Round Nine Wrap
Newstead v Natte Bealiba
Although Newstead tried it’s hardest, it couldn’t escape the wrath of Natte Bealiba on Saturday.
The Kangaroos knew the game had the potential to blow out to a big loss given how goal-hungry the Swans have been in recent rounds but fought hard to keep the loss in double figures.
The opener saw Natte take the lead by 20 points, outscoring the home side 4.4 (28) to 1.2 (8).
The Swans kicked another four goals in the second, but luckily for the Roos also put through six behinds with Stead kicking 2.1 (13) to see the sides separated by 37 points at the main break.
The Roos had a chance to get some points back in the third but scored 1.2 (8) to 2.2 (14) from Natte in a hard-fought period.
The closer was higher scoring, with Newstead kicking three goals straight and Natte adding 3.3 (21) to its side of the board by the final siren.
The 52-point loss for Newstead with a final score of 7.5 (47) to 14.15 (99) won’t leave the Roos shattered with Natte leading the pack.
Harrison Harbrow, Kieran Sait, Angus Adams, Aidan McConachy, Jedd Pedretti and Dale Bott were named in the best for the Roos, with Sam Reece the only multiple goal scorer with two.
For Natte, Will Holt was best on followed by Emmet Smith, Jacob Long, Jordi Cossar, Darcy Thompson and Josh Grant.
Holt kicked five goals in the win while league leader Danny Brewster kicked four.
Bpth teams will look forward to the league bye this weekend, with Newstead playing Campbells Creek on return and Natte up against Maldon.
Trentham v Harcourt
The most anticipated game of senior football was finally played on Saturday with last year’s undefeated rivals, Trentham and Harcourt, finally settling the score in an absolute thriller.
Both competitors were undefeated when the 2021 season was called off due to multiple COVID interruptions, with the Lions taking the title of minor premier due to percentage and the Saints coming runner-up.
These two were scheduled to meet one another on multiple occasions, but restrictions cancelled the game every single time meaning the competition had no real answer as to who the best squad was last year.
This added to the theatrics of round nine, with Harcourt heading in off the back of its second loss of the season and the Saints still undefeated with an 18-game winning streak stretching back to round one of 2021.
Meeting at Trentham, the Saints were slightly favoured heading in, however Harcourt was determined and led at the end of both the first and second quarter.
The Lions kicked 2.1 (13) to 1.3 (9) from Trentham to open and while the Saints got their accuracy under control in the second, kicking 3.1 (19), Harcourt was dominant with 3.3 (21) to lead 5.4 (34) to 4.4 (28) at half time.
This deficit was what the Saints needed to turn the game around, winning the third quarter with three straight goals and keeping Harcourt to a mere three behinds to lead by nine points ahead of the final term.
After losing the game in the fourth the week before to Carisbrook, the Lions dug deep in a show-stopping closer with neither team going down without a fight.
The Saints managed to get two major scores for the term, but the game belonged to the dogged Lions who kicked 4.2 (26) to sit ahead by just four points when the game reached its conclusion.
This result has uplifted the Lions who likely thought the premiership dream was a bit out of reach this year and has crushed the Saints who for the first time since 2019 have lost a game.
Frost brothers Bryce and Brayden led the way for the winners, with Tom Walters, stalwart Paul Chaplin, Darby Semmens and Kayne Davidson all claiming votes for Harcourt.
Joel Cowan, Ryan Bourke, Mark Strickland, Joel Dovaston, Dylan Holden and Zach Gervasoni fought until the bitter end for the Saints.
Trentham still sits on top of the ladder ahead of the bye while Harcourt is ranked fourth.
Talbot v Maryborough Rovers
Talbot didn’t waste the opportunity to secure one of its biggest wins of the season, thumping Maryborough Rovers by 158 points on Saturday.
The Magpies are used to big tasks by now and Saturday was no exception with Talbot dominating play from the outset and throughout.
The Hawks kicked 5.1 (31) to 1.1 (7) to open and stacked on by half time with a further 7.3 (45) to two behinds by half time.
The third quarter was the killer for the Magpies, with Talbot kicking 9.1 (55) and the visitors fumbling two scoring opportunities for another two behinds.
The Hawks kept up the pressure in the closer, kicking 6.4 (40) to another two behinds from Rovers to run out 27.9 (171) to 1.7 (13) victors.
Rovers did well to get itself in the opportunity to score eight times in a triple-figure loss, however, will be kicking itself that single goal scorer Kaylab Eggers was the only one able to close the deal.
Reece Perry was by far best on for the Magpies, followed by Christian Whelan-Clarke, Andrew Siekai, Liam Radlof, Alex Mahony and Marshall Murray.
Jayson Atkins dominated for the Hawks, with Sam Hitchings, Todd Lawrie, Trent Severino, Tom Addison and an unnamed played who kicked four goals all receiving votes.
