Fields’ freight train continues as Sharks circle into four

Jake Morris

Wild weather, a hero at Banksia, long-sleeve jumpers and the streak goes on. Round 12 produced predictable results but an entertaining weekend of action nonetheless.

Notching their third straight victory and moving a game clear into the top four, Beaumaris braved the elements to produce the wire-to-wire victory over Parkdale by 33-points. Leading for most of the afternoon, the Sharks broke the game open in the third quarter, with Connor Murphy, Harrison Edwards and two of Matt Petering’s four majors elevated Beaumaris to very handy win. Lewis Duggins was named best on ground for the Sharks while Petering’s four-goal haul also garnered some attention from the umpires. Dylan Glascott was once again Parkdale’s best as he continues to put in a fantastic season under Owen Lalor, but more is needed for the Vultures if they wish to swoop back into finals contention.

Keeping their crispy clean record perfect for another weekend was the Caulfield Grammarians, etching in win number 11 on the year as they outclassed St Bedes/Mentone by 79-points. A one-sided affair was on the cards early as Simon Williams’ men kicked four of the first five goals of the game, but it wasn’t until a dominant third quarter began where the margin began to really tip heavily in favour of the home side. Eight unanswered majors from the Fields, including one long 60m bomb from Nathan Page lifted the Fields’ to an 82-point three-quarter time advantage, making it a perfect 11/11. Will Edwards was adjudged best afield while Page kicked four and running mate Will Osborn nabbed three. Nathan Fahey and Braydon O’Toole both booted two apiece for the Tigers who have now dropped two on the trot and slip out of the top-four.

Entering the clash on the heels of back-to-back defeats, the University Blacks were in no mood to make it a third as they pummelled the Monash Blues by 36-points. Sloppy conditions played havoc as the usually accurate Blacks struggled to make the convert in-front of goal, potentially leaving behind some very valuable percentage points come seasons end. Joel Beasley was the only multiple goal-scorer on the day for either side with two, while Jarrod Carlson was named best afield. Nic Petering and Taylor Cameron were the only goal-scorers for Monash, while Joe Cosgriff was named his sides best in a cold, gloomy day for the Blues, who drop their fourth straight game and ninth on the year.

Producing one of their finer performances so far this season was Old Haileybury, as they put a dismal Old Geelong to the sword and ran out convincing 59-point winners. Dominating from siren-to-siren, the Bloods piled on 29 scoring shots to the OGs 10, while keeping their opponents goalless for the entire second half. Corey Connelly booted three for the Bloods while Peter Shakallis was once again best afield in his sides second win from their past three clashes. Will Langley was the only goal-scorer on the day for Old Geelong as he bagged two, while Toby Lever and George Chisholm also garnered attention in the defeat. A drastic mid-season collapse from the OGs has seen them drop four straight and fall into the dreaded relegation zone, bypassed by the Roys’.

Our final clash of Round 11 saw Old Scotch outlast a ferocious Fitzroy by 14-points to push their winning streak to five and grab win number 10 on the year. Leading at every change, the Cards’ kept their opponents at a safe distance for most of the afternoon, holding off a four-goal final term from the Roys’ to grab the victory and set-up a mouth-watering top of the table clash against the Fields’. Conor O’Beirne was named best on ground while Tom Downie was once again outstanding in-front of goal with three majors for the afternoon. The gallant Roys’ managed nine different goal scorers as they took it up to one of the premiere sides of the competition, with Nathan Jumeau the only one with multiple as he bagged a double. Despite the loss, the Roys’ move into 8th on the table, lifting them out of the relegation zone for the first time all year.