By Cameron Hutchison
With three rounds to go in Division 1, Wandin have snuck in to first spot but only by half a game, while Healesville and Woori Yallock share second spot with Olinda just behind in fourth, by two points.
Upwey makes up the five on 38 points, and are probably safe from sixth-placed Mount Evelyn, though there’s still a lot of room for movement within the top five.
With two rounds to go in Division 2, Belgrave are one win clear on top from Seville, while Yarra Glen holds onto third spot with 44 points but have Alexandra and Powelltown just behind them on 40.
The finals race is over for Kinglake.
First and second are safe, but it can still be shaped as to who will be minor premiers.
Division 1 Seniors Football
Upwey Tecoma 15.18(108) d Gembrook Cockatoo 10.7(67)
Upwey Tecoma has secured a finals berth with a big win over Gembrook. Gembrook got the jump kicking 5.3 to 3.6 in the first quarter and had a handy lead of nine points at quarter-time. Upwey got back in the game in the second term with five goals to two and took back the lead by 13 points at half-time. Gembrook had gone back into their shell in the third quarter and did not bother the scorers, while Upwey kicked away with another two goals. Gembrook managed to boot another three goals in the final term, but Upwey added to theirs with another five and ended up winners at the final siren.
Upwey-Tecoma Best: J. Hackett, D. Waters, R. Van Hoorn, H. Stanley, K. Grenda, I. Krijt.
Gembrook-Cockatoo Best: D. Welsh, S. Gramc, R. Causer, L. Henzen, B. Wareham, J. Kruithof
Woori Yallock 9.7(61) d Healesville 7.8(50)
Woori Yallock has dropped Healesville from the top perch after a low scoring affair on Saturday, meaning they now share second spot on the ladder. Woori Yallock stunned Healesville in the first term keeping them scoreless but kicked 4.2 themselves and a lead of 26 points was theirs at quarter-time. Healesville bounced back in the second quarter, kicking two goals and kept Woori Yallock to just one behind, but the lead was still nine points at half-time. Woori Yallock made the most of the conditions in the third term and put on another four goals to Healesville’s one and the lead had blown out to 24 points at the last break. Healesville outscored Woori Yallock in the last, but they left their run too late and it was Woori Yallock who saluted the judge at the final siren.
Woori Yallock Best: L. Boontjes, K. Thompson, H. Smith, M. Wright, M. Baxter, S. Ismail
Healesville Best: D. Anderson, D. Plozza, C. Adams, N. Aldridge, T. Costigan, B. Murphy
Warburton-Millgrove 15.10(100) d Mount Evelyn 8.10(58)
Warburton has notched up their second win for the season, and at the expense of Mount Evelyn who are now out of the finals race. Warburton got the early lead and by kicking four goals to two in the first quarter and Mount Evelyn were left shell-shocked. They kicked away in the second term, kicking four goals to two and had a lead of 25 points at half-time. The third quarter was their best for the season when they piled on six goals to three in the third term and the lead was 42 points. The game was there to be lost for Warburton, but they stood strong and both sides only kicked one goal but Warburton celebrated at the final siren.
Warburton-Millgrove Best: T. Walker, L. Barnard, T. Marr, S. Andueza, J. Lee, B. Clinch
Mount Evelyn Best: J. Barden, S. Martin, J. Beamish, M. Brierley, M. Gibbons, D. Maunder
Olinda Ferny Creek 21.12(138) d Monbulk 7.6(48)
Olinda is only half a game out of third position, and one game off top spot after a big 90-point win over Monbulk on Saturday. The first quarter was tight and all tied up at 3.2. Olinda got their kicking boots on in the second term with a five-goal quarter while Monbulk could only manage one behind. They really impressed in the third quarter with a big eight goals-to-one quarter and the lead was 76 points. They did not let up in the last and put on another five goals to three to secure themselves in the five and finding some form with three weeks to go.
Olinda Ferny Creek Best: C. Brown, B. Cooling, J. Charge, N. Keegan, J. Rankin, N. Broomhall
Monbulk Best: A. Smith, C. Griffiths, S. Williams, D. White, P. Barge, N. Sargent
Wandin 10.13(73) d Emerald 9.10(64)
Wandin has jumped back on top of the ladder after a hard-fought win over Emerald on Saturday. Wandin held onto a slim four-point lead at quarter time. Wandin extended that lead to just 10 points at half-time and it was game on. The third quarter was tight with both sides kicking four goals, but the lead had increased to 12 points. Emerald outscored Wandin in the last, kicking 2.4 to 2.1 and wasted opportunities in front of goal which gave Wandin the win by nine points.
