Separation at each end of the Div 2 table

Jarryd McGuane – @JMcGuane

Round 6 of Division 2 has started to see separation at each end of the ladder, with West Brunswick and Prahran Assumption comfortable at the top and MHSOB and Hawthorn stuck in the bottom two.

In what turned out to be game of the round, West Brunswick came out on top against Yarra Old Grammarians by five points at Doncaster Reserve despite never leading at any break. Yarra Old Grammarians opened up a nine-point quarter time lead through four goals, as West Brunswick struggled with early inaccuracy. Four goals to three in the second quarter saw the Bushrangers’ lead pushed out to 18 points at the major break. After half time, the Westies were able to tighten up defensively and reduce the margin to 11 points at three quarter time. In the last quarter, it would be Yarra Old Grammarians who would fail to take their opportunities as their 2.5 kept the Westies in the game, allowing them to overcome the three quarter time deficit kicking 5.3. Alexander Schipp was West Brunswick’s best player as Rhys Hartwig slotted home five majors. Simon Yeo was everywhere for the Bushrangers and his four goals along with four from Nicholas Chamberlain did the most damage up forward.

Prahran Assumption has continued to maintain their position as West Brunswick’s nearest threat with their 106-point thumping of Hawthorn at Toorak Park. Hawthorn were able to stand within touching distance in the first half as they would only trail by 30 points at halftime. The Two Blues allowed two goals from the Hawks but slammed on seven on their own to blow the lead out to 65 points at three quarter time. Prahran Assumption would cruise home with another seven goals unanswered in the last term. James Musster was best on the ground for the Two Blues, with Jonathon Simonetta the major goal kicker with five. Kade Pargeter and Thomas Bowler both kicked two each for the Hawks.

Old Paradians have moved out of the bottom two of the ladder, as they defeated Eltham Collegians by 15 points at Garvey Oval. Neither side managed a goal in the first quarter, before both sides would be tied at half time with 2.11 from Old Paradians pointing to wasting of their opportunities. The game would be decided in the third quarter as the Raiders put on five goals to one goal for the Turtles to have the lead out to 24 points at final break. Eltham Collegians won the last quarter but never really threatened Old Paradians. Danny Nolan kicked four goals in his first outing of the season for Old Paradians, while Panashe Masawi put in a man of the match performance. Tim Woods was Eltham Collegians best and leading goal kicker with two.

Glen Eira jumped into the top four as they defeated Emmaus St Leos by 15 points at Packer Reserve. Emmaus St Leos was well in the game in the first half but were inaccurate with 4.10 by halftime as they trailed Glen Eira by eight points who managed to kick seven goals straight. Both sides kicked five goals in the third as the 10-point margin in the Gryphons favour had the game in the balance. The Animals put four goals on the board in the last but allowed Glen Eira to kick five to seal the victory. Ashley Carey proved to be influential for the Gryphons, helping to set up Alex Erwin-Ross and Ilya Fridman to kick four goals each. Paul Baranello did his best to get the Animals over the line, adding four goals to his 2017 tally.

Bulleen Templestowe have moved just a game outside of the four and consigned MHSOB to the bottom two with a 31-point victory at Melbourne High School. The Unicorns started slowly as they gave up five goals while being held to two behinds to trail the Bullants by 30 points at quarter time. The second quarter was a stalemate as both sides managed four goals with the half time lead slightly extended to 32 points. Bulleen Templestowe would put the game out of reach of the Unicorns in the third quarter with five goals to two to hold a comfortable 48-point buffer at the final change. MHSOB would win the final quarter, but it was too little too late as the Bullants coasted to victory. Scott Dekeizer continued his fine form with a best on ground performance for Bulleen Templestowe; As Andrew Verga’s three goals led the way up forward. William Hellier played his heart out for MHSOB, kicking four goals.

Round 7 has Hawthorn still chasing their first win of the year as they travel to Bennettswood to face Emmaus St Leo’s. Eltham College plays host to the matchup between the 2-4 Eltham Collegians and 1-5 MHSOB as they both try to push away from the relegation zone. Third placed, Yarra Old Grammarians, travels to Packer Reserve to face fourth placed, Glen Eira. We finally get a top of the table clash with West Brunswick returning home to Ransford Oval to host second placed Prahran Assumption. Old Paradians, following their second win of the year, head to Ted Ajani Reserve to face Bulleen Templestowe who are trying to remain in touch of the top four.