Airport West have secured their first win of the season with a huge 108-point win against Avondale Heights.
The Eagles have shown promising signs of late after a slow start to the season with a narrow loss to the reigning premiers last week, followed up with Saturday’s big result.
Last year’s David McWilliam medalist Reuben William has returned to the side while Marwan Abdul-Wahed was also brought across from East Keilor, and have helped steady the nest.
Billy Barnes kicked four, while Muhammad Saad, Anthony Aloi, and Brendan Godden all popped up for multiple majors.
Over at Clifton Park we saw what we would consider to be an upset victory to Greenvale, with the Jets outlasting Aberfeldie by 19 points.
Greenvale were buoyed by their comeback win last week and carried the momentum into Saturday’s game, ahead for much of the contest and never surrendering their lead at any of the breaks.
Cam Tudor kicked four goals and was among his side’s best with Jason Kenneth and Ryan Mills.
The Cougars have gotten the win they needed with a close win over the reigning premiers in Strathmore.
They remain undefeated but have flown under the radar to this point with wins against sides not expecting to be pushing for finals, but have put the top flight on notice with this triumph.
It was a close contest all day with East Keilor boasting narrow leads at each change, but they were able to see the game out and come away with a nine-point victory over the Mores.
George Nabbout and Frank Campisi each kicked five for the Cougars, with Chris Stewart and Nick Nesci putting in important performances in the victory.
Roxburgh Park and Keilor Park was one of the more interesting matchups in Rookie Me Division One coming into it with both sides evenly poised.
Roxy are a side expecting to be in the finals mix while Keilor Park have been the surprise packet thus far, winning three of their first four games.
It was an even contest right the way through with ebbs and flows going either way, before Roxy snagged some goals late to come away with a 15-point victory.
The Magpies were inaccurate in front of goal which gave the Devils a sniff all game and it wasn’t until late in the final quarter that we saw the result become clear.
Nathan Carroll provided a strong option up forward and kicked two goals, while Jack Elliot and Harley Short were strong contributors for Roxy.
Omar Saad has created some separation at the top of the Division One goal scorers tally following a whopping nine goals against Westmeadows.
Saad now has 23 goals on the season and sits four goals ahead of Bailey Ryan who also kicked nine goals in Hillside’s win over Moonee Valley.
The Fog’s pair of Ben Ryan and Costa Detsikas sits behind them on 15 goals, along with Jake Carlisle.
Oak Park have recorded their first win against a 2022 finalist to move to 4-0 along with Northern Saints.
Expected to be the premiership favourites, they’ve put away all of their opponents so far but were yet to play a September opponent from last season.
It was a preliminary final replay against Coburg Districts as they won by 25 points in a high-scoring affair.
The Lions took a two-goal lead into the first change but the Kangaroos slammed through four goals to one in the second term, and a further six goals to two in the third to establish their lead.
It was one they wouldn’t relinquish with Jedd Taylor (six goals) and Blair Cronin (four) key pillars behind the 14-goal onslaught.
Keilor have dropped two on the trot with a loss against Maribyrnong Park with a 42-point defeat.
The Lions are equal on points with the Blues now and have shown their hand as a finals contender, keeping Keilor scoreless for two quarters and putting the foot down to record a strong win.
Zoe Manning kicked three for Marby with Gabrielle Mahoney popping up for two.
In other games, Aberfeldie beat Strathmore by 58 points, Oak Park beat Moonee Valley by 55 points, and Hillside recorded their second win with a 15-point victory over Westmeadows.
Burnside Heights have gone undefeated through the beginning of the Airport Toyota Women’s Division One season, but were handed their first loss against a rampant Essendon Doutta Stars on Saturday.
Douttas had 25 scoring shots to the Bear’s two and piled on the scores from quarter time onwards, with Jessie Hulett kicking another bag of four goals.
Kiara Jones and Madison Spring-Brown were other key contributors for Douttas as they sit one win clear of the Bears, but a spot below them on the ladder due to percentage and the Bears obtaining a forfeit victory.
There were plenty of goals getting around in Division One with some big scores being put on the board.
Charlotte Noonan kicked seven goals for Gisborne in their 116-point victory over Tullamarine, taking her to second on the goal scoring tally (21 goals).
In front of her on 23 goals is the goal kicking dynamo Alisa Magri who kicked six of Greenvale’s 14 in their big victory over Sunbury Lions.
Magri has scored three or more goals in each game she’s played and has been dominant up forward for the Jets.
Sunbury Kangaroos and Pascoe Vale played their first game against each other this season following their move down into Division Two.
The Kangaroos ran away with the win by 48 points in the end, but seeing both sides fielding teams and scoring is a win regardless.
In other games, Airport West added a whopping 166-point win to their tally behind Emily Gipp (eight goals), Georgia O’Donovan (six goals), and London Clark (five goals).
Meanwhile, Coburg Districts beat Marby 2 by 15 points, and Moonee Valley 2 beat Abers 2 by 18 points.
