Maryborough Rovers v Trentham
Maryborough Rovers continued their impressive start to the 2015 season on Saturday, defeating an in-form Trentham by fifteen points.
The day didn’t start well for Rovers, losing key defender to a calf injury sustained during the warm up however Brayden Guareschi was more than serviceable in the Full Back position and linked up well with David Popovski, who was Rovers best player on the day.
Rovers started the game strongly winning the ball out of the middle quite easily through Bryce Fletcher and Dylan Gibson and posted the first two goals of the game in the first five minutes. But Trentham slowly settled and late in the term fought back through two successive goals to Kasey Williams, one which was set up with a great centering kick from Mark Strickland. It was an even opening term but Trentham led at quarter time by two points.
Ryan Guareschi was on the end of a number of handballs and put Rovers in front early in the second quarter, but it was quickly answered by Luke Whitehouse who was on the end of a pass from Chris Whelan. This was backed up by another to the Saints through Taylor Drew and with their lead was out to nine points at the 16 minute mark, the Saints looked to be gaining the upper hand. However Rovers kicked the next three goals to regain the ascendency and to take a nine point lead into half time.
The third term was an arm wrestle with both defences coming under pressure, and a number of missed opportunities from both teams with David Popovski continually repelling Trentham’s forward thrusts. A strong breeze was blowing across the ground from the lake side and pushing the ball to the dead pocket resulting in low scoring with Trentham scoring just six behinds to Rovers three behinds for the term to trail by just five points at three quarter time.
The Saints hit the front from the opening centre bounce of the final quarter when James Wicker found Kasey Williams, who sidestepped his opponent to kick one of his three goals for the game. Rovers had numerous shots on goal, missing three in a row but it was enough to take back the lead, before coach Scott Sellers pushed forward and marked and goaled from the goal square, quickly followed with another through a snap from Richard Phillips and Rovers led by 14 points at the seven minute mark. As rain set in, Luke Whitehouse then answered the challenge for the Saints with three goals in a row to take back the lead by three points at the 13 minute mark. The wet conditions made the ball slippery and despite missing four shots on goal in a row, Rovers were able to regain the lead, then broke away and finished the game off in the dying stages with goals to Bryce Fletcher and Karson Guareschi to push their final winning margin out to 15 points in a very exciting game, winning 11.17.83 to Trentham 9.14.68
Campbells Creek v Royal Park
Royal Park handed Campbells Creek a football lesson at the Creekerdome on Saturday, with big forward Josh Brown almost unstoppable.
Royal Park is slowly hitting its straps winning its second game in succession and was very convincing as they again finished a game off strongly with a ten goal final term to win by 88 points, with Brown finishing with nine goals.
Creek was very competitive in the opening term, but it was plain sailing for the Tigers for the remainder of the game as they scored 18 goals to four in the final three quarters.
Josh Brown was the key for the Tigers with his nine goals, while others to come under notice were Ben Clay, Jay Anderson and Jacob Cahill, while Creek’s latest recruit in Tim Conder led the way with Daniel Klimeck and Shannon Berriman also amongst the better players for Creek.
Royal Park 21.7.133 def Campbells Creek 6.9.45
Dunolly v Navarre
Navarre travelled to Deledio Oval on Saturday and has continued their winning run of 25 games in succession with a massive 170 point win over the hapless Eagles who only managed to score one goal for the game.
The Eagles scored their only goal in the opening term and the miserly defence of the Grasshoppers proved to be extremely difficult to penetrate for the remainder of the game, however the ball hardly entered the Eagles attacking zone with just four shots on goal while Navarre had 44 shots.
2014 MCDFNL leading goalkicker Ash Driscoll has moved to the top of this year’s goalkicking table after a nine goal performance for the Grasshoppers, while brother Cody Driscoll and Kris Brennan both scored four goals apiece.
Louis Hannett continues his good form as did youngsters Lachlan Slorach, Josh Fowkes and Jayden Fowkes, whiel Daniel Parkin had another solid game for the Grasshoppers.
The Eagles better players were Jordi Philbrick, Jamie Townsend, Mick Campbell and Matt Gibbs who all gave their all under the extreme pressure applied by the Grasshoppers
Navarre 27.17.179 def Dunolly 1.3.9
Avoca v Newstead
Newstead scored their first victory of the 2015 season on Saturday, travelling to Avoca to defeat the Bulldogs by twelve points.
An even match was expected and was received, but a good start to the game set Newstead up for their first win of the season when they outplayed the Bulldogs to score three opening term goals to nil.
The good start by the Steaders had the Bulldogs on the back foot but they responded to the challenge with a good second term in which they outscored the visitors with a four goal to one term in which they reduced the margin to just seven points at the main break.
