Division 3 Scribe Team of the Year

By Ren Thompson – @renthompson

A stellar couple of games were on the menu for the Semi-Finals of Division 3. A stirring come from behind win by Power House to announce their premiership candidacy. While La Trobe waited to the very last minute to break the hearts of the Swans and move onto the next round. Lets check out the games…

La Trobe University AFC def. South Melbourne Districts

In a game that went down to the final moments, La Trobe has emerged victorious and advanced to the Division 3 Preliminary finals with a 3-point victory against South Melbourne Districts, 78-75, at Westbourne School Ground. Predictions based on recent form quickly went out the window as the lately inconsistent South Melbourne produced one of their best performances of the year to take the fight right up to the red-hot La Trobe University pushing them to the brink. The renewed vigour almost worked as it took a last minute goal from Bryce Dowler to allow La Trobe to steal the win and move onto the next round. From the opening bounce La Trobe was made to work desperately scrapping and fighting for the ball, as South Melbourne took the early ascendancy dominating the opening quarter of action to take a 23-point lead into the first break. The second quarter however was a change in fortunes for the two clubs as the Trobers found something, adding four goals of their own while restricting the Swans to a lone goal reducing the deficit to only two points heading into the half-time break. After the main break the tussle continued as both teams continued to trade punches trying to gain the advantage as the game entered its second half, La Trobe wrestled away the lead during a third quarter where they were able to add three goals but the Swans failed to capitalise on the scoreboard lamenting wasted opportunities as they added only one goal from nine scoring shots, a fact that meant La Trobe held a narrow 3-point as the game headed towards its climax. In an exhilarating final term, South Melbourne were able to slow La Trobe’s ball movement and battle their way back into what they thought was an insurmountable lead of three points as the game entered its final moments but it proved too be enough time for Dowler to break the hearts of the travelling Swans fans and see La Trobe advance. Declan Ryan was influential for the Trobers wrestling their way back into the game by finding the ball, kicking a goal and leading his team back into the contest. Ryan in his man of the match performance was supported all day by Elliot Kelly who again was spectacular in season 2016, something that has been quite common as he has been the Trobers best player all year long. For the Swans Blake Parkinson was the star with two goals and Jackson Consiglio was the best for a South Melbourne Districts outfit that will look to this performance to drive them towards greater success but they will have to wait until next season.

Power House AFC def. UHS-VU AFC

Power House has joined La Trobe in the Preliminary Finals as they stormed home with nine goals in the final half in a stirring come-from-behind effort to defeat a stunned UHS-VU by 18 points, 86-68, at Garvey Oval. Both teams showed early game nerves with neither club able to take control of the game. The deadlock with finally broken as Vultures’ spearhead Mitch Sweeney slotted the first goal of the game as Nick Devereux started to command the centre of the oval. While at the other end it took a superb solo effort from Darragh Leonard to get Power House their first goal on the board as scoring was hard to come by for the House in the early going. Adding to their woes UHS-VU jumped Power House from the opening bounce of the second term as they began to dominate the game. The Vultures showed flashes of their best in a dominant second quarter using their defensive pressure to stifle Power House from benefiting from the three-goal breeze. UHS-VU used the strong team effort in the second term to hold a 16-point lead heading into the main break. Power House stamped their authority on the game after the half-time break charged with the words of encouragement from head coach Ant Voyage still ringing in their ears, the House rammed home five goals in the premiership quarter to take the lead. Their tackling pressure was too much for UHS-VU as they began to lift around the stoppages and the UHS-VU counter attacks that they used to devastating effect in the opening half began to dry up frustrated the Vultures as heightened emotions saw tempers begin to flare between the two sides. The damage had been done as Power House continued to outwork their opponents in the final period as they added another four goals to run out the 18-point winners. In another performance that continues his scintillating form James Walsh stood above every player on the ground, lifting his side to the resounding win and establishing themselves as a true Premiership contender. Power House sharpshooter Nick Nagel maintained his stellar form recording five majors for the second straight week after kicking eight majors in Round 17. Nikolai Amourgis joined Devereux and Sweeney among the best for the Vultures who tripped up at the worst possible time of the year losing their last two games of the season after winning eight straight dating back to Round 10. Although it is another example of how form can swing in the heart of the VAFA as with the win Power House now extends their winning streak to seven straights games as they have found form at the best possible time of the year and pose problems for Hawthorn.   

Preliminary Finals Preview

The field is reduced to four with two blockbusters as Preliminary finals to decide who will face-off on the last Saturday of the season. Power House take their red-hot form into a match up with the ferocious scoring Hawthorn, hoping to slow down the highest scoring team in the entire VAFA. Over the past seven games Power House has held teams to an average score of 66 points an impressive feat but this defensive pressure will face its biggest test against the Hawks whom averaged 141 points a game, a test that might be too much to overcome. Meanwhile in our other final, the Trobers will look to take the fight right up to the Saints. Back in Round 4 in their only match-up of the year, the final 30-point margin didn’t reflect Glen Eira’s dominance on the day however the Trobers are playing their best footy of the year, scoring freely and with stifling defensive pressure and might have enough for the upset. We shall wait and see.       

TIPS

Hawthorn AFC vs Power House AFC

Glen Eira AFC vs La Trobe University AFC

Division 3 Team of the Year