Round 9 Park-battle in Division 3

Sheridan Harris

This week has been tough for all those in VAFA-land as Round 8 of the 2021 season was cancelled due to the seven-day circuit breaker announced by the State Government. As such, if all goes to plan and community sport returns, this weekend’s Round 9 Division 3 games are going to be hugely important as we near the midpoint of the season.

It’s a Park-battle this weekend as a Parkside outfit set on redemption welcomes Albert Park to Pitcher Park. The Red Devils will be rueing a missed opportunity to take top spot and be one game clear after going down to now ladder-leaders Hawthorn AFC in Round 7, while the Falcons are still looking for their first win of the season despite a close contest with the Westbourne Grammarians.

Emmaus St Leo’s will travel to Kevin Bartlett Reserve to face Richmond Central in a battle of 3^rd v 4^th as the Animals look to jump into the top two, while the Snakes hope to shore up their top 4 position. Round 7 was kind both teams as the Animals took down a misfiring Canterbury team who were on the back foot from the very beginning, while the Snakes are fresh off a 62-point win over North Brunswick.

Both Canterbury and North Brunswick will be looking to rebound and get back on the winner’s list after suffering losses in Round 7 as the Bulls were comprehensively beaten by Richmond Central and the Cobras went down by only 18 points to Emmaus St Leo’s. Canterbury will remain at home at Canterbury Sportsground as North Brunswick travel again to get their third win of the season.

The Westbourne Grammarians are heading to Rathmines Road Reserve on the winner’s list to face ladder-leaders after downing Albert Park in tight contest in Round 7, as Hawthorn ride the high of beating the unbeaten and taking top spot from Parkside in a game that was well-won. The Hawks will look to solidify their hold on top spot of the ladder while the Warriors search for their third win of 2021.