Trobers triumph & Hawks continue to fly

Michael Davey

La Trobe University hosted the Albert Park at C.T. Barling Reserve for their first ‘home’ game there for 2018. The Trobers have endured a nomadic 2018, but they made full use of their temporary home in what turned out to be a great day for the men in red and black, despite two late withdrawals with illness.

The visitors started strongly with a three goal to one first quarter, before the home team outscored them in the second to lead by five points at the main break. The frugal Trober’s defenders held the Falcons to a single goal in both the third and fourth terms, whilst kicking seven goals of their own to run out 37-point victors. While star big man Matt Ogle was best again for the Trobers, Sam Benetti-Baker stepped up a notch and Tom Mooney, Joel McCarten and Lach Miller were excellent. Jack Lee was best for the Falcons, backed by Cale Blizzard with 3 majors and hard-nut Tyson Cattle.

Richmond Central hosted Hawthorn where the visitors started slowly before essentially outscoring Richmond by four goals to two in each quarter. Their 64-point win consolidated their second place on the ladder, and put a big dent in Richmond’s percentage. With his wispy orange hair and penchant for a goal, Aaron ‘KB’ Downie came to Kevin Bartlett Reserve to continue his good form. When Downie snapped truly in the last term the call ‘it’s your oval’ rang out from the Hawthorn faithful. Best for the Hawks were Hadrian Prest (4), Justin Raiti (2), Steven Wintle and Aaron Downie, who made the ground his own. Jake Munro kicked three goals for the home team, while Ricky Costanzo’s positive talk and leadership didn’t waver all afternoon.

In-form Westbourne Grammarians travelled to Swinburne in a game that looked evenly poised. The Razorbacks are hard to beat at home, and they looked good in the first term to lead by 11 points at the first break. The visitors took control shortly thereafter, to slowly pull away until the final siren where they notched a 17-point win. Westbourne shared the goals around, with livewire Paddy O’Brien the BOG, supported by Justin Porter, Tim Rogers and Ali Eqbal with four goals. Riley Livingstone with five goals was best for Swinny, supported by ‘Polar Bear’ Bradley, Wil Gubbins and Mick Daly.

With five forced changes, and head coach Jon Edgar unavailable, a new look Glen Eira travelled to Koonung Reserve for a first vs third clash with Manningham Cobras. The Gryphons started with swagger, kicking the first three goals, before the home team responded to lead by two points at quarter time. The second term saw the Cobras play excellent football, but inaccuracy had them lead by just four points at the half. The tempo was raised in the third term, with the Cobras opening up the biggest deficit the top side has faced all year, before a towering Andrew Barrett mark and goal after the third quarter siren reduced the margin to nine points. A Todd Richardson ‘Captain’s goal’ lifted Glen Eira in the last term, then Stuart Carey marked 45m out and kicked truly to put the Gryphons in front and finish five point victors in an epic contest.

Stuart Carey was the Gryphons’ best, closely followed by brother Ash, Matt Harris and skipper Richardson. Manningham were disappointed with the one that got away, but they can be reassured that they had many good players who stood up in a match which had true finals intensity. Luke Morris, Andre Geagea and Tim Binks were hard to pass in defence, Ayden Sukkel and Nick Zappala were strong in midfield and Kane Maghamez kicked three goals up forward.

A resurgent Aquinas hosted Canterbury in what was a must-win game for the home team. A Rohan Walmsley first quarter hat trick of goals saw the visitors get off to a flyer to lead by 15 points at the first break. The second quarter was a dour struggle, before the Bloods clawed back the margin to seven points at the last break. A Jared Sund goal early in the last quarter tied the scores, then the Cobra’s James Wilson goaled to stretch the margin back out to 7 points. In the final 10 minutes of the match, the Bloods booted the last three majors of the match to win by 13 points.

The usual suspects stood up for Canterbury, including the super reliable trio of Walmsley, Martin Astbury and Sam Murphy, who were ably backed by Tyler Wooster, Jordan Tomas and Sean Hanrahan. The Bloods best were Lachlan Naulty, McDonald and Barnes, supported by Jarred Sund and Jake Cawsey who scored three majors. The win has infused the eighth placed Aquinas into the six-way battle to play finals football, where only four points and percentage separates them and third placed Manningham.