Power House inflict Vultures with first loss for the year

When UHS-VU won by 173 points against South Melbourne Districts last week, many people might have thought that the Vultures would go through 2017 undefeated premiers. However, they would be facing their biggest challenge against second-placed Power House. Since the last time these two sides met, neither has dropped a game. Going into the match UHS-VU would have been favourites and they kicked five goals in the opening term to hold a 10 point advantage at the first change of ends. The usual suspects in Connor McCutcheon and Nicholas Ingleton were doing the damage for UHS whilst Kynan Barnes found form with a three goal best on ground performance. The Vultures lead ballooned out to 29 points at half time but the House reigned that back in through the good work of Nicholas Nagel (4 goals) and a best on ground performance from Heath Miller. In a frantic final quarter, the House ran over the top of the Vultures and were eventual winners by seven points, in doing so recording one of the biggest wins in the Division 3 season.

La Trobe and Canterbury both foster hopes of playing finals in 2017 and with everything to play for they had one of the games of the season. Canterbury would have been keen to make amends for their shellacking at the hands of Swinburne last week while the Trobers would have been keen to kick on after their big win over Albert Park. Canterbury led by 17 points at the half time and by three quarter time Canterbury’s advantage had crept out to 39 points. At this rate, it look as though the Cobras were ready to steam roll the the Trobers in the last quarter, but that wasn’t the case. In the final term, the Trobers came out hard. Ryan McMinn (4 goals) and Bryce Dowler lead the resistance as they clawed their way back into the game. Unfortunately, time won out and the eventual margin of three points is as close as the Trobers would get.

Poink Cook put breathing space between themselves and the Division 3 relegation zone with a win over bottom placed South Melbourne Districts. When the scoreboard read 43-2 in favour of Point Cook, many in the South Melbourne camp would have feared another big loss coming off the back of a 173-point thumping at the hands of the UHS-VU last week. South Melbourne wrestled their way back into the game through Jordan Heis (2 goals) and Andrew Minichello who was impressive around the ground around the ground. Point Cook’s lead was 30 points at the final change of ends and Point Cook eventually ran out 39-point winners. For the Bulldogs, Tristan Furr and James Borg were dangerous in front of goal with four and three goals, respectively, while Mason Kip was also impressive around the ground. The prospect of the a winless season for the Districts is looking more and more likely when they face third placed Swinburne next week.

Swinburne University are playing good football at the right time in the season demonstrated by 26-point win over highly rated Westbourne Grammarians. The win is the Razorback’s third on the trot and propelled them into third position on the ladder, just above Westbourne. Swinburne threatened to run away with the game having nine scoring shots and leading by 23 points at quarter time but in a amazing turn of events Westbourne piled on seven goals to lead by 14 points at half time. Then as the momentum shifted back to Swinburne, the Warriors were restricted to just one point in the third quarter as David Thwaites and Ben Higgins (5 goals) started to take control of the game for the Razorbacks. In the end, Swinburne were too strong running out 26-point winners and leapfrogging their opponents into third position on the Division 3 ladder. For Westbourne, Adam Imber was his side’s most impressive player while Benjamin Johnson (3) and Dale Collins (2) to do most of the damage in front of goal.

After remaining winless for the best part of the two years, Richmond Central has been somewhat of the surprise package in Division 3 this year whilst Albert Park will be beginning to worry about 2018 in Division 4 if they can’t claim some scalps in the final three games. The writing was on the wall early for Albert Park as the Snakes lead grew from 23 points at quarter time to 60 points at the main break. Jake Munro has been threatening to kick a huge bag all season, and unfortunately for Albert Park, he turned it on, booting 11 goals in a best on ground performance. William Harcourt and Jarred Goldsack were also impressive for Centrals but Jake Munro undoubtedly took centre stage taking his goal tally to 69. Try as they might, Albert Park couldn’t restrict Centrals and Munro as the eventual margin ballooned to 102 points. For the Falcons, their only multiple goal kicker was Jack Amies with two goals whilst Jack Welsh was named their best player.