A breakaway group emerges with dominant wins around the grounds

Billy Bolch

If Division 4 was representative of the opening nights of the Tour De France we have a breakaway group with the rest playing catch up. How will the next third of the season unfold?  We await with bated breath. 

St Johns hosted Box Hill North in a good test for the Demons whilst it would hopefully be another win to the tally for the JOCs. St Johns shot out to an early lead of 18 points at quarter-time which they would then extend to 27 at halftime. 

Going into the second-half goalless, the Demons needed a spark and while they didn’t swing the game, they won the quarter to bring the deficit back to 23 points. St Johns, however, seized control once again adding another four goals in the fourth quarter and taking the game by 54 points. This lead could’ve been even larger with inaccurate kicking costing the JOC’s a bigger win as they kicked 21 behinds despite their nine goals. Nicholas Terrill played his best game of the season for the JOC’s kicking 3 majors and being named best on. Matthew Bennett was the team’s other multiple goal-scorer with 2 goals.

For the Demons, it was Marcus Lorkin who had all the goals with 2 majors for the game (both in the third quarter). The best for the JOC’s included the previously mentioned Nicholas Terrill and Matthew Bennett in addition to Corey Ely. For the Demons, Beau Parthenides, Thomas Rickard and Sean Donovan led the way when it came to the best.

St Johns will now face a big test in the form of La Trobe whilst Box Hill North will have a major task ahead of them as they face the undefeated Swinburne. 

Eley Park came into this contest looking to bring the same energy that they brought to their previous match against Swinburne as they faced another tough challenge in La Trobe. Immediately, La Trobe sent a sign they meant business, dominating the first quarter kicking seven goals to one. We saw more of this in the second quarter as La Trobe piled on another eight unanswered goals. This took the half-time lead to 91 points. 

The Sharks needed to bring something special to stop the momentum of La Trobe, however, La Trobe instead stood on the accelerator kicking 12 goals to 0 in the second half to finish with a whopping 181 points and win by 168 points. A 100 point-win has only been achieved once previously this season in division 4 and this was also a La Trobe win which provides worrying signs for teams to come. Tom Johnston was the lone goalscorer for the Sharks whilst James Dowling and Matthew Carlile continued their top form for Eley Park. La Trobe’s Riley Alexander and Bryce Dowler once again proved they are potentially the best forward duo in the league kicking a combined 10 goals for the game. The goal-kicking load was shared amongst the squad with 13 goal kickers including 7 players that kicked multiple goals. In addition, Lachlan Webb and Archie Conboy were amongst the best on the ground.

Eley Park will now have the week off to try to regroup whilst La Trobe will face a more competitive and tougher opponent in the form of St Johns.  

On Sunday, Albert Park came into this contest against Swinburne with a point to prove and knowing they had to take it to the Razorbacks early if they were to stand a chance. The Falcons did just this, holding a 4-point lead at quarter time, marking the first time this season that Swinburne had lost the opening quarter. 

The Razorbacks however rebounded in the second quarter stunning the Falcons in the process kicking six unanswered goals. Albert Park responded accordingly in the third kicking four goals to one to bring the margin back to 23 points. A fairly balanced final term ensued before the Razorbacks kicked the last three goals to run out winners by 46 points. For the Falcons, Alexander Evans was their multiple goal scorer with 2 majors whilst the best players included Nick Armistead, Justyn Kennewell and Saknarin Khongbut. For the Razorbacks, it was once again the Nicholas Coad show as he added three goals to his tally taking him to third in the division’s goal-kicking tally. Ben Cox, Harrison Bernardo and Luke Mcmanus kicked 2 goals each. The best for the Razorbacks include Kieran Herbert, Jed Toner and Brent Hodson.

Albert Park will have a great test ahead of them as they head to Dandenong North to take on Masala. Swinburne on the other hand will face Box Hill North in what is hopefully another win for the Razorbacks. 

Masala who had the bye will now host Albert Park which will be a good matchup for both sides to see where they measure up against the rest of the competition.