Dark horse ROC’s a real threat

Dandenong midfielder Matt van Schajik takes a strong mark against Hallam. 103106 Picture: JARROD POTTER

By JARROD POTTER

ROC confirmed itself as that niggling team that could cause an upset or two over the coming weeks, after it fought hard to defeat Keysborough by 20 points in Saturday’s clash at Starling Road.
Key back Andrew Logan started well for ROC, quelling the influence of Keysy centre-half-forward Tyson King, but also providing plenty of drive from half back. Keysy coach and ruckman, Chris Bryan, was floating back and took several marks in defence that stopped the margin from blowing out well beyond the 16-point margin at quarter time.
Keysy, with Glenn Hawthorn, Chris Capsalis and Ryan Goodes getting on top around the stoppages, turned things around in the second term, kicking 5.5 to 2.2 to lead by five points at half time.
ROC built a 16-point lead by three-quarter time and, basically, held that margin through to the final siren.
Hawthorn, Capsalis and Goodes were joined by Waata Wells and the consistent Michael Downie as the Burra’s best performers.
EFL – DIVISION 1
PAYING the bills was the order of the day for Noble Park, easily besting league lightweight Scoresby 21.18 (144) to 4.14 (38).
The third versus ninth encounter was never going to be pretty, but the Scoresby faithful were left shell-shocked by the 106-point lashing inflicted by Mick Fogarty’s men.
The Bulls roared out of the gate with an 8.6 (54) to 1.3 (9) opening term and the match didn’t get prettier from there.
Tempers flared on field as George Angelopoulos and Brett Dore got under the skin of the Scoresby playing group.
All Noble Park needed to do to cool off the Scoresby rage was to point at the scoreboard that steadily increased as forward trio Luke Mann, Dore and Shayne Allen bagged a quartet of goals each.
The Bulls would finish with 11 individual goal kickers for the afternoon, as they spread the pain around for the Magpies to receive.
Tim Harper, Allan, Sam Monaghan and Craig Anderson went on possession accumulating sprees at a whim.
The Bulls remain third on the ladder and host 10th placed East Ringwood on Saturday.
SFL – DIVISION 2 AND 3
SPRINGVALE Districts was downed 4.5 (29) to 5.14 (44) in a low-scoring affair at Bentleigh. Jordan Wachter, Lance Baptist and Matthew Campbell were best afield for the Demons, who maintain fourth spot in Division Two and face Hampton away on Saturday.
SANDOWN has kept its season alive with a 25-point upset of premiership contender Mount Waverley. The Mountain Lions were struck down by the Cobras – with John Frenken’s five goals going a long way to snaring the victory. Ciaran O’Shaughnessy and Mitch Gersbeck jagged three goals apiece while Dan Macklin, Frenken and James Morrish were exceptional for Sandown. Sandown is two games removed of the top four and faces Black Rock this weekend to bridge the gap.
Lyndale was downed 41-62 by the impressive debutants Carrum Patterson Lakes with David Luong, Ordell Buntine and Trent Isbister best afield.
Dandenong smashed Hallam 100-44 with coach Dan Atkin booting four goals while Matt van Schajik, Matt Doggett and Ryan Forsyth were best afield.
VWFL – SOUTH EAST
KEYSBOROUGH had a canter over Whitehorse – with all the Burra guns getting in on the action.
Jaimee Lambert drilled four more goals – to reach 72 for the season and extend her lead on Densley in the goalkicking – while Hayley Gregory (4) and Natalie Cardamone (3) also picked up nice hauls in the 130-12 victory.
Kaci Hillis and Roslyn Hubeek were best afield – with Hubeek dominating the centre bounces in the air and by foot – while Marianna Raccosta and Maddison Blackburn also worked their way into the best.