Devils exact revenge in GF replay, Warriors make it 2

Lachlan Chapman

Parkside exacted revenge from their 2018 Division 4 Grand Final rematch by registering their second win of the season with a narrow hard fought win against North Brunswick by three points. It was a thrilling, tight contest all day with it being a particularly tough game for the forwards given the low-scoring affair. Key Forward Jack Hamilton was best afield for the Devils with two goals while Kieran Wallace and Adam Wells payed significant roles in the win. Stephen Monteleone and Max Coutts were best afield for the home side. After a dominant start to the season, the Bulls now find themselves losing three on the trot despite having the third best percentage in the competition. Occupying 7^th position, North Brunswick sit but only one game out of the top four in what is shaping up to be a very open race for finals footy. Parkside jump out to 6^th position after the victory.

Aquinas keep proving they are the team to beat in Division 3 this year with another strong display at their home ground, doubling Richmond Central’s 59 point total in Round 5. The second quarter proved to be the difference here, with the Bloods piling on seven goals to none in  a frightening sign for the rest of the competition. Joshua Robertson (4) and Billy O’Loughlin (3) were lively in attack for Aquinas, with Tyson Noyes named best afield. Luke James and Joel Luis were standouts for the Snakes. Aquinas have now solidified top spot on the ladder with their superior percentage, and after tallying four wins from four outings. Richmond Central find themselves in a rare position being on the bottom of the seniors ladder, while their reserves sit on top with five wins on the trot.

Manningham Cobras climbed to second spot on the ladder after winning a thrilling 41 goal shootout over Emmaus St Leo’s at Bennettswood Reserve. The Cobras held a marginal lead from early on in the contest before one of the most spectacular attacking quarters of football you are ever likely to see in the VAFA this year unfolded in the final term. No less than 17 goals were scored in this colossal finish (Manningham 9, Emmaus 8), as the Animals went all out attack in their attempt to win on a big day for the club where all three of their teams donned Pink Guernsey’s to support the Breast Cancer Network of Australia. Kane Maghamez has put his hat in the ring for this section’s leading goalscorer after booting seven majors in the shootout, while Benjamin Arnold was best afield. It was vintage Paul Baranello as the two time league and seven time club Best & Fairest recipient put on a clinical performance for the Animals, while Chris ‘Foxy’ Beluszar and Jack Hunt booted four and three respectively for the home side. After the promising start to the season, Emmaus St Leo’s have lost their last two encounters to the top two sides, however, a stronger percentage over 4^th place through to 6^th (all sitting 2-2) means they still retain 3^rd spot on the ladder and face a must win game against Westbourne Grammarians in Round 6.

After taking time to find their feet in the first couple of weeks, Westbourne Grammarians registered their second consecutive win by way of a solid 27-point win over Canterbury in Round 5 – a firm reminder to the rest of the section as to why they finished in third position last season and were close to Division 2 promotion. The Cobras jumped out of the blocks with six goals to two in the first term, however a big last quarter saw the Warriors eventually come out on top. Agon Bathiri (4), Adam Rompel (3) and Patrick O’Brien (3) were all prominent in attack for the victors, while Jake Rowe (4) and Nathan Hicks (3) also hit the scoreboard for the visiting Cobras. Patrick O’Brien (Westbourne) and Martin Astbury (Canterbury) were named best afield for their respective teams. With the middle tier of the competition so even, both the Warriors and Cobras Canterbury face off in two crucial games next week against Emmaus St Leo’s (3^rd) and Parkside (6^th), respectively.