by Steve Walter
FOR the second successive week, Healesville will be ruing another lost opportunity.
Last week they had Mount Evelyn on toast but could only salvage a draw, and this week they had a six goal to nil first quarter and ended up on the end of a two point defeat.
Monbulk was sluggish early, had only seven straight behinds on the board at quarter time and was staring at a 30 -point deficit.
What a contrast in the second term, as Monbulk took control.
They booted 6.3 to two straight and were only down by three points at the long break.
The third quarter was a real battle, with Monbulk just holding sway in scoring 3.3 to 2.2 and opening up a slender four point break.
The game was up for grabs and in a gripping and tense last quarter battle, Monbulk booted 4.1 to the Bloods 4.3, which saw Monbulk hang on by two points in dramatic fashion.
Monbulk 13.14 (92) d Healesville 14.6. (90)
Monbulk’s best: Shaun Klep, Billie Hicken and Vincent Dunstan. Healesville’s best: Simon Gordon (five goals), Brad Wilkinson and James Dunnett.
MOUNT Evelyn had to come from behind to shake off a determined Warburton.
In a high scoring game, where the forwards dominated, Mount Evelyn’s Cameron Buckland was outstanding with seven goals while at the other end, Warby’s Scott Muir continued his good form with a great nine goal performance.
Warby led by two goals at half time, while Mount Evelyn was wasteful with a scoreline of 6.11. The Mounters found some spark in the third and rammed on eight goals. By no means did Warby play badly, managing to boot five majors.
At the last change there was only five points in it.
The Mounters seemed to have the ascendancy and that proved the case in the last term as they finished brilliantly with an eight goal quarter while Warby could only manage two majors.
Mount Evelyn 22.20 (152) d Warburton Millgrove 16.12 (108)
Mount Evelyn’s best: Chris Haworth, Cameron Buckland (seven goals) and Steven Tesoriero Warburton Millgrove’s best: Scott Muir (nine goals), Ben Caneva and Alexander Calder.
GEMBROOK-Cockatoo gave themselves a huge percentage boost after making short work of a disappointing Silvan.
The Brookers had a field day and Eamon Tomlin (eight goals) and Andrew Shipp (seven goals) made the most of it.
At half time, the margin had blown out to 11 goals and the second half didn’t get any better for Silvan as the Brookers added 17 goals to two, winning by a staggering 158 points.
Gembrook Cockatoo’s best: Andrew Shipp (seven goals), Nathan Leversha and Steven Nuutinen. Silvan’s best: Scott Stegheuis, Gary and Timothy Timms.
Gembrook Cockatoo 31.14(200) d Silvan 6.6(42)
THE Bloods had a comfortable win over a Wandin side which didn’t show any real spark from the outset.
At half time, Wandin only had one goal on the board, while Olinda wasn’t playing to their potential and they had a wasteful score of 5.8.
But Olinda got cracking after half time and added 10 goals, however, they were still wasteful as they also added 10 behinds.
Wandin could only add three more majors for the half and found themselves on the end of a 76 point defeat.
Olinda Ferny Creek 15.18 (108) d Wandin 4.8.32
Olinda Ferny Creek’s best: Dylan Troutman, Owen Millwood and Garrett McDonald. Wandin’s best: Gareth Allen, David Crellin and Matthew Ewart.
IN what was billed as the match of the day – and possibly a preview of this year’s Grand Final – turned out to be a one horse race as Woori Yallock dominated Upwey-Tecoma.
Woori was outstanding in their 70-point victory and are now the official flag favourites.
They opened a 38-point break at the half and then put the game beyond doubt with an eight goal to one third term to completely shut Upwey out.
At three quarter time, Woori held an 82 point lead. Upwey now have to regroup and find the spark from season 2009, while Woori are the most formidable team in the competition.
Woori Yallock 17.14 (115) d Upwey-Tecoma 8.8.(56)
Woori Yallock’s best: Damian Monkhorst, Matthew Stolarczyk and Patrick Sharp. Upwey Tecoma’s best: Kyle Grenda, Eamonn Keogh and Daniel Sheers.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:Division 2
SEVILLE was looking to return to the winners’ list after dropping their last two games, but Alexandra made them work hard for the win.
For the first half, Alexandra took it right up to their more fancied opponents and Seville only led by one goal at the long break.
Seville’s fitness came into being in the second half as Alexandra started to chase. Seville scored 9.6 in the second half while Alexandra did tick the scoreboard over with 4.4, but just couldn’t match the running power of Seville for the entire game.
Seville 15.14 (104) d Alexandra 10.6 (66)
Seville’s best: Matthew Crowle (five goals), Daniel Healy and Brendan James. Alexandra’s best: Daniel Steel, Jason Krijt and James Kidd.
TWO weeks ago Thornton-Eildon was second bottom, but now with two wins in a row, sit in fifth spot and will play finals if they maintain their form.
In what was a great battle which could have gone either way, it was Thornton who managed to hold on while Emerald was left scratching their heads with yet another below par performance on their home ground.
At the last change, Thornton held an 11 point lead but most at the ground were expecting the Emerald young guns to come home with the victory by outrunning their more senior counterparts.
The Bombers did come hard, but the Boner’s weren’t going to be denied as they held on defiantly to keep their season well and truly alive.
Thornton Eildon 11.10. (76) d 11.7. (73)
Thornton’s best: Brandon Kapakoulakis, Alex Kellalea and Andrew Redden. Emerald’s best: Callum Benoiton, Shane Buhmann and Simon Heathcote.
POWELLTOWN was chasing their fourth win in a row while Yarra Junction was looking for consolidation in the top three.
At half time, Powelltown would have been eyeing off another victory as they held a 14 point lead and were playing at home.
In the third quarter, Yarra Junction may have only scored 2.4, but they held Powelltown to just one goal and at the last change, Powelltown only led by four points.
Yarra Junction looked the more polished in the last term as they booted 5.1 to 3.4, which left Powelltown shattered with a five point loss.
On the other hand, Yarra Junction were elated and are now one game clear in third spot.
Yarra Junction 10.13 (73) d Powelltown 10.8 (68)
Yarra Junction’s best: Daniel Amrein, Brad Charman and Josh Hin. Powelltown’s best: Barry McDonald, Luke Kennelly and Rocky Collins.
KINGLAKE has breathed new life into second division, after what was looking like a one horse race for the flag, with a 62 point thrashing of flag favourites Yarra Glen.
Kinglake took control early and led by 14 points at the first change but it was their outstanding seven goals to three in the second term which set up their victory.
Yarra Glen was expected to hit back hard in the second half, but Kinglake was just too good as they added another seven goals in the third and by three quarter time, the margin had blown out to 61 points.
The last quarter was really a non event as both sides added two majors.
Yarra Glen still sit one game clear on top and it will be interesting to see how they respond to this defeat as Kinglake’s momentum starts to build.
Kinglake 21.6 (132) d Yarra Glen 11.4 (70)
Kinglake’s best: Alexander Carpenter, Adam and Jayden Butterworth. Yarra Glen’s best: Mark Attard, Michael Ashton and Jye Thomas.
YEA finally showed some of the form that they know they’re capable of.
They dominated the second quarter, booting 10 goals while Belgrave looked tired and slow, to open up a 55 point lead at half time.
The second half was a little more even, but Yea did still stretch their lead, and by final siren had a convincing 72 point victory.
Yea 20.13 (133) d Belgrave 8.13 (61)
Yea’s best: Douglas Aldous (six goals), Patrick McKenna and Andrew Ferguson (five goals). Belgrave’s best: Tim Riley, Benjamin Harris and Brett Thompson.