Woori Yallock’s Daniel Williamson and Upwey’s Shaun Marcus vie for the ball in mid air. Picture: Raylee Burns
By Carli Mitchell
GEMBROOK Cockatoo is still clinging on to its YVMDFL finals hopes after a heart-stopping victory over a luckless Healesville Football Club on Saturday.
Gembrook looked in control until jitters crept in during the final term. Healesville then stepped up its commitment and displayed a kind of form that belies its ladder position.
Healesville’s Arnott and Stolarczyk played a great four quarters of football, while Kidd (five goals), Causer and Stewart were Gembrook’s saviours.
Monbulk v Wandin
Wandin may have let its shot at the finals slip with a disappointing effort against Monbulk. Wandin was never in the hunt with its midfielders’ repeated poor delivery into the forward line.
It showed some character in the third term, but that was shortlived as Monbulk pulled away in the last. Wandin captain Jarrod Bayliss stood tall over the four quarters, while Wragg, Klepp and Hughson were Monbulk’s best.
Warburton Millgrove v Mount Evelyn
Warburton firmed as one of the season’s teams to beat with a solid victory over premiership hopefuls Mount Evelyn. Warby proved too strong, too tall and too consistent.
Spearhead Rattray was the focal point with six goals. Murphy with four goals was solid again for Mount Evelyn, which has hit the crossroads. Its second-string players need to lift, and lift quickly, if the side is to make any major finals inroads.
Olinda Ferny Creek v Yarra Glen
After a promising first quarter, Yarra Glen led Olinda Ferny Creek by two goals and the signs looked ominous for the favourites. But those signs quickly disappeared as Olinda piled on 16 second-half goals to Yarra Glen’s four to run away big winners.
Olinda’s Noorda was the game’s stand-out player, along with 17-year-old young gun Zac Longham, who booted three goals. Yarra Glen’s Hoffman and Braden stood tall in an otherwise disappointing team effort.
Woori Yallock v Upwey Tecoma
Woori Yallock’s consistency over four quarters shut Upwey out of their game on the weekend. Amazingly, home side Upwey went two quarters without kicking a goal. Woori’s Brendan Sneddon, with four goals, was a stand-out up forward and was well supported by Williams, Witkowski, Sharp and King.
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Gembrook Cockatoo v Healesville
Healesville took on Gembrook and from the outset it was a one-way race. Healesville kicked seven goals to nil in the first, which made Gembrook’s task from that point almost impossible.
Healesville increased its lead in every quarter and finished up kicking 20 goals to eight for the day. Pat Connell and Jake Gerritzen (four goals each), and Jason Ison-Johnson were Healesville’s best, while Gembrook’s Aaron Turner, James Blackhurst and Dave McPherson all toiled hard.
Monbulk v Wandin
Wandin kicked four goals to one in the first quarter against Monbulk. It held firm through a mid-game fightback and then went on to kick three goals to one in the last, walking away three-goal winners. Monbulk’s best were Anthony Ryan, Scott Mulgrew and Brodie Emmett, while Luke McPhee (five goals) spearheaded Wandin’s attack.
Mount Evelyn v Warburton Millgrove
Mount Evelyn stormed out to a three-goal lead at quarter-time in its game against Warburton and never looked back. Mount Evelyn led by six goals at half-time and finally came out nine-goal victors. Jayden Clarke (four goals), Daniel Fraser and Callum Petrie were Mount Evelyn’s best, while Sam Marr, Jason Walker and Xavier Findlay stood up for Warburton.
Olinda Ferny Creek v Yarra Glen
The first quarter in Olinda’s game against Yarra Glen was an even tussle. And Olinda’s inaccurate kicking kept Yarra Glen in touch at the main break.
Both teams kicked four goals in the third, but Olinda stormed home with five goals to two in the last to seal the game. Kelsey Currie and Nick Keegan snared four goals each for Olinda, while Will Goodwin (four goals), Adam Reker and Andrew Medley played well for Yarra Glen.
Woori Yallock v Upwey Tecoma
The battle of the Tigers between Woori Yallock and Upwey Tecoma was a highlight of the weekend’s play. Woori battled hard all day but could not peg back Upwey’s first quarter lead. It outscored Upwey in the last, 4.2 to 2.2, but still fell short.Andrew Clifford, with four goals, starred for Upwey and Luke Boontjes, Shannon Lovat and Kody Busoli worked all day for Woori.
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Belgrave v Alexandra
After Belgrave and Alexandra had the same number of scoring opportunities in the first quarter, their game was always going to be close. Alex ultimately ran out eight-point winners, despite its inaccuracy.
Sean Osborne (five goals) and Matt Hall (three) toiled hard and were well supported by Tom Stubley, Matt Latham and David Loosz.
Emerald v Powelltown
Powelltown made the trip up the hill to Emerald and struggled to stay in touch with one of this season’s flag contenders. It was in the hunt at the first change but Emerald kicked a bag of seven in the second quarter while keeping the visitors goalless.
Justin Hughes, Matthew Crichton and Andrew Nurse excelled for Powelltown, Alex Hellriegel kicked six in Emerald’s clinical display.
Seville v Kinglake
Kinglake ventured to Seville to take on another premiership contender. The home side held a slender lead at quarter-time but extended the margin to six goals at the major break. Kinglake managed only one behind in the second half, while Seville booted five majors.
Ben Munn, Jamie Chalmers and Declan Skehan were gallant for Kinglake, while Shaun Wilson’s four goals led the way for Seville.
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Belgrave v Alexandra
Alexandra jumped out of the blocks against Belgrave in the first quarter with nine scoring shots to two. Belgrave had no answers for Alexandra’s impressive midfield and forward line. James McNeil battled hard all day and kicked three goals for the losers.
Emerald v Powelltown
Emerald was unbeatable on the weekend, with Powelltown on the end of an absolute drubbing. Emerald amassed a total of 28 goals to nil. Brody Stephenson kicked a lazy 11 for the home side and Casey Thomsen, Daniel Cann and Jamie Wilson were also among the best.
Seville v Kinglake
Seville got off to a good start against Kinglake – holding it scoreless in the first quarter. Seville led by four goals at half-time but kept Kinglake in the contest thanks to some inaccurate kicking. But Kinglake manage only one more goal for the rest of the game, extinguishing its chances. Brayden Schembri, Nicholas Sciortino and Rainer Culwick were outstanding for Seville, while Jaedin Poecher, Scott LePoidevin and Tom Sibenaler worked hard for Kinglake.
