-time but that was as close as the Kangaroos would get as the Devils put their foot down as they have so often this season.
Piling on seven goals to three in the second half saw the Devils kick away, with inaccuracy from the away side keeping the final score line more respectable than the dominance on the field may have suggested.
Daylan Kempster helped himself to three goals in a best-on-ground performance for the victors, while Taylor Hotchkin also kicked three goals for Oak Park as one of the Kangaroos' best on the day.
With three rounds left to play, Keilor Park can lock up the minor premiership this weekend at home when Burnside Heights come to town.
Oak Park travel to Charles Mutton Reserve to play the Northern Saints.
VALLEY KEEP SEASON ALIVE WITH NAIL BITING WIN
Moonee Valley are still in the hunt for a top four finish in Airport Toyota Women's Premier Division after sneaking home against Hillside by four points at Ormond Park.
It was a nervous start for the home side as the Sharks controlled the play early with two goals to none in the first quarter to open up a 12-point lead at the first break.
But with an evident scoring end at Ormond Park, the Fog were able to bounce back with two goals of their own to take back the lead at half-time as the game remained truly in the balance.
The teetering contest continued throughout the third term as both sides managed to boot two goals apiece, setting up a tantalising final quarter.
However, with its season on the line, Moonee Valley dug deep to deny Hillside, causing a late season upset and thus keeping themselves in touching distance of a finals berth.
The final standings in Premier Division will go down to the wire this weekend with Moonee Valley back at home against Westmeadows at 10am on Saturday.
The Tigers are almost guaranteed to end the season in third place after they went down in a thriller of their own against Oak Park in the club's inaugural hosting of the Pride Cup on Saturday.
The victory for Oak Park saw the Kangaroos lock in a top two spot in this division ahead of the final round this weekend.
Aberfeldie remain only one game behind Westmeadows but a substantial percentage gap sees it unlikely that the Tigers will slide down the ladder.
Speaking of Abers, they can lock in their finals ticket, no matter the result at Ormond Park, if they are able to defeat Maribyrnong Park at Monk Oval at 11:15am on Saturday.
JETS PREVIAL AGAINST FELLOW FINALIST
Greenvale took another step closer to securing the minor premiership in Airport Toyota Women's Division One with an 11-point victory over Essendon Doutta Stars.
With the top four in the division all but confirmed, bar some shuffling of positions between the top two and bottom two, it proved a good opportunity for the teams to shape themselves up against tough opposition ahead of a bumper finals series starting in two weeks' time.
Having been the only team to beat the Jets this season, Douttas gave the home side a bit of a scare in the opening stanza as they kept the ladder leaders scoreless.
The Stars weren't able to make the most of their opportunities, however, kicking 1.3.9 to open up the nine-point margin at the first break.
Greenvale bounced back in style in the second term, putting on an unanswered 20 points to lead by 11 at half-time.
It was almost deja vu as another inaccurate quarter while holding ascendency on the contest saw Douttas kick 1.4 to Greenvale's one behind.
Still leading by two points, the Jets kicked away to put the game to bed and reap revenge on the Round 7 result.
Alex Quigley bolstered her season total with another two goals, as the only multiple goal scorer for the home side, while teammate Chanel Caruso laid claims to best-on-ground honours for the victors.
Ella Nickolaus and Shelby Meyers were among the bests for the Stars.
In the final round of the Airport Toyota Women's Division One season, Douttas will play host to Moonee Valley at Buckley Park and Greenvale head up the highway to take on the Sunbury Lions at Clarke Oval.
TULLA CLAIM MINOR PREMIERSHIP
Tullamarine confirmed it would finish the Airport Toyota Women's Division Two season in first place with a comprehensive performance against Westmeadows at Willowbrook Reserve.
After a hotly contested opening term, the ladder leaders would flex their muscle with a unanswered four-goal second quarter to open up a 37-point lead at the main break.
The fourth-placed Tigers were able to level the third term, matching the Demons with a goal apiece, before the minor premiers ran away with the result in the last quarter kicking three goals five all while keeping the home team scoreless.
Laura Damore and Tricia Devine formed a dangerous duo for the Demons kicking three goals each in the victory, while Natasha Ziegelaar had one of her best games of the season to be named best for the winners.
Kate Sellers was the lone goal scorer for Westmeadows.
The win sees Tullamarine keep its undefeated streak going as the competition enters the final home-and-away round.
It will be a battle between first and last in Round 14 as Tullamarine welcome the Sunbury Kangaroos to Leo Dineen Reserve, while Westmeadows will get the bye before a big finals campaign where it seems set that they will playoff against Coburg Districts in the first week of finals.
