Above: Warburton Millgrove and Healesville had a nail-biting encounter.
By Stephen Walter
HEALESVILLE pulled off a magnificent one-point victory after trailing for most of the day in its first division YVMDFNL game against Warburton Millgrove.
Warburton had the better of it early, led by two goals at the first change and stretched that lead to 15 points at half-time.
The Bloods played brilliantly in heavy conditions in the third quarter, booting five goals to three to cut the lead to six points.
In a frantic last quarter Healesville held its nerve, booting three goals to Warby’s two and recording a brilliant hard-fought victory.
Healesville 12.12 (78) d Warburton Millgrove 11.11 (77)
Best – Healesville: J. Dunnett, C. Adams, R. Carruthers. Warburton Millgrove: L. Barnard, J. Iacono, M. Walker.
THE Monbulk players will be kicking themselves after they wasted numerous opportunities early in the game that kept Upwey in the match.
Monbulk started the better but had a wasteful 4.6 at quarter-time to Upwey’s 2.2.
Upwey showed in the second term that straight kicking wins football, with five straight goals to Monbulk’s 1.3 to take a five-point lead into the long break.
The second half was a seesawing battle with the game in the balance right to the final siren.
Monbulk had a huge chance to win with Chris Waldron marking 35 metres out on a slight angle right on the final siren, but Monbulk’s inaccuracy woes continued.
Upwey Tecoma 11.5 (71) d Monbulk 9.13 (67)
Best – Upwey Tecoma: C. Hayes, T. Heinrich, A. Parsons. Monbulk: D. Smethurst, T. Wright, B. Hicken.
MOUNT Evelyn only scored one behind in the opening quarter and will know it lost the game right there. Woori kicked 3.2 in the first term to get off to a solid start.
It increased the lead at half-time to a handy 26 points. But Mount Evelyn stormed back in the third quarter, booting six goals to three and at the last break Woori’s lead was down to just five points.
The last quarter was a slog that saw Woori hold off a determined Mount Evelyn side and win by 13 points.
Woori Yallock 12.9 (81) d Mount Evelyn 10.8 (68)
Best – Woori Yallock: M. Wright, B. Sneddon, D. Ryan. Mount Evelyn: J. Barden, C. Haworth, M. Smith.
OLINDA continues its rise up the ladder and moves a game clear into fourth place after a big win over Silvan.
Silvan started the better and it looked as though an upset could be on the cards, with the Cats 13 points up at quarter-time.
Olinda started to use the ball more effectively in the second quarter to lead by three points.
It produced its best football in the second half, which destroyed any slim hope Silvan might have had at half-time.
Olinda booted 16 second-half goals to Silvan’s five and turned what looked like being a close game into a walkover.
Olinda will now be eyeing off a top three finish and a double chance come the finals.
Olinda Ferny Creek 26.20 (176) d Silvan 15.7 (97)
Best – Olinda Ferny Creek: N. Broomhall, S. Grogan, S. Tregoning. Silvan: C. Webb, S. Steghuis, V. Bonanno.
GEMBROOK was always expected to win this game but it didn’t have it all its own way.
Gembrook got the lead out to 34 points by the big break but Wandin showed some exceptional spirit in the third quarter, booting five goals to three to give itself an unexpected chance at three-quarter-time.
Gembrook finished the game well booting four goals and holding Wandin to just one major for a comfortable win in the end.
Wandin would have got a shot of confidence out of this game despite losing, while Gembrook would be happy enough with its ninth win to regain top spot.
Gembrook Cockatoo 15.15 (105) d Wandin 9.9 (63)
Best – Gembrook Cockatoo: W. Robertson, R. Clark, D. Main. Wandin: D. King, G. Bartling, D. Crellin.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 2
ALEXANDRA had six more scoring shots than Yea but bad kicking ultimately cost it the match.
Yea made the most of its opportunities and remains an outside chance to play finals.
The team led at every break and looked the more polished side from start to finish.
Yea opened up a 17-point lead at the first break and stretched that to 30 points at half-time after Alex booted seven straight behinds in the second quarter.
Alex did outscore Yea in the second half, seven goals to five, but it wasn’t enough to get the points.
Yea 14.9 (93) d Alexandra 10.19 (79)
Best – Yea: M. Scoble, C. Graham, R. Toulson. Alexandra: D. Steel, P. Francis, D. Toomey.
YARRA Glen got off to an absolute flyer booting 7.5 to one point in the first quarter to virtually sew the game up at quarter-time.
In wet and heavy conditions Emerald was never going to claw its way back despite showing some fight in the second half.
Yarra Glen 13.14 (92) d Emerald 4.2 (26)
Best – Yarra Glen: C. Augello, S. Roberts, M. Attard. Emerald: J. Marshall, J. Bova, S. Heathcote.
KINGLAKE continues to flex its muscles with a resounding win over the improving Powelltown.
Powelltown did show a little early in the game and it looked like it might take it right up to Kinglake, but after quarter-time the Lakers put their foot down and showed no mercy.
Powelltown was held goalless in the second and third terms while Kinglake just kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Powelltown kicked three goals in the last quarter but Kinglake still finished the day well with seven last-quarter goals to record a big victory.
Kinglake 20.17 (137) d Powelltown 6.10 (46)
Best – Kinglake: D. Harris, J. Walker, J. Demarco. Powelltown: J. Cornish, R. Collins, L. Walker.
SEVILLE led by a mere two goals at half-time in a game that looked like it was going to be tight and tough all day.
But Seville ripped the game apart in the third quarter, kicking eight goals to Belgrave’s one.
Belgrave didn’t know what hit it and at three-quarter-time the margin had blown out to 57 points.
Seville scored only one goal in the last quarter but held Belgrave goalless.
Seville 14.12 (96) d Belgrave 4.10 (34)
Best – Seville: B. James, T. Groen, B. Pereira. Belgrave: B. Dadswell, D. Lunn-Wilson, T. McNamara.
YARRA Junction has been on the slide in recent weeks and at half-time of this game trailed by 13 points.
Junction found some of its old spark in the third quarter, slamming home six goals but, more impressively, holding Thornton scoreless to turn that deficit into a 25-point lead.
Thornton did throw everything at Junction in the last, booting three goals to one but the margin was too large to overcome as Junction got back some much-needed form.
Yarra Junction 14.8 (92) d Thornton Eildon 12.7 (79)
Best – Yarra Junction: T. Selby, B. Charman, D. Edwards. Thornton Eildon: R. Chapman, B. Kapakoulakis, D. Cornish.
