DIVISIONS ON SHOW

Andrew Leonard

Around Melbourne there was an air of expectation today and for those of us who love amateur football our attention was turned to matches from Division One to Four. With no Premier football on it was up to the 42 other clubs to show us that their football is what it is all about on a Saturday afternoon. 
We certainly got some quality football from the sides looking to go deep in September, none more so than in Division 1. 
Old Geelong hosted Glen Eira at Como Park looking to cement finals action. Frank Dunell will have double cause for celebration this weekend. His side won comfortably with a whopping margin of 98 points gaining percentage in the process and tonight his son Sam (former Old Melburnians player) makes his AFL debut for St Kilda.  Waters and Wood both booted seven majors each. 
Williamstown CYMS faced top side NOBs / St Pats and the visitors struggled to challenge a side in top form, the CYs went down by 84 points. 
Ormond are not 100% safe from relegation yet, but a big win by 55points at St Johns goes some way to ensuring Division One football in 2013. 
Whitefriars will still have aspirations of a double chance after today’s win at home to Old Mentonians by 71 ponts. Unfortunately for the Panthers the loss puts them 6 points adrift of fourth spot. 
Last week Peninsula had a rare loss to NOBs / St Pats and were out to avoid a brace of defeats and open the door for others chasing a double chance.  MHSOBs would have fancied their chances today, however the Pirates had other ideas, piling on the goals, raising the bat reaching 200 in a 182 point win and leave MHSOBs two games outside the four.  
In Division 2, the match of the round saw second placed Eltham hosting third placed Prahran Assumption. The Turtles now have a two game cushion thanks to their 51 point win. Ciavola kicked 6 in the triumph. 
St Mary’s Salesian just needed to win at likely relegation side La Trobe University. Fortunately they were able to accomplish their mission at home but only just, eventual winners by 22 points. 
At Garvey Oval Old Paradians also ticked the box they needed to with another win, this time by 31 points over Emmaus St Leos to keep them in fourth tonight. 
South Melbourne Districts struggled against mid table Therry Penol, failing to kcik a goal until the final quarter. In the end the margin was an ugly 96 points in favour of Therry, Crotty an Costello with four each.  
Bulleen Templestowe look the team to beat in this section and today they continued to stamp their authority on the competition. Dismissing a Monash Gryphons side who are just outside the finals by 35 points. The Gryphons loss leaves them two wins outside finals action with six rounds to go. 
Division 3 was highlight with another important game of second versus third. UHS-VU were paid a visit by second placed Ivanhoe and with only 2% separating these two side this was a hugely significant contest. Neither side had met before today, and it was Ivanhoe who stole a march on their nearest rivals for second spot. Ash Close kicked another five to help the visitors to a 63-point win. 
Hawthorn have found form winning back to back games. This week it was St Francis Xavier licking their wounds after a Hawks five goal win
Aquinas went to Richmond Central with both sides just percentage outside the five. Home ground advantage wasn’t enough for Richmond in this one with Aquinas keeping up the pressure for a spot in the five winning by 11 points. 
Elsternwick hosted Power House and a home win almost assures them of safety this year. The Wicks will probably need one more to be certain but a 78 point win today will be satisfying tonight. 
Top versus 11^th was never going to be match of the day and Yarra Valley did what was required to dismiss Old Westboune by over 20 goals, 149 to 28. 
Albert Park pulled off an upset defeating Kew at home by 17 points today. The loss means Kew are back to the pack in the fight for finals places – although their draw earlier means percentage is not relevant. 
Division 4 had one against four in its match of the day and there is no stopping South Mornington this season. They have now won 12 on the trot defeating Point Cook by seven goals, that’s only eight more wins to obtain a perfect season. 
Eley Park Sharks hosted Mt Lilydale and the Sharks win wasn’t quite a feast, but a four goal win nevertheless was good enough for the home team. 
West Brunswick were paid a visit from Box Hill North and home side did everything right in their triumph by 80 points. 
Swinburne Uni struggled against mid table North Brunswick conceding more scoring shots but were more accurate in their three goal win to stay outright second tonight. 
Chadstone hosted Manningham Cobras at Jordan reserve and the magic win still eluded them with the Cobras triumphant by 32 points. Goalless in quarters two and three costing the hosts a potentially famous result. .