By Stephen Walter
GEMBROOK-Cockatoo started the day kicking to the scoring end but wasteful kicking produced 5.8 for the quarter.
Warby scored only 1.1 for the first quarter but used the breeze to its advantage in the second, booting 4.4 while holding Gembrook to just three behinds.
Gembrook went to the long break with a one-goal lead.
The second half was a slog as weather conditions worsened. It was Gembrook that had a touch more class, kicking eight second-half goals to five to win by a hard-fought four goals.
Gembrook Cockatoo 13.17 (95) d Warburton Millgrove 10.11 (71)
Best – Gembrook Cockatoo: S. Williams, R. Clark, A. Walker. Warburton Millgrove: A. Newing, J. Iacono, L. Barnard.
OLINDA notched up another win to remain in the top four but it had to work hard for the victory.
An enthralling game from start to finish the lead changed several times.
Olinda didn’t score a goal in the opening term but Healesville wasted the chance to make it pay, managing only 1.5.
The game opened up a little in the second term, with Olinda booting four goals to Healesville’s two, and at half-time it was Olinda by eight points.
The third quarter was the reverse of the second, with Healesville booting four and Olinda two. The lead changed in Healesville’s favour to the tune of 11 points.
Olinda was superb defensively in the last quarter, holding Healesville to just three behinds while kicking 3.5 to take the points and prove it is a genuine threat.
Olinda Ferny Creek 9.12 (66) d Healesville 7.15 (57)
Best – Olinda Ferny Creek: O. Millwood, T. Millwood, P. Rosier. Healesville: J. Dunnett, D. Plozza, L. Barclay.
SILVAN showed a little spark early and had two goals on the board at quarter-time to Upwey’s six.
But after quarter-time it was a goal-kicking feast for Upwey: nine in the second, 11 in the third and 10 in the last.
The only real interest was to see if Eamonn Keogh would kick 10. He just missed out, but would be happy with his nine.
Upwey Tecoma 36.21 (237) d Silvan 3.3 (21)
Best – Upwey Tecoma: D. Sloane, E. Keogh, C. Hayes. Silvan: C. Webb, P. Glassborow, T. Matthews.
FOR three quarters this was a good game between two great combatants.
Woori Yallock proved that when the game is up for grabs its best players are invaluable. Brendan Sneddon and Steven Gregson were superb and a big reason Woori finally shook off a determined Monbulk late in the game.
Woori Yallock finished with a four-goal last quarter and held Monbulk to just 1.1, winning by a comfortable 33 points.
Woori Yallock 14.13 (97) d Monbulk 9.10 (64)
Best – Woori Yallock: B. Sneddon, S. Gregson, M. Wright. Monbulk: L. McCormick, C. Waldron, D. Alenson.
MOUNT Evelyn was always expected to win this game and that’s what happened.
Mount Evelyn was consistent all day and saved its best quarter for last with seven goals to finish off the day in good style.
It now sits one game clear in fifth spot, while Wandin is one game off the bottom.
Mount Evelyn 21.18 (144) d Wandin 6.9 (45)
Best – Mount Evelyn: C. Haworth, C. Urquhart, M. Smith. Wandin: D. King, M. Peterson, N. Crossland.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:DIVISION 2
YARRA Junction’s form has been up and down of late, and despite playing bottom-of-the-ladder Belgrave had to work hard for the win.
Junction led from start to finish but Belgrave was always within striking distance.
In the end it was a scrappy win to Junction, now fourth on the ladder and pushing for a top three finish.
Yarra Junction 12.16 (88) d Belgrave 10.10 (70)
Best – Yarra Junction: N. Syme, D. Kiernan, B. Charman. Belgrave: L. Smith, M. Lunn-Wilson, B. Dadswell.
FOR the second week in a row Powelltown saw that the gap between it and the top sides is still quite wide.
It was in the game at half-time, with 4.2 to Yarra Glen’s 9.6, but after half-time it was Yarra Glen at its best, booting 11 goals and holding Powelltown to just two in the third.
Yarra Glen remains on top, one game clear of Seville, which it takes on next week.
Yarra Glen 21.18 (144) d Powelltown 6.2 (38)
Best – Yarra Glen: D. de Munk, M. Culhane, G. Newlands. Powelltown: T. Trenfield, R. Collins, L. Power.
YEA holds on to a slight chance of playing finals after a three-point victory over Emerald.
It wasn’t a pretty game, with weather conditions making it difficult for free-flowing football, but at half-time it looked as though Yea had the game under control, with a handy 23-point lead.
Emerald scrapped hard in the third, scoring 3.3 while holding Yea to just two points and at three-quarter-time it was Yea by four points.
Both teams found it hard to score in the last quarter as their defences held firm and only one goal was scored in the last by both teams, enough for Yea to keep its season alive.
Yea 7.9 (51) d Emerald 6.12 (48)
Best – Yea: E. Neilson, G. Beer, J. Clavarino. Emerald: S. Heathcote, M. Dompietro, S. Wright.