Matt Bond didn’t get on the votes list but added six goals off his own boot.
Talbot will face Harcourt on return after the bye while Rovers hosts Navarre at home.
Royal Park v Creek
Royal Park’s 63-point win over Campbells Creek wasn’t the thumping they had hoped for but a win, nevertheless.
Creek won the first quarter by kicking 2.1 (13) while the Tigers shanked six shots on goal.
Park played catch up in the second, slotting 3.1 (19) while the Pies added another 2.1 (13) to lead by a single point into the main break.
The Tigers likely got told what for ahead of the second half and it showed with the side putting up 5.4 (34) and kept Creek to a single behind on return to the field.
Park sealed the deal with a 5.1 (31) to nil closing quarter to win the game 13.12 (90) to 4.3 (27).
Matt Davies was best on for the Tigers on Saturday, followed by Rhys Wagstaff, Mikey Epworth, Rhys Egan, Luke Relouw and Luke Dunne — Mark Asmore and Karson Guareschi kicked three snags each.
For Creek, Tyson Howie, Luke Manning, Mitch Stevens, Kris Bagley, Dylan Stevens and Tyson Williams were the best on, with Dylan Stevens kicking two of the side’s four goals.
Creek will hope to bring this amount of calm to round 10 against Newstead while Park will have to bring its best against a plucky Dunolly.
Maldon v Avoca
It was a very one-sided game at Maldon on Saturday when the Bombers defeated Avoca by 143 points. 24.16.(160) to 2.5.(17)
Excuses can be made for the poor showing by the Bulldogs when they had a covid outbreak at the club which hit up to 30 of the club’s senior playing list who were unavailable for selection.
The Senior team saw a lot of reserve grade players move into the senior grade, and the Bulldogs Reserves team was made up of 14 players with the help of Under 17.5 players in what was a tough day for the Bulldogs.
Needless to say, Maldon dominated the senior game from start to finish, although the Bulldogs did manage to restrict the Bombers to just three goals in the second term.
Rhys Ford was just too quick for his opponents up forward and continually marked on the lead and kicked truly nine times.
Maldon’s Julian Lockwood had a good battle with Simon Elliott in the ruck, but the Bombers won most of the ball out of the middle and it was quick entry forward where Ford and others such as Bryce Coffey, Hayden Kelly and Matt Gray were able to capitalise in front of goal.
The Bulldogs had inexperienced players up forward, so whenever the ball did enter the scoring zone it was quickly sent back the other way.
Maldon’s best players were Adam Robinson, Hayden Kelly, Kyle Winstanley, Bryce Coffey, Rhys Ford, and Julian Lockwood.
Avoca’s better players were, Joel Antonio, Bryce Antonio, Cameron Antonio, Simon Elliott, Brett Monk, and Jarrod Loader.
Carisbrook v Lexton
Lexton went to Carisbrook full of confidence after a great win over Maldon the week before but were given a football lesson by the Redbacks to the tune of 180 points. 30.18.(198) to 2.6.(18)
The Tigers failed to score in the opening quarter while Carisbrook had 15 shots on goal resulting in six goals and nine behinds.
The remainder of the game was consistent with the first term as Carisbrook ran rampant and finished with a ten-goal final quarter.
The Redbacks have numerous avenues to goal with thirteen goal kickers and were led by Anthony Zelencich with seven goals and Harley Hunter also showed goal kicking ability with five goals for the game.
Bailey Edwards was again amongst the Redbacks best players and showed that he will be a big asset to the premiership aspirations.
Others to play well for the home team were, Ash Munari, Harley Hunter, Tony Zelencich, Lachlan Edwards, and Jackson Bowen.
The Tigers tried hard all day, but were no match for there opponents, but Josh Sargent, Tom Cullinan, Jimmy Templeton, Adrian Verhoeven and Jeff Debast gave their all for the entire game.
Pat McGuigan and Jimmy Templeton were the only goal scorers for the visitors in a tough day at the office
Navarre v Dunolly
Navarre brought the Dunolly Eagles back to earth with a seventy-nine-point victory at Navarre on Saturday. 19.18.(132) to 8.5.(53)
Cody Driscoll was on song kicking nine goals for the Grasshoppers and proved to be a real handful for the Eagles defenders.
Navarre won the game with a superior first half when they led by sixty points at half time.
The Eagles never say die attitude kicked in in the second half when they kicked five goals to seven for the second half and were a far more competitive unit. Although Navarre were off target a bit in the second half, also kicking eleven behinds.
Better players for the home team were Cody Driscoll, Josh Fowkes, Lachlan Slorach, Billy Driscoll, and Riley Bibby.
Dunolly’s better players were Joel Fisher, Bailey & Mitch Goodwin, Ben McKinley, and Luke Crowley with 2 goals apiece too Fisher and Mitch Goodwin.
