Wellers & Bears pull away in Div 1

Old Camberwell strengthened their hold on top spot of the Division 1 ladder after they defeated St Mary’s Salesian by 47 points at Ferndale Park. The Wellers led by 11 points after a tight opening half before pulling away with eight goals to two across Q3 and Q4. Riley Verbi bagged four goals for the Wellers for the second consecutive week, while Simon Bennett and Ben Hart kicked three each. Verbi and Hart are fourth and fifth on the goal kicker’s leader board, respectively. Joel Mattiske continued his hot form for the Saints as did D’Arcy Grant.

In a battle of second vs third, it was Kew who maintained their unbeaten run when they down PEGS by 27 points at PEGS Sporting Field. Wayward kicking was the order of the day as the Bears finished with 6.20 to the Bombers’ 3.11. Matt Sharkey booted two in a BOG performance for the Bears while Max Waters and Jack Delbridge maintained their strong form to start the season. Jackson Marr and Thomas Saggio were the best for PEGS. Despite the loss, it was a fantastic occasion for PEGS stalwart, Andrew Frazer, as he became the club’s games record holder in outing 323.

Oakleigh AFC posted their first win of 2021 and moved to seventh spot on the ladder with a 19-point victory over Old Peninsula at Harry McDonald Oval. Goal kicking star, Aaron Cloke, followed up his five goals from Round 2 with a game-high seven, taking his tally to 15 for the season. James Hunt and Jake Lever were also standouts for the Krushers. Rob Bambery and Oscar Craig fought hard for the Pirates, who have now lost their two home games and sit in sixth spot on the ladder.

Whitefriars continued their impressive start to the season with a comfortable 51-point win over Therry Penola. The fourth-placed Friars trailed by two points at the first break but took control of the contest with a seven-goal second term setting up their triumph. Nicholas Garratt and Christian Feher led the charge in front of goal with four apiece, while Ciaran Hickey was named best afield. Matthew Lyons was a standout for the Lions as were Daniel Tadinac and Kane O’Halloran who kicked three majors each.

A 13-goal haul from Tony Mirabella led Prahran Assumption to a dominant 100-point win over Brunswick FC on Saturday. Mirabella proved unstoppable up forward as his Two Blues managed 22 goals for the game. Matthew Clifford and Rory Brodie were also instrumental to Prahran’s second win of the season. Maxwell Naughton and Matthew Palmer were the best on a tough day for Brunswick. They remain winless and sit in 10^th spot on the ladder.

Round 4 has several mouth-watering matchups with Whitefriars and PEGS the pick of the bunch as fourth takes on fifth. It will be a day of the key forwards at Scammel Reserve as Aaron Cloke takes the field against Prahran’s Tony Mirabella, while Kew and Old Camberwell be enter as firm favourites against St Mary’s Salesian and Old Peninsula. Finally, Brunswick has an opportunity to claim their first win of the season when they host the eighth-placed Therry Penola at Gillon Oval.