Snakes slither back into winners’ column, Gryphons down Cobras

Richmond Central returned to form and ended a two-game losing streak with a dominant 79-point victory over Albert Park. 44 scoring shots to 15 told the story of the Snakes’ day out as they increased their lead at every break. Jake Munro found his groove in front of goal with a bag of five alongside Robert Bowen (4), Marek Pietrzak (3) and Geoffrey Uhrhane (3). Tom Foott was electric yet again in a BOG display for the Snakes. Nick Materia and Stu Maunder kicked three goals each for the Falcons, with Materia also named as their best player. It was a crucial win for the Snakes to maintain their spot in the four with Swinburne hot on their tail in fifth.

Speaking of Swinburne, they edged ever-closer to the four with a 116-point win over La Trobe University at Parade College. Seven goals to one in the first term set the scene for the Razorbacks as they continued to impart their dominance with 18 of the last 23 goals after the first break. Ben Higgins had a day out in front of goal and finished with eight majors, eclipsing the two bags of four he kicked in Rounds 5 and 6. Ged Shearer was named best afield for the Razorbacks, while Thomas Mooney and Liam McClintock fought valiantly for the Trobers.

In a battle of first vs second, Glen Eira proved too strong for Canterbury as they ran out 28-point winners at Packer Reserve. Inaccuracy in front of goal meant the Gryphons trailed at both quarter and half time, before booting seven goals to four in the second half. Julian Stone was a standout for the Gryphons as well as teammates Ashley Carey and Andrew Barrett (3). Rohan Walmsley once again led the way for the Cobras as they now lose second spot on the ladder to Hawthorn AFC.

Hawthorn climbed to second spot on the Division 3 ladder with a 44-point victory over Manningham Cobras at Rathmines Reserve. The Hawks were unrelenting in a dominant first term as they piled on seven goals to two, before the game evened out in the final three quarters with 13 goals to 12. Justin Raiti bagged five for the Hawks and Patrick Brooks was names BOG for his outstanding display. Jason Stephens secured his own five-goal haul for the Cobras who now go to 4-4 and sit sixth on the ladder.

Despite an eight-goal haul from Aquinas’ Ash Naulty, Westbourne Grammarians ended a two-game losing streak as they ran out 12-point winners at Westbourne Grammar. Leading by four points at quarter time, the Warriors kicked 12 goals to nine; including, a match-winning four goals to one in the second term. Five players kicked multiples for the Warriors with Chris Hudson (3) leading the charge, while captain and Big V representative Michael Culliver was unstoppable in a BOG display. Naulty’s eight goals were two-thirds of his side’s score as they sit eighth and one spot below the Warriors.