Sheridan Harris

Parkside held onto the narrow lead it had at every break to beat North Brunswick by 8 points at Pitcher Park. Some wayward kicking by the Bulls had them down by 9 after kicking six behinds in the first quarter, with the home side then having their own problems in front of goal to be in front by just 11. The arm-wrestle continued as the Red Devils were challenged but ultimately left the field winners. Patrick Notaro (5) had a day out in front of goals for North Brunswick, as Nicholas Trewhella took top honours. With Parkside still without Simon Mackie, the majors were scored by Lewis Balcombe (2), Shane Doherty (2), Jack Hamilton (2), and Peadar Hanley (2), to name a few, while Matthew Holden (1) was named their best.

Ten individual goalkickers for Emmaus St Leo’s helped them comprehensively beat Westbourne Grammarians. In wet and windy conditions at Westbourne Grammar, the Animals took a 24-point buffer into the quarter-time break, which they extended out to 31 by halftime. Defensively, Emmaus St Leo’s stood up very well in the second half, limiting the Warriors to just two behinds, while they piled on nine goals to take home the win by 91 points. Nathan Bird (3) starred for the Animals, while Harry Davis (2), Michael Davis (2), and Sam Barrah (2) all rode shotgun, with the latter taking top honours for his efforts. Benjamin Johnson (1) and Kelsey Rameka (1) were amongst Westbourne’s best as Paul Hudson topped the list.

A fourth-quarter fightback from Canterbury made what could have been a massive score line differential relatively respectful as they went down to Hawthorn at Box Hill City Oval in the Hawks’ annual Wings Match for mental health. The ladder-leaders took a 32-point lead into the main break, but came out firing in the third term to all but seal the deal, kicking seven majors to the Cobras’ two to be 67 points ahead going into the final quarter. Six goals to the away side then meant that both sides were still fighting to the end, but ultimately the Hawks left the field 52-point winners. After kicking Canterbury’s first three goals, Martin Astbury finished with five, while Arun Panjwani (4) did his best to keep his side in it and Evan Lowden was named best-on. For the winners, William Meehan (4), Will Ryan (3), Harry Rand (3), and Lachlan Chapman (2) were four of the eleven individual goalkickers as Thomas McKay (1) took top honours.

A fast-starting Richmond Central all but secured their win against Albert Park by the first break at Bill Woodfull Oval on Saturday. Seven goals to zero in the opening quarter saw the Snakes up by 47 points at the start of the second term, where they piled on another six, going into halftime in front by 86. The Falcons then stemmed the bleeding slightly, slotting their three goals in the second half but overall, it was a Richmond Central affair as they ran out 126-point winners. Billy Browning-Briese (4) was the Snakes’ best player, while Dane Roy (3), Thomas Rivers (3) and Jack Bilson (3) all played a guest-starring role, with Bilson now topping the divisional goalkicking tally. For Albert Park, Tyson Cattle (1) took top honours in his 100^th game as Justin Mahoney (1) and Thomas Cattle (1) rounded out the goalkickers list.

Emmaus St Leo’s will look to continue their good form when they travel for the second weekend in a row, this time to Allard Park where they will face a North Brunswick side hoping to get back on the winner’s list. A narrow loss to a top-2 side will have the Bulls hungry for redemption, while the Animals head into this game fresh off a good win away from home and intent on solidifying their top 4 spot. Albert Park’s search for their first win of the season continues at Canterbury Sportsground, with their next opponent in Canterbury also looking for a win after going down in round 11.

Richmond Central will welcome the Westbourne Grammarians to Kevin Bartlett Reserve after a percentage-boosting win, while the Warriors will be licking their wounds after going down at home. The Snakes sit at fourth on the ladder, but with the top four teams likely settled at this stage of the season, percentage is everything. It’s a battle of 1 v 2 on the ladder this weekend as Hawthorn travel to Pitcher Park to face Parkside. The Red Devils’ narrow win against North Brunswick didn’t do very much for their percentage, but the Hawks’ round 11 win saw them strengthen their hold on top of the ladder as they’re now one game clear.