Can anyone knock PEGS off the top of the line?

Josh Heriot

The Division One ladder is beginning to take shape after a weekend of big wins across the board. Pleasant Melbourne conditions on Saturday afternoon saw ladder leaders PEGS continue their winning ways with a 57-point win over Prahran Assumption. PEGS were able to keep them goalless at quarter time while at the main break they kept them to just one goal.

The defence of PEGS was on full display and so was the forward line with Jordan Erougian kicking three and Riley Simmons also kicking three. It seems PEGS are in the box seat to take top position on the ladder at seasons end as they play Therry Penola and Oakleigh in the final two rounds of the season. 

Kew and Oakleigh provided us with one of the closer games in round 16 despite the end score perhaps not reflecting that. Kew jumped out of the blocks incredibly quickly with 10 goals in the first quarter before Oakleigh found their rhythm and got within five points at the three-quarter time break.

Kew however, broke away in the last quarter kicking five goals to one as they maintain a top two position on the ladder. Meanwhile Aaron Cloke continued to impress for Oakleigh with another four goals on the weekend bringing his goal tally for the year to 66. Kew will next week play Prahran Assumption in what should be a tight contest. 

Therry Penola recorded one of their biggest wins this season against St Mary’s Salesian on Saturday. Sitting safely out of the relegation zone in seventh position with six wins for the year, they were able to kick away with the game in the first quarter with 11 goals to none at quarter time.

Brenton Egglestone was busy up forward with seven goals and teammate Kane O’Halloran was also a lively presence with five goals while Nicholas Castaldi was named best on ground. It’s been a difficult season to navigate for St Mary’s and they’ll face Glen Eira out at Packer Park this weekend. 

Another club who stormed to victory was a huge 121-point victory was Old Camberwell. Up against Whitefriars, Camberwell only kicked three goals in the first quarter but after quarter time had the control to run out big winners, finishing with 22 goals. Simon Bennett had six goals to his name and was best on ground for Old Camberwell with sharpshooter Sam Murphy also busy in front of goal as he kicked three majors.

Old Camberwell must win their final two games of the season to solidify fourth position with Prahran Assumption a game behind them in fifth. Old Camberwell will this week face Old Peninsula who are fighting to stay out of the relegation zone. 

The final game of round 16 saw Old Peninsula go head-to-head with Glen Eira. It was a gallant effort from Old Peninsula, leading at each break including a six-point lead at three quarter time. Cooper Denton provided support down forward alongside veteran Shaun Payze but it wasn’t quite enough as the Gryphons edged clear in the last quarter to win by 22 points.

Willem Van Denderan was key to the Gryphons as he was named one of the best with teammates Hayden Bass, Sean Bass and Alex Erwin-Ross all chipping in with three goals each. Glen Eira sits comfortably in third with a chance of a potential top two spot still on the cards as they play St Mary’s Salesian and Therry Penola in the final two rounds. 

Round 17 will continue to cause some movement within the top four and the relegation zone which makes the end to the season all the more exciting in division one.