Fourth spot still up for grabs in Division 3 Men’s

Sheridan Harris

With two games left, the sun is slowly starting to set for a few of our Division 3 Men’s teams as a cold Melbourne day provided a dreary backdrop to some chances gone begging. The top three is all but locked and loaded, with South Melbourne Districts, Elsternwick, and Canterbury all certainties, though where they land at the end of the home and away season remains unknown. 

Sharing the load must have been written at the top of the whiteboard for most of the teams this weekend, with a majority of them with more goalkickers than you can count on one hand. 

Emmaus St Leo’s have let what was almost definitely their last finals chance go after going down to Richmond Central by 31 points at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. The Animals were in it for the first quarter before defensive lapses allowed the Snakes to kick seven goals to just one in the second. Undoubtedly the better team all day, the home side were kept quiet as Emmaus St Leo’s mounted a mini comeback after the main break, before a five-goal final term saw the Animals’ finals hopes slip away. For Emmaus St Leo’s, Matt Hill (3), Riley Thompson (2), and Jonathan Greensides (2) kept the team in it, while Kieran Mair took top honours. As usual, Jack Bilson (5) and Jordan Miller (2) starred in the forward line for Richmond Central, but Aaron Pearson (2) was best-on. 

Parkside’s ten individual goalkickers have seen them with an upset 4-point win over ladder-leaders South Melbourne Districts at Lindsay Hassett Oval. The Bloods were nearly the better side all game, and took a buffer of 15 points going into the main break. Their dominance only continued into the third term, but what must have been a rousing three-quarter-time address got the Red Devils back into gear, and they kicked seven goals to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Simon Mackie (2) was Parkside’s only multiple-goalscorer with nine teammates getting on the board for one, including Michael Romano who was named best-on. For South Melbourne Districts, Leigh Sfetkidis (3) and Michael Dufficy (2) were once again targets inside 50, but taking top honours was David Commins. 

A six-goal final quarter sealed the deal for North Brunswick, who left Rathmines Road Reserve 39-point winners after comfortably beating Hawthorn. It was an arm-wrestle for the first half as the Hawks took just a two-point lead into half time, before the Bulls slowly started putting their foot down after the break. They led by two goals at three-quarter-time and then the flood gates opened for the away side, despite Hawthorn getting some opportunities in front of goal. William Meehan (3), James Smith (2), Jake Davoren (2), and Justin Raiti (1) were the only goalscorers as Eamonn Avery topped the best players list. For North Brunswick, Joseph Flynn (4), Andrew Ramzy (3), Kali Dawborn (2), and Matthew David (2) kicked a majority of their side’s majors, but it was Simon Woodward who took top honours. 

Westbourne Grammar has witnessed to a 210-point thumping win by Elsternwick against the Westbourne Grammarians. It didn’t take long for the Wickers to get the ball rolling, literally, as they scored eight goals in the first time and limited the Warriors to zero. Even with a goal on the board in the second, it continually went from bad to worse for the home side, as the point buffer increased at the main break by 30, then 75, before Elsternwick kicked nine goals in the final term to really hit the final nail in the coffin. With too many multiple-goalscorers to name, Matt Ball (8) and Richard Main (6) led the charge for the away side, as did Dylan Jones (6) who was best-on. For the Westbourne Grammarians, Maxmillian Paspa kicked their only goal and Nick Ryan took top honours. 

For the last time in the home and away season, North Brunswick will take to Allard Park and welcome ladder-leaders South Melbourne Districts, who are coming off an untimely loss. The Bloods have had one hand on top spot for the better part of the year, but will need to take down the Bulls if they’re any chance of holding onto it. 

After their largest loss of the year, the Westbourne Grammarians will rally and head to Canterbury Sportsground and try their luck against Canterbury. The Cobras have had a pretty consistent season and will return from their bye with their sights set firmly on a top-2 finish. 

Still high off their rather large win in round sixteen, Elsternwick return home to take on Emmaus St Leo’s at Holmes Todd Oval. It could be argued that it’s been a fall from grace for the Animals this year, their eighth position on the ladder a shock to many after a fast start to the season, while the Wickers will be looking to lock in top 2.

Richmond Central have one last chance to push for a finals spot when they take on a Parkside outfit fresh off an upset win. It could be the Snakes’ last game of the year given their final-round bye which means Pitcher Park is the destination for what is arguably the match of the round. 

Hawthorn get the week off to iron out their creases for the final game of the home and away season with their second bye of the year.