STEWART SEALS IT AFTER THE SIREN
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East Keilor's remarkable start to the 2022 Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division season was taken to another level on Saturday with the Cougars recording a three-point victory over Maribyrnong Park following a Chris Stewart goal after the full time siren.
The Cougars were kept scoreless in the first term as Marby opened up a 30-point lead at quarter time which remained intact at the main break.
Maribyrnong Park extended that lead out to 36 points at three-quarter time before the unthinkable happened.
An eight-goal-to-two final term saw the Cougars reel back the difference and had the margin see-sawing in the final minutes courtesy of goals to Ben Caluzzi and Nick Prowse.
However, in the dying seconds, a high free kick from an East Keilor forward stoppage put the ball in the hands of Chris Stewart.
With the veteran going back to take his shot, the siren sounded and the big ruck did the rest.
That kick takes the Cougars to 5-0 on the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division ladder, with a marquee clash with the undefeated Aberfeldie set to take place in Round 6 at Clifton Park.
PANTHERS OPEN UP THE GAP
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Two wins now separates fourth and fifth on the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division ladder, following Pascoe Vale's 23-point win over Strathmore at Raeburn Reserve.
In a tight, low-scoring encounter, not much separated the two sides at the half time siren with the Panthers holding on to a slender three-point lead.
But Digby Morrell's side were able to kick away in the second half with a six-goal-to-two effort to make it three wins in a row for Pacco.
Jack Raines was impressive up forward for the Panthers kicking three, while the ever reliable Matthew Watson also contributed with three goals of his own in a best-on-ground performance.
Down back Lachie Stredwick continued his dominant start to the season, while Jesse Boyd made an impact in his first senior game for the season after late call up that saw Will Hoare promoted to VFL duties on the weekend.
For the Mores, it was a struggle up forward once again as they slumped to their lowest score of the season.
The away side were only able to manage six individual goal kickers, who all kicked a solitary goal each.
The Panthers have another opportunity to prove their status as a big finals contender this season as they play off against Maribyrnong Park next week while Strathmore return home to host Greenvale in a big 'eight-point' clash.
TIGERS GET JOB DONE UNDER LIGHTS
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Westmeadows kept themselves in touch with the Strathmore Community Bank Division One top four with an important 62-point victory against the Sunbury Kangaroos.
It wasn't a happy home coming for the Kangas as they ran out onto Eric Boardman Reserve for the first time this year after having their club rooms renovated over the off-season.
The win saw the Tigers end a three-game losing streak that had some EDFL punters questioning where the team from Willowbrook Reserve stood in this season's calculations.
Omar Saad was dominate with five goals in a Westmeadows forward line that had plenty of contributors.
The Tigers had nine individual goal kickers on the night with six of them snagging multiple majors.
Korey Flavel-Wood was one of those goal kickers, finishing with two on debut.
Cooper McPharlane was again one of the shinning lights for Sunbury kicking four goals, while Matthew Leonard continued his strong start to the season for the Kangaroos.
Westmeadows will look to make it back-to-back wins back at home against Hillside in Round 6, while the Sunbury Kangaroos will hit the road in a massive clash against Moonee Valley at Ormond Park.
The two sides have not met since the 2019 Strathmore Community Bank Division Two grand final and currently sit winless at the bottom of the Division One ladder.
DEVILS VICTORIOUS IN NAIL BITER
Keilor Park snuck home in a thriller on the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day getting the win by a solitary point against a valiant Taylors Lakes outfit.
In blustery conditions at the wide open Keilor Park Reserve it was the Devils who did all the damage early, keeping the Lions scoreless all while putting an inaccurate 2.6 on the board.
The Devils would kick a further 1.4 before Taylors Lakes registered their first score and mustered a mini revival to trail by 11 points at the main break.
A three-goal-to-two third term from the Lions had fans from both sides strapping themselves in for a big final stanza.
The highly influential Damien Cavka put through his second goal of the day to extend the Devils lead out to 11 points heading into red time, only to be immediately answered by back-to-back goals from Josh Vassolo that got the Lions back in front.
A missed set shot for Keilor Park and then a wayward snap from Devil Angus Dunkley-Price had the home side edge themselves back into the lead.
But with just seconds on the clock, the Lakers stormed forward.
Tom Kosmak found himself out in space with ball in hand and sent the footy inside forward 50 for the Lions, only to have the siren sound milliseconds before Tomi Ibarra's mark.
Off-season recruits Damien Cakva and Robbie Castello proved their worth combining for four goals while Daylan Kempster was named best on ground by the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day crew.
For the Lions, Luke Nappi looked their most dangerous forward with three goals while Ibarra and Vassolo did everything to try will their side over the line.
Both teams will have the weekend off with a split round in Strathmore Community Bank Division Two.
KANGAS SNATCH VICTORY
Oak Park came away from Ormond Park with a thrilling one-point win against Moonee Valley on the weekend.
In a game where both sides could hardly be separated, it almost seemed fitting that a solitary point be the final margin in a tough contest.
With the Fog leading by a single goal at the three-quarter time break, the Kangaroos were able to keep their opposition scoreless in the last quarter while kicking 1.1 to run out winners.
Samantha German returned for Oak Park, after not playing in the defeat to Hillside last week, to hit the scoreboard alongside single goal kickers Hannah Fosbrooke, Holly Ackerly and Rhianna Nunn, while Trilby Sheppard was named best on ground for the Kangas in another eye-catching performance for the away team.
For the Fog, competition leading goal kicker, Anita Ovenden, added another two goals to take her season tally to 11.
It means the third-placed Kangaroos have now opened up a six-point gap on the Airport Toyota Women' Premier Division ladder ahead of Moonee Valley and Maribyrnong Park with the bye weekend coming up.
STARS CRUISE TO VICTORY
Essendon Doutta Stars have solidified themselves inside the Airport Toyota Women's top four after a dominate 57-point win over the Sunbury Lions.
The Stars piled on the goals early to hold a 30-point lead at half time after kicking 5.2 to 0.2 in the first half at Clarke Oval.
Douttas didn't even look like taking the foot off the pedal as they kept their opposition scoreless in the second half, all while kicking 4.3 to top off the big victory.
Josephine Gleeson and Adalita Pizzinga were the stars up forward for Douttas, kicking four and three goals respectively while Alashanee Ross was named best-on-ground for the away side in her senior debut.
The win sees Douttas a game clear inside the Division One top four, having taken victories against both Sunbury sides who currently sit fifth and sixth.
Greenvale and Strathmore consolidated their credentials with big wins over the weekend while Gisborne took the points after a Pascoe Vale forfeit.
WESTY TOO STRONG FOR KANGAS
Westmeadows have established themselves as the best of the second sides in Airport Toyota Women's Division Two after defeating the Sunbury Kangaroos by 101 points.
The Tigers controlled play for the first half to lead by 32 points heading into the main break but what came next was a clinic.
The home side took the game by the scruff of the neck to kick away with 11 second half goals to one to put together the thumping three-figure final margin.
Tayla Mure and Shelby Best combined up forward to kick three goals apiece while Alexsis Ryan and Alison Wigney were the sole goal kickers for the Kangaroos.
For Westmeadows, it means they have now taken three victories from the other three second sides in Maribyrnong Park, Oak Park and the Sunbury Kangaroos all whilst keeping extremely competitive against Coburg Districts.
From a Sunbury Kangaroos perspective, it was the first time the Kangas had gotten on the park since Round One after various forfeits and byes and will be better for having the run on the weekend.
