Brunswick survive an almighty scare, while relegation-battle ends in a draw

Division 2 Men’s is close, like really close! As we head ever closer to the final month of the home and away season, there are ladder position battles everywhere you look.

Four teams are separated by less than two wins in the relegation battle, whilst second down to sixth are all in the fight to either hold or capture a spot in the four.

The exciting weekend of footy began at Gillon Oval where the bottom placed Aquinas almost pulled off the upset of the season, falling short by 12 points to the ladder leaders Brunswick.

It was clear that the gusty conditions were going to play a major element in this game and that was certainly the case.

With the breeze in the opening term, Brunswick piled on 11 scoring shots to nil, but could only convert on three of those occasions. They lead by 26 points at the first break.

Then it was time for Acquinas to strike back to the scoring end and did so. They added three goals of their own and were more clinical in front of goal.

Headed into half time the men in purple lead 3.9 (27) to the Bloods 3.3 (21).

The ladder leaders lead by 24 points heading into the final term, with the lead perhaps not enough with the breeze.

But given they’ve lost just one game all year, you knew they’d be tough to overcome.

Brunswick were gallant and held on to win 11.13 (79) top 10.7 (67).

Oscar Watt proved to be the difference for Brunswick with four goals, supported by Rowan Hogenbirk with two.

As for the Bloods, Michael Di Donato, Blake Gray and Tom Hogg were among the best.

Unfortunately for Aquinas, the loss and other results means they now sit bottom of the ladder and six points below eighth, the cut off for the relegation zone.\

MHSOB did what they needed to do, in a comfortable 20-point beating of Wattle Park.

In the context of their season, this was as simple as must-win for the Unicorns, and they came out with that mentality.

It took them some time to convert, but deep into the opening term Liam Littore slotted the only major of the quarter as the hosts lead by seven points at the first change.

The second quarter was far more even, with the two sides going goal for goal and just kick separated them at the main break.

In the third and ‘premiership quarter’ was when MHSOB made their move.

Matt Robertson kicked all three of his goals for the afternoon in the third quarter, and it gave the Unicorns a handy 16-point buffer into the last.

The Animals looked to make a statement with the first reducing the margin to 10 points, but MHSOB had either ideas, and claimed a 9.13 (67) to 6.11 (47) win.

Sam Hayes, Cam Witt and Sean Lester were all impressive in claiming the four points.

With a remarkable comeback from St Marys Salesian, they stormed from no where to force a draw against Bulleen Templestowe.

With both sides in a relegation battle, the four points were the biggest on offer for these sides all season.

The Bullants began hot, with three of the first four goals of the game.

But St Mary’s Nathan Evans struck late in the opener to draw the margin back to within a goal at quarter time.

The second term was dominated by Bulleen Templestowe as they slotted three goals in quick succession to lead by 25 points.

Another late St Mary’s goal kept them in the contest, 17 points was the half time margin.

The third quarter was almost a spitting image of the second with the Bullants pulling out to a 30-point lead at the final change, and looked set to claimed their fourth win of 2024.

But St Mary’s had other ideas, they kicked four goals in the first eight minutes of the final quarter and in the blink of an eye were within a kick.

The Bullants steadied the ship with one of their own, before two more St Mary’s goals saw them infront late in the game.

Bulleen Templestowe then got back on top and lead by six points in the dying second, before a late dagger from the Saints landed the last blow and stole 2 points.

A compelling result in how the ladder shapes, both sides scoring 11.8 (74).

Saints Hamish Macmillan (four goals), Luke McKay and Bullant Corey Shiels (five goals) were all monstrous in the game.

Game four of the round saw Whitefriars defeat Elsternwick at the Holmes Todd Oval.

Elsternwick with a win would have opened up a 3-game buffer between them and finals, and a subsequent loss meant just one and a half games now separates the Wickers from fifth.

It was a complete and utter coin flip in the first half, with a two point lead for Elsternwick at the first change. Then scores were all level at half time.

On the back of the main break, the Friars just came out hungrier.

They kept the Wickers to just two behinds in the third, while asserting themselves with a 23-point lead into the fourth quarter.

The Wickers had their chances in the last, but wasteful kicking meant that they were no match for Whitefriars who took the win 10.14 (74) to 7.12 (54).

Wickers’ David Convery, Sean Casey and Flynn Brosnan were impressive, while for the Friars five goals between Christian Feher and Sam Kieseker made all the impact inside 50.

To conclude the weekend of Div 2 Men’s action South Melbourne made the trip to Rathmines Road Reserve to meet Hawthorn and picked up a nice 34-point win on the road.

The Hawks weren’t going to let in early doors. They stayed with their classier opponents for the first half.

The Swans carried a 15-point lead into the main break.

Will Meehan from Hawthorn gave them every opportunity on the day, kicking six Hawks goals.

However, the Swans were too complete and too compelling down the stretch, claiming the four points with a 12.14 (86) to 8.4 (52) win.

The win has the Bloods now outright second place on 36 points, while the Hawks are six points out of the top four in sixth.

Looking ahead to Round 14, the Swans host the Saints at Lindsay Hasset Oval. Whitefriars meet MHSOB in a battle for fourth spot, as Elsternwick face Hawthorn in a big game contextually for the finals.

Aquinas make the trip to Bennettswood Reserve facing Wattle Park, finally Bulleen Templestowe host Brunswick.