Back-to-back heartstoppers for Bloods as Bullants get back on the park

Joe Pignataro

Aquinas is fast becoming the close-finishing kings of Division 2. Seven days after holding out Old Parade by two points at Garvey Oval, they’ve held off Bulleen Templestowe by the same margin as the Ants were on the hunt for their first win of the season.

Trailing by eight points at the main break, Jacob Burdett was the focal point up forward with four majors taking his season tally to 11. Stalwart of the side Lachlan Barnes was named best afield. On the Bulleen side of things, it was great to see them take to the field as they were forced to forfeit their Round 10 match, they found their way with two goals each to Cowell, Harisiou and Florance the latter being named their best player.

The winless Ants face Manningham this weekend, while Aquinas will aim for their third straight win against the undefeated Glen Eira.

Speaking of Glen Eira, they didn’t have it all in their control as they found their way to a 10-point win over Ivanhoe AFC. Although a 19-point buffer at three quarter time was a comfortable enough margin to give the Gryphons their ninth straight win to start the season.

Ash Close moved to outright leader in the sharpshooters adding three more goals to his tally of 36 while Todd Richardson was named in the Gryphons best for the sixth time this year. Since Round 2, Ivanhoe are on a W L W L W L W L streak, so expect them to be chasing the W this weekend against West Brunswick.

West Brunswick will enter next week’s game at home full of confidence having won their last three and cementing themselves in third spot on the ladder after beating Manningham by 19 points. The margin could’ve been a lot greater had the Magpies kicked straighter in front of goal and not taken the foot off the accelerator after leading by 44 points at three quarter time.

Pat Sawaya has joined the club this year and led the way in front of goal with three majors of his own. Tyler Cottrell, in his third game this year, was the best player on the ground. For the Cobras Konrad Bendrups kicked two goals. Each time he’s hit the scoreboard this year he has kicked dual goals (Round 1, Round 2 and now Round 11). Luke Morris was named in the best for the fifth time this season and would be right up there in best and fairest calculations.

The Cobras have the opportunity to get back on the winners list this weekend after 3 straight losses when they face Bulleen Templestowe at Ted Ajani Reserve.

Old Paradians remain in 4th spot after finishing 36 points the better of Power House. It was a much-needed win from the boys from Garvey Oval after their heartbreaking two-point loss to Aquinas last week. They were slow to get out of the blocks in the opening term but extended their lead with six goals in the second quarter. Blair Healy hit the scoreboard with three goals for Parade and Greg Page has found some form in the last couple of weeks being named in the best again. For Power House, it was left to too few with Luke Stubbs and Brendan Wright featuring in the best again.

Power House host MHSOB this weekend at Ross Gregory Oval while Parade will travel out to Yarra Old Grammarians home deck with the aim of winning two in a row.

The final game from Round 11 features Yarra Old Grammarians and MHSOB, with the boys from Yarra never really getting their game going. 10 goals to one at three quarter time signalled a tough day at the office for the Grammarians with their first goal coming in the opening term. If not for inaccuracy in front goal, the margin could’ve been a lot bigger in Melbourne High’s favour finishing with 13.19.97 for the day. Kane Smith kicked 4 majors with Ashun Wijayakumara losing his spot at the top of the sharpshooters tally only managing two goals.

MHSOB will be aiming for their 7th consecutive win this weekend with the aim to sure up a spot in the top 2 while for Yarra Old they’ll be looking to get back on the winners list having tasted success just twice this season.