By Hayley Wildes
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION 2 – ROUND 5 (SPILT ROUND)
Another standalone fixture over the weekend pitted an unbeaten Keysborough team against the Doveton Eagles and it was a thriller.
When the game was there for the taking, it was the Eagles’ Nick Battle who rose to the occasion and produced the match-winning goal after a back and forth contest all day.
The Eagles entered the first break with a one-point lead but, despite dominating proceedings in the second quarter, were unable to make the most of their chances in front of goal in windy conditions as they kicked 1.8 (14) in a wasteful term to lead by just nine points at half time.
With stars from both teams playing well – including the likes of Tim Werner and Matt Carnelley for the Burras and Cameron Carmody and Nick Beer for the Eagles – it was a gripping battle.
Keysborough came out firing in the second half as its work around the contest, coupled with Doveton’s continued inaccuracy, saw the side take control of the quarter.
The Burras booted three goals, while the Eagles could manage just six behinds and, with a quarter to play, Keysborough led by seven points, 7.6 (48) to 4.17 (41).
The fourth quarter was a fitting conclusion as both teams fought tooth and nail for the ascendency. As the final minutes ticked down, the Eagles led by one point after missing gettable chances to put the game to bed.
But as the saying goes; cometh the hour, cometh the man. After being held well all day, Eagles superstar Nick Battle slotted the game-winning major – from an errant Burra kick-in – to give the Eagles a memorable win.
The final scoreline displayed the dominance, but lack of composure in front of goal by Doveton, which eventually came away with an eight-point win, 7.22 (64) to 8.8 (56).
Andrew Ray was superb for Doveton in a brilliant display, while Troy Cullen did all he could for Keysborough.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
DISION 2 – ROUND 9
Pearcedale was no match for Crib Point on the road after a dominant first half from the Magpies had them 54 points up at the main break. The Panthers fought back in the second half, but with Tom Panich bagging nine majors, Crib Point went onto win by 51 points, 18.16 (124) to 11.7 (73).
Max Gearon and Travis Bravo were best for Pearcedale in another loss.
Devon Meadows almost claimed a win against Somerville, but fell short by one goal. In a seesawing battle, the Panthers were in the game all the way as Patrick Harmes and Riley Thorpe battled manfully, but couldn’t get over the line, falling 10.15 (75) to 9.15 (69).
VFLW
ROUND 5
After a heartbreaking loss last weekend, the Casey Demons again fell agonisingly short of a win at Casey Fields on Sunday against Collingwood.
The Demons got off to a strong start to lead by seven points at the first break, but the Magpies kicked into gear in the second term to hold Casey scoreless while scoring three goals of their own.
With Harriet Cordner making her presence felt around the contest, the Demons fought back strongly in the third and entered the final term three points adrift.
Collingwood kicked the first major of the fourth quarter to skip out to a nine-point lead, but Cordner gave Casey hope with an important goal halfway through the term.
The final 10 minutes of the contest were brutal as both teams gave their all in search of the four points. Casey just couldn’t get the job done in the closing stages and fell by three points, 5.4 (34) to 5.1 (31).
Maddy Guerin (two goals) was important up forward, while Cordner led from the front all day.
WEST GIPPSLAND
ROUND 9
The famous rivalry between Tooradin-Dalmore and Kooweerup was re-ignited over the weekend for the first time since the Seagulls entered the WGFNC.
Despite being well within striking distance entering the fourth term, the Seagulls couldn’t answer the Demons’ final punch and fell by 39 points, 16.18 (114) to 10.15 (75).
Kooweerup’s forward line trio of Luke McMaster, Darren Sheen and Jason Wells (three goals each) was in fine touch and with the likes of Joel Gibson and Mitch Collins dominating across the ground, the Gulls had their work cut out for them.
The Seagulls were just 11 points adrift at the final change as Brad Butler, Lewis Hill and Julian Suarez (three goals) kept their side in the game, but when the Demons pushed hard in the final term, the visitors’ defence was under all sorts of pressure and couldn’t keep up.
The final term was blown wide open by Kooweerup, as evidenced by their 14 scoring shots to just six as the Demons ran away with the comprehensive win.
