By JARROD POTTER
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION 1 – round 16
GREAT signs unfortunately came too late for Noble Park in its 58-point win over Lilydale.
The run-and-carry football that should have guided the Bulls into the finals was on display at Lilydale Sports Oval – having shown up a few weeks behind schedule. Fleet-footed Noble Park midfielders – Stewart Kemperman, Craig Anderson and Chris Horton-Milne ran all over the Falcons.
Lilydale kicked its way back into the match in the third term, but the Bulls charged on with five goals in the last quarter sealing the deal. Along with the final term five-goal haul were nine behinds which would have left an ill taste with Noble Park coach Jon Knight and the coaching staff.
Noble Park was able to find multiple avenues to goal as Shayne Allan (3 goals), Horton Mile, Sam Monaghan and Peter McGettigan (2 apiece) razed the Lilydale defence.
The Bulls’ season has two matches to go – as it currently sits seventh and 10 points behind the top brass in EFL Division 1.
The second last hoorah is this weekend as Noble Park looks to dampen the finals-bound run of long-time rivals Vermont at home.
VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Division 2 – round 16
TRAILING at three-quarter-time, St John’s had its season on the line against potential finalist Old Paradians.
Down by a point at the last change, the JOCs mustered up their courage and stormed home to keep its chances of post-season action alive with a 10-point win over the home side.
Adam Jones (3 goals), Cameron Christiansen and Kane Arnold (2 apiece) kicked the JOCs ahead when it counted most this year. Feeding the ball to the forwards were Darryn O’Connor, Anthony Brannan and Daniel Cattolico – who all excelled in the 11.10 (76) to 10.6 (66) victory.
The win leaves St John’s one win outside the top four, needing Old Paradians to lose once again either this week or next. The JOCs meanwhile will face Kew away on Saturday.
