By JARROD POTTER
SPRINGVALE Districts improved to third place with a 33.16 (214) to 15.6 (96) belting of South Yarra.
In an absolute goal-fest, the Demons kicked away in the second quarter, smashing on 10 goals via Rob Johnston (six goals), Matt Thompson (five) and four each to David Ford, Justin Doust and Kris Merz.
Feeding them at will were Damien Stark and Ben Laier generating tons of run.
Districts return home this week to face Mordialloc.
In Division Three, Dandenong reigned supreme in a 13.17 (95) to 11.6 (72) victory over Sandown in the cross-town showdown.
Split by eight points at the final change, Dandenong kicked ahead to register the impressive giant-slaying victory over premiership aspirant Sandown. Redlegs’ forward Matt Van Schajik (four goals) continued his good form while for the Cobras Matt Menzies and John Frenken toiled all afternoon.
Lyndale was pushed by Hallam, with the Hawks kicking within three goals in the last quarter, before the Pumas ran away with the show to register an 18.11 (119) to 13.4 (82) win.
Trevor Kumetaitis was impressive as usual with six goals while Adam Read and Matt Stuart impressed across the field.
VAFA
ST JOHN’S thumped home an emphatic 53-point win against South Melbourne Districts in Division Two VAFA action while St Francis Xavier squeaked home by a point over UHS-VU in Division Three.
Trailing at the first break by eight points, following a five-goal-to-three quarter by the visitors, St John’s roared into life in the second term – kicking six goals, with Glenn Costas (four goals) and Matthew Phaedonos (four) making their presence felt at the scoring end.
The JOCs midfielders – Corey Ladson, Rhys Dyker and Liam Mara – kept the ball funnelling towards the goals to maintain their lead through to the final quarter where some Costas/Phaedonos fireworks helped the result along.
St John’s sit fifth on the VAFA Division Two ladder and host eighth-placed Monash Gryphons.
IN Club XVIII (3), the Tigers failed to push Richmond Central – losing 6.5 (41) to 23.10 (148).
Habib Mohammadi and Prakash Kailasanathan kicked two goals each while David Crkvenac and Yasser Hussain were best afield.
Masala heads to Keeley Park to face Dragons on Saturday morning.
VWFL
St John’s bounced back after its loss to Scoresby last week with a 124-point bludgeoning of VWFL South East newcomers Bayswater.
It was one way traffic all day as the Bombers only managed to get on to the scoreboard in the last quarter.
Michelle Densley and Tayla Gasparini bagged five goals each in best-on-ground performances while Bronwyn Rogan was also influential with four of her own through the midfield.
Keysborough remain atop the table and face Seaford at home while St John’s sits third and faces Chirnside Park at Thomas Carroll Reserve.
