Division 3: The Race For Sixth

By Gavin Southern – @gavsouthern

After a week off for the rep games, we saw some movement in the ladder from the previous round. Albert Park stunned the Vultures to mathematically keep their finals aspirations alive. Power House gave the Hawks a scare and the Magpies were more efficient. Aquinas was out for blood and the Animal train keeps rolling along. To the games:

AQUINAS DEF. ELEY PARK

Looking at a score line of 16-20 to 1-9, you would automatically think of a dominant outing for the Bloods. But tough conditions and the very undermanned Sharks did expose some Aquinas holes in the 3rd quarter. Aquinas, shooting a horrid 0-12 for the term was certainly the worst for any side in the VAFA this year. Unfortunately, the Sharks were unable to capitalise on this, by not scoring their first (and only) goal until mid way through the 4th. Lachlan Barnes, Leigh Toomey and Mick Jess (4 goals) were the stars with tremendous support all through the ground. David Viola and Josh Beasley were best for Sharks.

UHS-VU DEF. BY ALBERT PARK

Albert Park traveled down to the Zoo for their “must win” game against the Vultures. If there was ever a time to play UHS-VU, it was this week as the Vultures had 2 of their top 4 goal-kickers missing as well as Churkovich. After a tough 1st quarter, the Falcons from then on made the most of their opportunities and kicked the straightest of all Divison 3 sides for the day, booting 14-5. Ashley McNaughton (4 goals) extended his team goal-kicking lead to 7 and Nick Thurley was the surprise packet, earning BOG honours and a senior career high 3 goals. Ethan Clarke and Joel Moden were the Falcons best.

LA TROBE UNI DEF. BY WEST BRUNSWICK

La Trobe faced the tough task of facing the second placed West Brunswick at the University. The visitors got off to a quick start with Xavier Fowler and Joel Beer providing some good run from the back half. La Trobe fought back and won the 2nd quarter to be within 3 goals at the main break. The second half was a tough contest with both teams attacking the ball and tackling hard. Unfortunately for La Trobe, West Brunswick took control of the game with their superior ball skills and converted their chances when they came. A good 3rd quarter burst came from Dylan Muscat, kicking all of his three for the day in the period to put the game to bed. The lead was maintained in the last with both sides scoring 2-2. Ryan McMinn, my man Sam Woollard and Grant Dowler were prolific. Sam Condon kicked two goals in his first senior game for the year for La Trobe. Christian Borovac was BOG.

GLEN EIRA DEF. BY EMMAUS ST. LEO’S

A beautiful sunny day at Packer Reserve, suited the Animals tall forwards with Ryan Harding (8 goals) and Chris Beluszar (5), kicking 13 between them. Glen Eira were a skeleton side of their former selves, missing stars in Entwistle, Bradley and Nathan Dennis but, fought the game out holding the rampant Animals to 2 goals in the last quarter. The Animals move to 13-0 with another convincing win. Best for the Animals were flankers Will Hillman and Alex McDougal. Best for Glen Eira was Luke Barda and Julius Waras Carstensen.

POWER HOUSE DEF. BY HAWTHORN

A fantastic game of wet weather footy was played at Ross Gregory Oval despite the rain pausing for the entirety of the contest. The Hawks knew it was going to be a tight slog against their traditional rivals in Power House irrespective of what the ladder suggests. Dave “Uptown Funk” Upton was thriving in the wet and sloppy conditions, as was David “Crowd Favourite” Pritchard. In a scrappy first half, Jess “Kerry-Anne” Kenneally dominated across half forward, taking grabs like it was a dry day. “The Cougar” was kicking goals from half back, causing plenty of problems for the House forwards who seemed to be always finding space. Controversy saw a last second goal counted to end the 1st half and a 10-point Power House lead. Hawks reduced the lead to 4 and in the last quarter, Dave “Sting” Kennedy started edging out David Burnside in the ruck and was well supported by Paul “The Golden Fry Pan” Nunan, whose 3 huge torpedoes out of the back half set up 3 goals in a 5 minute burst which sealed the game. Luke Stubbs was again brilliant with 5 goals and Brian Kyne was best for Power House.

PREVIEW

With 5 rounds to play and just the 4 games this week due to balancing the byes, I don’t see any ladder changes except for our match of the round. To the games for this week:

Aquinas (3rd) travel out to La Trobe Uni (10th). If La Trobe can maintain a consistent level, this will increase their percentage and stay off the bottom however I think Aquinas comfortably here.

The Albert Park (8th) vs Glen Eira (7th) is my clear match of the round. Will Glen Eira still be missing guns? Albert Park got it done last week and I’ll stick with them at home.

A fresh West Brunswick (2nd) hosts a vulnerable UHS-VU who dropped to 5th. The Vultures need to get something out of this game. It won’t be a victory and their two game lead over 6th will most likely drop to one for their run home.

Eley Park (11th) travel to Swinburne Uni (6th). Clearly, a must win game for both sides with different reasons. The Sharks have too many injuries. Swinny.

Amazing to think that only NOW do the Animals get their first bye for the year this week when their are 5 sides that have had 2. A well earned break then onto last placed La Trobe. Power House (9th) and Hawthorn (4th) also have byes and will prepare for Aquinas, UHS-VU respectively.

Tips

La Trobe v Aquinas

Albert Park v Glen Eira

West Brunswick v Uhs-Vu

Swinburne Uni v Eley Park

Emmaus St Leos, Power House and Hawthorn – BYE