Winless no more in Division 4

Zac Jennings

We now have no more winless teams in Division 4 following last weekend’s results, as the two clear favourites asserted themselves against fellow finalist hopefuls in Round 6.

Elsternwick’s dominance in Division 4 has continued with an emphatic 191-point victory over fellow top four side St John’s.  Holding the JOC’s scoreless up till three quarter time, the Wickers hit the scoreboard with regularity, having produced 37 unanswered scoring shots for the first three quarters. Matt Ball followed up his bag of 11 from the previous week with 9 majors for Elsternwick, whilst Division 4’s leading goalkicker Nick Lowrie added another six to his season tally of 38. Cameron Campbell backed up his best on ground performance for the Wickers with another best afield display which included four goals. Jordan Coutts was the only goal scorer on a tough day for the JOC’s, with Nick Terrill and Corey Ely also putting forth good performances for St John’s.

Elsternwick will host South Melbourne District in what shapes to be match of the round after their one-point victory in round one, while St. Johns will look to get back on the winners list when they travel to face fourth placed La Trobe University.

Box Hill North has picked up its first win of 2021 with a 2-point thriller over Eley Park at Whitehorse Reserve. While the Demons jumped out to a four-goal lead at the quarter time, the Sharks rallied over the next two quarters to take a 4-point lead into the final break. However, accuracy was key in the final term, with Box Hill North kicking 2.3 to 1.3 to pinch a hard-fought victory after a tough start to the season. Damon Earp, Benjamin Adams and David Edwards kicked two apiece for the Demons, with Cameron Liston and Peter Cassidy-Marsh best afield. Matt Knox was the standout for Eley Park, while Jesiah McGarvie booted 4 goals.

Box Hill North will return home full of confidence to take on Swinburne University, while Eley Park will travel to Lois Twohig Reserve to face Masala-Dandenong.

Also notching their first win of the season was Swinburne University, as they defeated Masala-Dandenong at St. James Park. Trailing at quarter time, the Razorbacks kicked five unanswered goals in the second term, taking a 15-point lead into the main break before eventually running away 22-point victors. Lachlan Randello impressed again for Swinburne, as did Mitch Walker who kicked four goals for the Razorbacks. Anthony Dorrington was judged best afield for Masala, while spearhead Declan Fowler kicked five goals for the Tigers.

Swinburne will be looking to make it two in a row when they travel to Elgar Park to face Box Hill North, as Masala return home to face Eley Park.

And finally, South Melbourne Districts have leapt into outright second on the table with a convincing win over La Trobe University. After trailing by 3 points at quarter time, the Bloods kicked 10 unanswered goals to set up 61-point victory at Lindsay Hassett Oval. Zephyr Howson and Oliver Dufficy both booted five goals for South Melbourne, David Commins continuing his hot run of form with a best on ground performance. Mitch Oliver kicked two was judged best afield with Josh Rogerson also kicking two goals for La Trobe. South Melbourne Districts travel to play the red-hot Elsternwick, looking to avenge their one-point loss to the Wickers from round one, with La Trobe University looking to get back on the winners list against St. Johns at home.