ROUND 9 DIVISION 1-4 – STEP BACK THINK

Plenty of clubs donned the orange laces of for the STEP BACK THINK Lace Up campaign and some might be retaining the laces for the rest of the season after a few thrilling results in the Divisions. 
In Division 1, Prahran Assumption defeating Bulleen Templestowe by five points at the Bullants patch was the first of these. Christoforo kicked five goals for the Two Blues in the win. 
Whitefriars failed to break the 100 point margin as others have done against Glen Eira this year, nevertheless the Friars still saluted by 87 points against the Saints. 
Hampton Rovers remain undefeated through the first nine after they comprehensively beat Old Geelong. The Ogs formline in the opening half of the year is impossible to read, but they will need to improve significantly in the second half of the year if they are to get close than the 78 points they fell to the Rover by today. 
MHSOB are another side that will also need to turn their fortunes around in the second half of the year after they make the turn 2-7. The Unicorns lost to Williamstown CYMS by 49 points today. 
Ormond continued their surge up the ladder winning away at Old Mentonians by 14 points. The Monders home match against rivals Hampton Rovers just one of many fixtures to look forward to as we enter the return bouts of 2013. 
Monash Gryphons held off a fast finishing Emmaus St Leos by 3 points to deny the Animals a maiden win of 2013. Had the Animals been more accurate their final term 4.6 could have been changed into something that would have made a close loss and mighty win, alas it wasn’t to be. 
In another contest decided by less than a kick Old Paradians collected an important win defeating St John’s at home by 5 points. Billizia’s five majors the main contribution to a Paradians win that lifts them out of the relegation places. 
South Melbourne Districts are the team Old Paradians have swapped places with after the Bloods were overrun by Ivanhoe by 3 points. South Melbourne led at every change but never put Ivanhoe out of the contest and the Magpies slotted four goals to one in the final term to secure the win.
Who else but Jarrod (5) and Corey (4) Bannister leading the way for Therry Penola in the Lions comprehensive 43 point win over Yarra Valley. 
In the final game of the section, St Mary’s Salesian continue to put the cat amongst the pigeons or should that be Turtles as the Saints won by a comfortable 31 points over Old Eltham Collegians. 
Division 3 also had some close contests although not quite the one kick results of Division 2. Albert Park adjusted best to the wide open spaces of Sportscover Arena, winning at their temporary ‘home’ ground. The Falcons accounted for Aquinas by 17 points. 
Next door on Elsternwick Oval 2, Elsternwick’s Aaron Thornton kicked another bag (this time 7 goals) to help the Wicks’ defeat Power House by 83 points. 
Kew travelled out to La Trobe University and left with four points in the bag. The section’s top side defeated the students by 34 points. 
UHS-VU (O’Halloran – 5 goals) were too strong for Swinburne Uni on the Razorbacks home pen. The 45 point margin established with a seven goal to one third term. 
In Division 4 Eley Park Sharks joined Hampton Rovers (Division 1) as the only other senior side to make it through the first nine rounds unscathed. The Sharks beat Box Hill North by 77 points. 
Hawthorn beat up on Chadstone to the tune of 121 points. The plaudits will have to be shared between White (6 goals), Tremewen (6) and Robertson (5) were all outstanding but they had plenty of mates. 
The Dragons returned to a winning formula with a 10 point win at Manningham Cobras. 
The upset of the round was at Mt Lilydale, Point Cook are used to long road trips but this is one of the extreme ones and they came a cropper against the Old Boys. Hampton’s five goals helped his side record a 29 point win over the visiting Bulldogs, who had one of their own (Munn) also get a Michelle. 
The West of Brunswick are better than the North of Brunswick at football. At least that will be the bragging rights until these sides next meet. It was only a five point margin but West Brunswick will be happy with the four points tonight, as the Magpies are a game clear in third spot.