Animals snap five-game streak, Raiders slot into fifth

Emmaus St Leo’s snapped a five-game losing streak when they defeated Glen Eira by 15 points at Bennettswood Sports Ground. Trailing by five points at three quarter time, the Animals nailed five goals to two in the final term and put a one-game buffer between themselves and Bulleen Templestowe in ninth. Brent Simons was best afield for the Animals while Thomas Birkett and superstar Paul Baranello kicked three goals each. Vaughn Colyer continued his outstanding form for the Gryphons who sit one game above the Animals in seventh but on the same number of wins.

Old Paradians leaped into fifth spot on the Division 2 ladder after they proved too strong for Bulleen Templestowe via a 24-point win at Garvey Oval. The Raiders trailed by 14 points at the main break but kicked five goals in the second half while keeping the Bullants to one behind. Christian White dominated for the Raiders and was named BOG, while Brodie McLaughlin will take some beating in the Bullants’ best and fairest count with another standout display.

MHSOB secured their second consecutive win and inflicted Yarra Old Grammarians with their second loss in a row, defeating the Bushrangers by 41 points at Melbourne High School Oval. The Unicorns fell to a nine-point deficit at the first break but hit back with 10 of the last 12 goals of the game. Mitchell Wilson was dominant for the third successive game, while Steve Villani and Nicholas Hawking kicked two goals each. Daniel Perry top-scored for the Bushrangers with two goals but they now fall three games behind West Brunswick in second.

44 scoring shots to 16 helped West Brunswick to a comprehensive 83-point victory over Hawthorn AFC at Ransford Oval. The Westies trailed by three points at quarter time but exploded with 10 goals to one in the second term and refused to allow the 10^th-placed Hawks back into the match. Christopher Germon was the main recipient in front of goal for the Westies with five, while Matt Holmes was outstanding in his 100^th senior match for the club and named best afield. Justin Raiti kicked three goals and Philip Avery led from the front for the Hawks as they continue to search for their first win of 2017.

Prahran Assumption made light work of Eltham Collegians in their Round 13 clash as they ran out 74-point winners at Toorak Park. The Two Blues kicked 13 goals in the first three quarter and kept the Turtles to just one, before they came out of their shells with three goals to two in the fourth. Tom Freeman led a star-studded Two Blues outfit as the best player on the ground, with former Essendon-listed player Ariel Steinberg debuting alongside the senior return of Eric Kuret. Brent Gutterson kicked three of the Turtles four goals and they now fall to sixth and one game outside the top four.