Newstead was setting up a defensive wall throughout the game and then running in numbers and putting pressure on Avoca’s backline which saw a third quarter that favoured Newstead , who were able to take advantage of the breeze with three goals to one and took a lead of twenty two points into the final quarter.
The Bulldogs fought back with the first two goals on for the final term, and had a number of shots on goal, but the margin was too great to get over and Newstead hung onto win their first game of the season by 12 points.
Jonty Enwistle, Cameron Hepburn and Adam Hunter were in good form for Newstead as was Pat Cummins and Michael Dalrymple, while young Brad Richardson was on target with three goals for the winners. While Avoca’s Joel Carter continued his good form and kicked three goals for the Bulldogs and he was well supported by Jake Nicholson, Bryce Howell and a number of youngsters in Daniel Howell, Blake Salmon and Joel Howell who tried hard all day.
Newstead 9.13.67 def Avoca 7.13.55
Carisbrook v Lexton
Carisbrook has fired a warning shot to the rest of the MCDFNL with a 54 point demolition job of Lexton on Saturday night.
In a match billed as a contest between two of the competition's top premiership contenders, the Redbacks proved far too good for the Tigers under lights, scoring a win 10.12 (72) to 2.6 (18) on their home turf.
In greasy conditions, the opening quarter was a scrappy affair, with the Redbacks' wayward kicking costing them the chance to open up a significant lead by quarter time, instead going in to the first break just three points ahead, 1.4 (10) to Lexton's 1.1 (7).
Both teams continued to struggle for avenues to goal in the second term, with the Redbacks better adapting to the conditions to both two second term goals and establish a 10-point lead by half time despite more inaccuracy in front of goal, 3.7 (25) to 2.3 (15). While the Redbacks' defence kept the wraps on Lexton in the third half, restricting them to just one behind, the Brook continually surged forward, but could only manage to add two more goals, with both teams locked in an arm wrestle for ascendancy.
The Brook managed to burst through in the final term, breaking the game open to boot five last quarter goals, with the Tigers managing just two behinds in response.
Cole Roscholler was the standout for the Redbacks, booting three goals and playing a hand in several others, while Matt Bilton and Nathan Wright kicked two each. Along with Roscholler, Bilton played a major hand in the Redbacks' win, joined by Brady Neill, Matt Jukes, Jon Gray and Adam Hurse.
In a forgettable night for Lexton, Riley Browne and Matt Brown kicked the Tigers' two goals, while Lexton coach Shane Fisher named just three best players, Damon Aspland, Justin White and Tim Buby.
Natte Bealiba v Talbot
Natte Bealiba has made a return to the MCDFNL winners' list, courtesy of a 56-point victory over Talbot on Saturday.
With the Swans making a slow start to the game, booting 1.4 to Talbot's 1.2, it appeared Natte's kicking woes may have returned, but Shane Green's side bounced back in the second term, delivering a five goal second quarter performance to Talbot's two, and opening up a 22-point lead by half time. The third term delivered more of the same, with the Swans on the attack throughout to score four majors, while restricting the Hawks to just one goal.
The fourth term was a similar affair, as the Swans put the Hawks to the sword with yet another five-goal term, while Talbot continued to battle hard as the clock wound down, but could only manage one more goal, with the final scoreline 13.16 (94) to 5.8 (38) in favour of Natte.
Swans assistant coach Jarrod Bateson continued his stunning start to the season, booting three goals in a best-afield performance, with Adrian Pilgrim also contributing with three goals and Kurt Mortlock, Emmet Smith and Tom Douglas amongst Natte’s best players. Luke Kemp was Talbot’s best player and their only multiple goalkicker with two goals, alongside Kallan Boucher, Jorde Bux and Luke How.
Harcourt v Maldon
A seven-goal haul to high flier Joel Smith has kept Harcourt's unbeaten run intact with a 32-point win over Maldon on Saturday.
The high-flying full forward was on song against the Dons, stepping up in the absence of fellow key forward Adam Pollock to lead the Lions to their fourth win of the season, 12.14 (86) to 7.12 (54).
Despite trailing by three points at the first change, the Lions hit back to regain the lead at half time, establishing an 11-point buffer by the main break. The third term was where Harcourt blew the game wide open, keeping the Bombers to just four behind, while adding two goals to their own scoreline.
The fourth quarter delivered more of the same, with the Lions booting three goals, while the Dons could manage only two, with the victory putting Harcourt in second place on the MCDFNL ladder, behind Navarre on percentage alone.
Smith was the only multiple goal kicker for Harcourt, and was duly named his side's best player, along with Daniel Smith, Chris Ling, Adam Ward and Brendan Josey.
Hayden Kelly booted four goals for the Dons in another impressive display by the livelier midfielder, backed up by Kyle Winstanley with two. Kelly, Joel Cross, Shaun Burchell and Josh Roberts were named the Bombers' best performers.
Last Modified on 11/05/2015 12:48