By Nick Creely
Journal Football Review
Southern Football League – Round 8 – DIV 2
Keysborough 10.9(69) have fallen to an impressive Skye 17.3(105) outfit, in an early top four clash.
The in-form Boroughs looked the goods early, but the Bombers were never really headed after quarter time, kicking away and displacing the Boroughs from second spot – in form forward Chris Bryan kicked five goals.
“(It’s) always disappointing to lose particularly when you have a 21-point lead in the third quarter,” coach Matt Ferguson said.
“I think we learned that if we drop our intensity against a quality side like Skye we will get punished on the scoreboard.
“What disappointed me most was we went away from playing the style of footy that has delivered some strong results this season when we were strongly challenged.”
Meanwhile, down at Peterson Street, Springvale Districts 8.7(55) just can’t seem to take a trick, falling to Hampton 8.11(59) in a nail biter.
After taking a 12-point quarter time lead, the Demons were outplayed in the middle parts of the game, and went into the final quarter 12-points down and breathing down the neck of the Hammers.
And a four goal to two final term almost stole a pulsating victory from the jaws of defeat. The Demons have just one win in the bank and are percentage from the bottom despite being competitive in every match this season.
DIV 3
Two extraordinary score lines were the headline act of Saturday’s Division 3 action, with some almighty hammerings making for an almost implausible duo of games.
Doveton Eagles 38.43(271) were merciless in its win over the struggling Sandown 0.1(1), in one of the most one-sided scoreboards in memory.
The Eagles had 81 scoring shots – an unfathomable amount – with errant kicking at goal at times perhaps the only knock on its performance – but being too critical over a 270-point win would be fairly harsh!
Russell Robertson (six goals), Corrie Wilson (six goals), Travis Graeske (six goals), Enyate Samadi (five goals) all bagged major hauls, but Robertson kicked 13 behinds in a wayward yet spectacular display.
After having 21 scoring shots in the first term, the Eagles bettered that in the final term, registering 23 shots on goal in a stunning 13-goal final quarter.
It was a dark day for the Cobras, who are starting to struggle to field a team each week.
It was similar for premiership fancy Hallam 34.21(225), who completely belted an improved Dandenong 4.3(27) by 198-points.
After starting fairly modestly to take a 26-point quarter time lead, the Hawks kicked 27 goals in the final three terms to gain valuable percentage.
Steve Sigeti (nine goals), Robert Mackay (six goals) and Sam Delosa (six goals) ran rampant over the Redlegs’ defenders.
In other matches across the round, Lyndale 16.7(103) were far too good for Moorabbin 7.5(47), with in-form goal machine Trevor Kumetaitis bagging seven goals, Endeavour Hills 8.8(56) almost inflicted Ashwood 10.12(72) its first loss of the season but fell just short, Lyndhurst 6.5(41) couldn’t quite match it with South Yarra 13.6(84) and Carrum Patterson Lakes 10.7(67) were comfortably defeated by Black Rock 17.10(112).
Eastern Football League – Round 7
The Noble Park machine just keeps on rolling, with the Bulls knocking off the winless Bayswater by 72-points.
The scoreline read 7.11(53) to 19.11(125) when the final siren blared, in a game where class proved pivotal.
In what was a fairly tight first term, the Kangaroos were well and truly in the contest – matching the Bulls around the ground – but were unable to convert, kicking 1.4 to 4.2 at quarter time.
From there the Bulls took the game by the horns, warming up with a gentle three goal second term before blasting away in the second half, kicking 12.8 to 4.4.
Ziggie Alwan (five goals) was best afield for the Bulls, utterly dominating at stages with his prescence around the contest, while Kyle Martin (two goals) was once again prolific in the midfield, Shayne Allan’s super consistent season continued, and Lionel Benoit was impressive.
The news wasn’t so good for Rowville 9.12(66), who fell away in the second half to lose by 46-points to Blackburn 16.16(112).
The Hawks were everywhere early and looked to be causing a major boilover, taking an eight-point lead at quarter time and a one-point lead at half time.
But then the Cougars kicked into gear, kicking 10.10 to 3.5 in the second half to run away winners.
