By JARROD POTTER
VAFA DIVISION 2 – ROUND 11
RETURNING to their jocular best of the first eight rounds, St John’s brushed off its minor mid-year slump to comfortably best Melbourne High School Old Boys (MHSOB).
Setting the stage for an emphatic 49-point win, the JOCs showed their back-to-back losses were a mere blip in its VAFA Division-2 campaign.
Ben McGee’s charges opened the accounts with a six-goal first term as Anthony Brannan, Cameron Christiansen and Manny Jakwot helped up the tempo. Jakwot’s efforts through the centre were remission of Geelong’s emerging ruck/ruck-rover Mark Blicavs and that dual-talent path is one the former Stingray could take in a one-two combo with JOCS’ main ruckman Daniel Cattolico.
Carson Strobel (3 goals) returned from suspension to star across half-forward and through the midfield while Glenn Costas (3 goals) and Cattolico (2 goals) also forced their way into the best with stellar efforts in the midfield and ruck respectively.
After fighting back within 14 points at the main break, the visitors were left to St John’s mercy as the JOCs dictated the pace and cranked the speed to a new level.
Ending as they started, a six-goal term showed the rest of the competition the JOCs can bounce back after gut-wrenching losses and will be a prominent part of this year’s Division-2 finals’ series.
Aaron Thornton (6 goals) had half-a-dozen to his name and leads the goal-kicking in Division 2 (53 goals) and remains on track to reach the magic milestone later this season if his good fortunes continue.
St John’s host Richmond Central on Saturday in a second-versus-sixth battle.
SFL – DIVISION 2
SHOWING there’s life yet in Division 2 beyond the top two, Keysborough was undone by Murrumbeena as the home side sent the Burra packing with an eight-point defeat. In a class back-and-forth game, neither side could claim the upper hand. Hard fought through the dying minutes, Murrumbeena managed to kick a crucial last-term goal to stave off the Burra attack and take the 13.11 (89) to 12.9 (81) triumph. Tyson King (5 goals) was exceptional up forward while Will Gayfer, Tim Bacic and Geoff Humphreys all won their positions to feature in the best.
Doveton Eagles were also beaten, brushed aside by Caulfield in a 60-point loss. John Kennedy, perennial performer Corrie Wilson and Brayden Oliver were best afield in the defeat.
DIVISION 3
Endeavour Hills did enough to brush aside a gallant Dandenong in a 27-point win. Shane Peake (6 goals) and Chris Arnold (4 goals) were prolific for their respective sides while Neil Peake and Jake Van Hoesel were best afield for the Falcons.
Hallam took it up to last year’s grand finalists Mt Waverley, only to fall back to earth with a 22-point loss – Mt Waverley 9.11 (65) to Hallam. Andrew Daly and Shaun Gaitley battled all day for the Hawks.
