Navarre v Maldon
A close game was expected at Navarre on Saturday but the Grasshoppers were far too strong for Maldon winning by 98 points.
With Navarre’s injury list a long one, and the unavailability of Ben Scott the Grasshoppers showed their depth as they ran the Bombers all over the park.
Close checking from both teams made it difficult to control play in the opening term, but Navarre gained the upper hand led by Louis Hannett in the middle and Kris Brennan was the focal point up forward kicking all three of the Grasshoppers first quarter goals. Shaun Burchell was gathering possessions for Maldon as was Hayden Kelly who kicked both of the Bombers goals for the term.
Navarre controlled play for the remainder of the game as Jimmy Chettle did the job of stopping the influence of Hayden Kelly, and it was the smaller running brigade that won the game for the Grasshoppers.
Hannett was brilliant in the middle and going forward to kick four goals, but Josh Driscoll, Josh Rathgeber and Daniel Reading ran hard all day as did Aiden Lee, while Ash Driscoll was the dominant forward after quarter time kicking four goals. It was a strong performance by the Grasshoppers and will be very happy to have the bye next week as they look forward to the top of the table match up with Carisbrook the week after.
Lexton v Avoca
Matthew Brown was at his unstoppable best for Lexton in their eight point victory over Avoca on Saturday. Brown finished with eight goals and was the standout player on the ground as the Tigers withstood a fierce challenge from the Bulldogs.
Both teams were missing key players, with Rob Mosby and Mick Jennings missing for the Tigers while Jesse Britton and Nathan Coghlan were missing for the Bulldogs.
In a game that was closely contested all day, it was the second term that the Tigers took control of the game with more accurate kicking around the goal mouth. Lexton kicked five goals two behinds for the term while the Bulldogs kicked two goals and five behinds.
The remainder of the game was a close and exciting battle with the Bulldogs hitting the front in the final quarter and for a while they looked to be on their way to claiming another top four scalp, but Matthew Brown shifted into top gear with three final-quarter goals in a row to deny the Bulldogs victory.
Damon Aspland again played another outstanding game through the middle for the Tigers, while Jordan Phelan, Trevor Johnson and Lewis Alexopolous also shone for the home team. Matthew Jukes, Brad Schiltz and Lachlan Edwards were the key movers for the Bulldogs while Avoca coach Adrian Pilgrim filled the gap that Britton left and finished with four goals for the game.
Newstead v Royal Park
In a game that Newstead was expected to win by a big margin, it was a telling six goal first quarter effort that proved to be a match winner for the Steaders over a very competitive Royal Park unit at Newstead on Saturday.
In fact Newstead only outscored the Tigers by one point for the remainder of the game on their way to a twenty-eight point win.
Key players such as Mark Ramsey and Nathan Webster led the way for Newstead and Daniel Christmas proved to be a difficult forward to match up on as he booted another five goals to add to his goalkicking tally which now sits on 65 goals for the season.
Tristan Maher has gone from strength to strength since joining the Tigers mid season and was again the stand out player on Saturday, and he was well supported by Hamish Blake and Brendan Birch, while Zac Stewart finished with five goals in a game that the Tigers would be very happy with, despite being on the losing end.
Royal Park face Trentham, Avoca and Rovers in the next three games and will be confident of winning all three games to finish the season on a high note.
Dunolly v Trentham
It was a one side game at Deledio Park on Saturday as the Eagles controlled play over the young Trentham side from start to finish, winning by 118 points.
Brad Schodde was outstanding for Dunolly finishing with a seven goal haul and Ash Grant also went forward to support Schodde and finished with four goals to his name.
The Eagles were unstoppable with Lee Jackson, Jamie Townsend and Coach Tony Bellenger getting the ball rolling for the home team who eventually won by 118 points in what was probably their best win for the season.
It was a difficult task for the Saints, particularly as coach Clayton Scoble was an absentee from the team and his lack of direction from the back half was certainly noticeable.
James Wicker, Chris Whelan and Jamie Cutler tried hard all day for the Saints as did Luke Whitehouse and Dylan Tucker, but the were no match for the Eagles who will now look forward to their match with Avoca in a fortnight’s time.
Campbell's Creek v Harcourt
Harcourt has rained on Campbells Creek's parade, ruining the Pies' 150th anniversary celebrations with a nail biting three-point win.
The Creekers blew the chance to score one of the upsets of the year after a seven-goal to nil opening quarter, before Harcourt fought its way back into the game to take a 12.13 (85) to 12.10 (82) win.
Predictably enough, it was Lions' champs Matt Giri and Paul Chaplin who helped their side back into the game and dragged them over the line with a six goal second term, helped by Chris Ling, Kris Davis and Dylan Gibson.
The Creekers were left to rue some wasteful kicking in front of goal that left their hopes of a remarkable win in tatters. Daniel Klimeck, James Burzacott and Aaron Murray all slotted two majors for the Pies, while coach Sean Smith and Sahi Keilor-Reed were the best for their side.
Natte Bealiba v Maryborough Rovers
Natte Bealiba showed no mercy in it's clash with a struggling Maryborough Rovers, inflicting a 217-point loss on the Magpies.
The Swans stamped their intentions in the opening term, slotting nine goals and went from there, eventually racking up a mammoth 33.20 (217) to 0.1 (1) as the Pies' season from hell continued.
Swans captain Mark Fitzgerald was the major beneficiary up forward, slotting nine goals for the day, but he wasn't alone on the goalkickers list, with Stephen Ross (five), Matt Stagg (four), Ryan Weir (four), Zac Perez (three), Nathan Ross (two) and Jamie Evans all getting in on the goalkicking spree.
Ross, Fitzgerald, veteran Brent Mortlock and ruckman Alexander Banko were the Swans' best, while Andrew Jardine, coach Scott Sellers, Richard Phillips and big man Matt Stiles did their best for the Magpies, who look destined to go without a win in 2013.
Carisbrook v Talbot
Carisbrook has all but ended Talbot's finals hope, scoring a massive 155 point win over the Hawks.
Talbot simply had no answers for the Redbacks' superiority across the ground, going down 27.15 (177) to 3.1 (22).
The game was all but over at half time, with the scorecard reading 70 to just two behinds as Redbacks' midfield dynamo Matt Bilton, the elusive Nick Wright and the experienced Ryan Hudson-Morgan ran rampant.
Wright was the main goalkicker for the day with five, while Pat Jenes, Hudson-Morgan, Travis Cornwill, Luke Treacy and Bilton all kicked multiples.
Talbot could manage just three goals against a miserly Carisbrook defence, with Dave Clark slotting two to be named his side's best player, along with brother Richie Clark, Rowan Prentice and Kane Heathcock.
Last Modified on 29/07/2013 09:12