Wandin Best: R. Ross, M. Polkinghorne, H. Byrne, J. Del Giudice, J. Glenn, J. McInnes
Emerald Best: J. Pedder, L. Sheppard, D. Karacsonyi, J. Thomas, P. White, C. Thomsen
Division 2 Seniors Football
Belgrave 16.11(107) d Powelltown 15.15(105)
Powelltown has dropped to fifth on the ladder after a nail-biting loss by only two points to Belgrave on Saturday. Belgrave completely outplayed Powelltown in the first term, kicking a whopping 8.5 to one behind and a lead of 51 points at quarter-time. Powelltown staged a miraculous turnaround in the second quarter, with 8.4 to 2.5 and the lead was now only 16 points at the main break. They continued that form into the third term, outscoring Belgrave in a tight 30 minutes of football, kicking 3.6 to two goals and at the final change Belgrave’s lead was reduced to four points. The lead see-sawed in the last, and Powelltown had the lead on several occasions, including at the final siren. It took B. Raaymakers stepping up for Belgrave with a mark on the siren and converting after it to steal the win on a momentous occasion.
Belgrave Best: J. Brown, Y. Curtis, M. Sproules, T. Tubley, T. Marks
Powelltown Best: G. Newing, M. Pote, N. Moody, W. Dore, J. Moore
Seville 18.12(120) d Kinglake 7.9(51)
Seville has effectively put Kinglake out of the finals race with a big win on Saturday. Seville got the early jump on Kinglake, kicking 3.6 to two behinds in the first term. The second quarter was even with both sides kicking three goals, but the lead was 20 points at half-time. Seville kicked away in the third term with an eight-goal quarter, Kinglake kicked two and the lead was now 55 points and out of Kinglake’s reach. Seville kicked another 4.4 to 2.2 and has secured themselves second spot on the ladder.
Seville Best: J. Young, M. Cecere, C. Suban, D. Groen, L. Casini, K. Mullett
Kinglake Best: M. McAllister, A. Whelan, J. Butterworth, J. Crowe, M. Fitzclarence, J. Harward
Yarra Glen 15.20(110) d Yarra Junction 5.8(38)
Yarra Glen is sitting third on the ladder with a one-game break and have all but secured themselves the second chance, come finals time. Yarra Glen got the early break, kicking 4.2 to 1.3 in the first quarter. They held Yarra Junction goalless in the second term, but were wasteful in front of goal themselves, kicking 2.6 but the margin was 36 points at half-time. Six goals to three in the third quarter and the lead had blown out to 55 points at three-quarter time. Yarra Glen peppered the goals in the last, kicking 3.8 to 1.3 and came away with a solid win, but the margin could have been much more if they were tidy in front of goal.
Yarra Glen Best: R. Smith, T. Russell, R. McDermott, R. D’Argent, J. Marks, M. Gower
Yarra Junction Best: P. Cubbin, K. Ousley, D. Hewitt, H. Tindley-Roe, W. Robertson, T. Boxell
Alexandra 16.13(109) d Yea 7.6(48)
Alexandra has overtaken Powelltown and sits in fourth position after a solid performance over Yea on Saturday. They got the early lead and were never headed. The visitors started off with a 3.2 to 2.1 first quarter, and earned a seven- point lead. Alexandra kicked another three goals to one in the second term and their lead was 18 points at half time. Alexandra’s second half saw them kick 10 goals to four and at the final siren it was Alexandra’s game.
Alexandra Best: R. Norris, B. Norris, J. Goonan, B. Woollard, Z. Heaslip, J. Elkington
Yea Best: D. O’Dwyer, E. Neilson, T. Kirkham, A. McSpeerin, D. Webb, A. Chisholm
Thornton Eildon: Bye
Under 18 Football
Upwey Tecoma 9.4(58) d Gembrook Cockatoo 6.4(40)
Healesville 15.11(101) d Woori Yallock 2.6(18)
Mt Evelyn 8.24(72) d Warburton Millgrove 1.6(12)
Emerald 12.7.79 d Wandin 7.5.47
Monbulk 10.4(64) d Yarra Glen 6.3(39)
Division 1 A Grade Netball
Upwey Tecoma 70 d Gembrook Cockatoo 39
Olinda Ferny Creek 59 d Monbulk 52
Wandin 70 d Emerald 35
Warburton Millgrove 46 d Mount Evelyn 35
Division 2 A Grade Netball
Belgrave 98 d Powelltown 38
Yarra Glen 55 d Yarra Junction 33
Yea 53 d Alexandra 37
Kinglake: Bye
Thornton Eildon: Bye
