Elsternwick go a game clear in top spot

Mitch Dyer

Mathematically… it’s not over yet.

Round 15 of VAFA footy saw the top of the table get a change up, whilst the gap back from fourth to fifth now hangs on a knifes edge.

The battle of the Finals spot went into overdrive this week between Wattle Park and Power House, with the Animals keen to shut the door and throw away the key on their final spot.

For Power House it was a great start with the likes of Joseph Halloran and Jeremey Hill doing their bit to steer the side strongly in the first half, trailing the Animals by just five points into the half.

Coming out of the break Wattle Park found their form with a slew of goal kickers managing to find the big sticks and sit three goals clear coming into the final change, where the Animals managed to take a stronghold on the game and run out 25-point winners and all but guarantee a finals birth in 2023.

Next up was a battle of the top, with Hawthorn looking to get one over Canterbury in 2023. Meehan and Raiti were at the helm of the Hawks push as two of the leading goal scorers in the league, taking on Tom Lowden and Jordan Dear headlining the Cobras attack.

The first half left the sides hardly separated with the Hawks going in ahead, but when push came to shove late in the piece it was Hawthorn who managed to do what no other team has in 2023. They ran over the top of the Cobras in the last, piling on 41 points to dominate the contest and get one back on the former ladder leader.

Next up, in the battle of the Universities with La Trobe and Swinburne going head-to-head at La Trobe’s home ground for a Saturday afternoon.

It was a slow start for the home side not managing to slot one between the big sticks in the opening quarter, before finding their feet in the second with 7 majors to lead into the main break.

From there on out the Trobers’ didn’t look back, managing to keep a fast-moving Swinburne at bay and secure their third win of the season, just two behind Richmond Central with three rounds to go.

The final game of the round saw Elsternwick face off against Richmond Central with Elsternwick looking to continue their winning streak, with three rounds remaining in the season.

Inaccuracy cost the visitors early with eight behinds, but it didn’t take long for Elsternwick’s big hitter Spencer Hankin to send them flying all afternoon long, rounding it out with 7 majors to his name for his biggest bag of the season.

With Canterbury going down to Hawthorn, Elsternwick now sits outright at the top of the table with only two losses for the year. It is a top of the table clash this coming Round in what could be a finals preview. Other match ups see Hawthorn travel to Ross Gregory Oval to face Power House, whilst La Trobe play host to Wattle Park. Rounding out Round 16, Swinburne will meet with Richmond Central for the third time this season.