Monash wipe Blues away with first win, Blacks fall to Snow Dogs

Monash Blues put six weeks of disappointment behind them as they secured their first win of 2018, defeating Old Haileybury by 21 points at Frearson Oval. With an average losing margin of 96 points over the first six rounds, the Blues were outstanding as they piled on nine goals to five in the opening half and followed it up with another seven to six in the second. Nick Woodland fired in front of goal with a bag of five for the Blues, while teammates Jake Meade and Matt Beckmans were their two best players. Ben White impressed for the Bloods, but they are now the only team without a win in Premier B and sit in 10^th spot on the ladder, one below the Blues.

Old Carey went one game clear atop the Premier B ladder after they came from behind to defeat Beaumaris by 12 points at Banksia Reserve. The Panthers trailed by nine points at three quarter time but rallied with five goals to two in the final term. Jason Ashby led the winners in a BOG display, while Jack Alexander and Ben Smithwick kicked two each and were their only multiple goal scorers in the low-scoring affair. Callum Heath was the best for the Sharks in just his third senior game for the club, while Jonno Nash, Sam Gibbins and Will Edmonds each kicked two. The Panthers are now one game clear of the Snow Dogs and Uni Blacks on the ladder. The Sharks fall outside the top four for the second time in three weeks as Caulfield Grammarians climb into fourth.

In the other top four clash of Round 7 in Premier B, St Bernard’s proved too strong for University Blacks as they ran out 64-points winners at the Snake Pit. Four goals to one in the opening term set the scene for the Snow Dogs’ sixth win of the year as they continued to increase their lead aat every break throughout the match via 34 scoring shots to 20. The return of Chad Jones, Simon Caven and Tom Sullivan bolstered their line-up, with Jones booting seven majors and all three named in the best. Jack McNamara was best afield for the second week in a row. Joel Ernest kicked three goals for the Blacks in his third game since returning in Round 5, while Josh Steadman battled hard in the ruck all day. The loss is the Blacks’ first for 2018 and causes them to fall one spot down to third, replaced by the Snow Dogs in second.

Caulfield Grammarians claimed their fifth win for the season and re-entered the top four with a 60-point victory over Mazenod at Central Reserve. The Fields had 20 more scoring shots than the Nodders (31-11) as they dominated from start to finish. Sam Dorevitch was BOG for the Fields and Declan Reilly impressed in his 100^th game for the club. Chris Campbell and John-Paul Van Rensburg were standouts for the Nodders in their fifth loss for the season as they sit in seventh position on the ladder. One week after falling outside the four, the Fields were quick to return in place of the Sharks who fall back to fifth.

Parkdale Vultures secured their third win for the season and second on the trot as they defeated Ajax by 50 points at Gary Smorgon Oval. Leading by 14 points at the main break, the Vultures exploded with nine goals to three in a dominant second half. Liam Marshall led all comers with six goals in a best-on-ground performance for the Vultures alongside Nathan Papatsanis who chipped in with four and Charlie Dillon with three. Jake Lew kicked four goals for the Jackas but the loss marked their sixth in a row after their sole win came in Round 1.