By Stephen Walter, YVMDFL CEO
HEALESVILLE finally saluted to get its first win of the season with a 17-point victory over Olinda.
The Bloods had their chances early but couldn’t put any scoreboard pressure on their opponents, with only 1.7 in the first quarter.
Healesville looked to have a better structure going forward and, although it had only four scoring shots, went to the first break with 3.1 on the scoreboard and a six-point lead.
The second quarter belonged to the Bloods as they booted 5.4 to 1.1 to lead by 33 points at the half.
Olinda threw everything at Healesville in the second half and got itself right back into the game and reduced the margin to 16 points at the last change.
But Healesville managed to hold on in an even last quarter to celebrate a win, finally.
Scores: Healesville 15.11(101) d Olinda-Ferny Creek 12.12(84).
Best: Healesville: Cameron Arnott, Dean Selkrig (5 goals) and Brad Wilkinson. Olinda-Ferny Creek: Dylan Troutman, Benjamin Day and Patrick Rosier.
A MAGNIFICENT start to the Gembrook v Warburton game with an amazing 16 goals scored in the first quarter.
Both sides managed eight goals, with Gembrook taking a one point lead at the first break.
The game looked as though it was going to be a ripper but after the first quarter Gembrook went on a goal-scoring rampage and didn’t give Warby a look in.
The Brookers added 20 goals in the last three quarters with Lee Clark doing most of the damage booting nine majors.
Warby could only manage another seven goals for the game as Gembrook won by an amazing 90 points and confirmed that it is the real deal.
Scores: Gembrook-Cockatoo 28.20(188) d Warburton-Millgrove 15.8(98).
Best: Gembrook-Cockatoo: Andrew Shipp, Andrew Walker and Lee Clark (9 goals). Warburton-Millgrove: James Iacono, Andrew Pye and Matthew Lewis.
A FANTASTIC spectacle was put on by two sides that will figure prominently come finals.
Woori Yallock got off to a good start, putting a question mark against Monbulk at their home ground.
At half time Woori led 9.7 to 6.5 and looked to be in control, however it was Monbulk in the third that stormed back into the game with a six-goal-to-four quarter to reduce the margin to just four points at the last change.
It looked as though Monbulk had the momentum to keep going, however Woori had other ideas with a committed last quarter effort, winning a tough encounter by a meagre seven points.
Scores: Woori Yallock 14.16(100) d Monbulk 14.9(93).
Best: Woori Yallock: Ben Monkhorst (5 goals) and Mitch Bonuda. Monbulk: Chris Waldron, Jared Devers and David Alenson.
SILVAN had to get off to a good start to have any chance against league leaders Upwey-Tecoma, and did just that leading by five points into the first break.
Upwey was given a rev-up at quarter time and responded like good teams do with an eight-goal-to-three second quarter to go into the long break with a 27-point lead.
Upwey controlled the second half and, despite the scoreboard blowing out, Silvan kept its score ticking over, but it was Upwey that added another 15 goals after the half to Silvan’s seven to win by a more than comfortable 79 points.
Scores: Upwey-Tecoma 25.22(172) d Silvan 14.9(93).
Best: Upwey-Tecoma: Adam Parsons (5 goals) Joshua Kamoen and Daniel Sheers. Silvan: Stephen Andrew, David Bissels (6 goals) and Sean Toohey.
IN FRONT of a huge crowd, Mount Evelyn only led by 14 points at quarter time and it looked as though Wandin was going to take it right up to the more fancied opponents. But Mount Evelyn stretched the margin to six goals at the half.
It continued its run with a goal-scoring spree after the long break, finishing the match with 16 separate scorers.
Mount Evelyn added an amazing 11.2 in the third and backed it up with a 10.4 last term. Wandin was left shell-shocked as it could only add four more majors in the second half.
Scores: Mount Evelyn 33.13(211) d Wandin 10.11(71).
Best: Mount Evelyn: Christopher Murphy (7 goals), Michael Smith and Benjamin Farrugia. Wandin: Jack Bayliss, Geoffrey Bartling and Matthew Lang.
DIVISION TWO
YEA kept its season alive with a comprehensive win over Alexandra.
Yea led by just seven points at half time, and it was in the second half that Yea powered away, running harder and showing a lot more fitness than its opponents.
Yea booted five goals in the third followed by another five in the last while Alexandra could only manage one and three goals respectively.
Scores: Yea 15.15(105) d Alexandra 8.10(58).
Best: Yea: Chris Graham, Dean Taylor and Adrian Wilson. Alexandra: Daniel Steel, Sam Kidd and James Kidd.
POWELLTOWN found some good form to win its first game of the season over an Emerald side that showed little resolve in the second term.
Powelltown started well with a six-goal-to-one first quarter, but Emerald hit back in the second with five goals to two and the margin was just two goals at the long break.
Powelltown all but snuffed out any chance Emerald may have had in the third with an excellent six goals to two, and finished the game strongly in the last with five goals to one to win by just under 10 goals. Despite Powelltown remaining on the foot of the ladder by percentage their win does keep their season alive.
Scores: Powelltown 19.12(126) d Emerald 9.13(67).
Best: Powelltown: Luke Miller, Barry McDonald and Rocky Collins. Emerald: Nick Green, Daniel Porter and Steven Wright.
SEVILLE goes into the break undefeated after a comprehensive win over Belgrave.
At the long break, Seville led comfortably with the scoreboard reading Seville 9.10(64) to Belgrave 1.5(11).
It looked as though this game was going to have a three-figure margin but Belgrave showed some genuine fight in the second half despite the large deficit.
Belgrave was outscored in the second half but only by three points in a scratchy half of footy.
Seville would be happy to go to the break undefeated but wouldn’t be overly impressed with its second-half effort.
Scores: Seville 17.15(117) d Belgrave 9.7(61).
Best: Seville: Dean Leary, Paul Lister and Shane Smith. Belgrave: Benjamin Dadswell, Benjamin Harris and James Mason.
KINGLAKE may not be playing at its absolute best but was very sound against Thornton, with hints of its 2009 form.
After an even first quarter it was Kinglake that took complete control. Kinglake’s third quarter was brilliant as it blew Thornton away with a nine-goal-to-one term.
Thornton outscored Kinglake in the last with a five-goal-to-three performance to add a little respectability, but by that time the damage was well and truly done.
Scores: Kinglake 19.14(128) d Thornton-Eildon 10.7(67).
Best: Kinglake: Matthew Ryan, Travers McNaught and Jayden Butterworth. Thornton Eildon: Brenton Cowell, Shannon Galea and Jarryd Chapman.
YARRA Glen and Yarra Junction went into the match undefeated and at quarter time it looked as though the crowd was going to be in for a great contest as Junction went to the first break with a one-goal lead.
The rest of the game however belonged to Yarra Glen; it all but had the game wrapped up at half time after booting eight goals in the second quarter and Holding Junction to just a single behind.
Yarra Glen continued on in the second half adding another 10 goals while Junction could only manage another three for the day.
Yarra Glen goes to the break undefeated on top of the ladder and is now more than firming as flag favourite.
Scores: Yarra Glen 20.19(139) d Yarra Junction 6.10(46).
Best: Yarra Glen: Ryan Kueffer (7 goals), Russell Cowan (4 goals) and Leigh Hoffman. Yarra Junction: Daniel Amrein, Darcy Kiernan and Michael Batten.
