Bullants and Friars upset the status quo to secure 4 points

A week of surprising wins and shocking losses in Round 16 of the Division 2 Men’s competition. The battle for the final three spots is heating up with a few teams still in the running.

South Melbourne Districts triumphed over the ninth-placed Wattle Park by 17 points. This is the second time this year the Bloods have got the better of the Animals. Leading from the outset and carrying momentum through the four quarters, the Bloods recorded a final score of 9.7 (61) to Wattle Park’s 6.8 (44).

The Animals struggled to hit the scoreboard early but kept the pressure on the Bloods. South Melbourne thrived on home soil with 5 goals in the first half coming from the likes of Jamie Brooker, Leigh Sfetkidis, and Zaron Smith.

After a slow start, the Animals found their groove in the second half applying some scoreboard pressure, but South Melbourne’s attacking prowess and successful disposals kept them in the lead, as they continued to dominate the game.

The Animals put up a good fight in the fourth quarter, kicking 3.3 to the Blood’s 2.2, but it wasn’t enough to overcome South Melbourne’s lead.

Jamie Brooker’s outstanding hat trick helped the Bloods outplay the Animals. With this crucial win, South Melbourne has solidified its fourth-place position, but it needs to keep the momentum going by winning the next two games to secure its spot in the top four.

Brunswick was dealt their second loss of the season in an absolute thrashing by the in-form Whitefriars at Whitefriars College, suffering an 81-point loss.

The flag hopefuls looked a shell of the side they have been throughout the season, unable to apply pressure of get the game on their terms, succumbing to a final scoreline of 15.21 (111) to 4.6 (30).

Whitefriars have put together a string of classy performances and are peaking just at the right time, imposing themselves as a team to watch come finals. To their credit they have fought tooth and nail to claw their way up the ladder and now sit in second, just ahead of Elsternwick on percentage.

Having taken down the top-dogs they will head down the home straight with an air of confidence. Inaccuracy in front of goal is likely one area the Friars will look to sharpen with the potential for their rampage on the weekend to have produced a much greater win had any of their 21 behinds gone through the big sticks.

Despite this setback being Brunswick’s second-season loss, they are still leading the ladder. Brunswick, known for their relentless pressure from the get-go, couldn’t match Whitefriars’ intensity that day. It was a one-sided game, and the Friars secured a magnificent victory.

The Nobs opted for a different lineup, resting their star players for the critical upcoming games. Nicholas Garratt was on fire, kicking 6 goals for the Friars, while Sam Kieseker supported him with 5 goals and dominated the game.

In another upset, the tenth-placed Bulleen Templestowe pulled off a thrilling 9-point victory over MHSOB at Ted Ajani Reserve in a nail-biting contest.

MHSOB were strong out of the gates and set the pace for much of the match, leading at every change. However, the Bullants stayed within striking distance, trailing by just a couple of goals.

Bulleen Templestowe’s Corey Shiels kicked a goal early in the fourth quarter to close the margin to just 7 points. This goal applied pressure, leading to a forced turnover and ultimately securing the Bullants’ victory in the game.

Corey Shiels, Ashwyn Mohandas, and Jack Cowell each scored two goals for the Bullants, contributing to a magnificent team effort that secured them the victory. Despite MHSOB’s Will Hellier booting 3 goals, his team fell short in the end.

St Mary’s Salesian’s struggles in the competition persisted as they endured a 17-point loss to Hawthorn at Ferndale Park. St Mary’s final score was 15.12 (102), and Hawthorn’s was 17.17 (119) in a high scoring shootout.

The first two quarters were pretty even, with both teams showing suitable disposal and conversion rates, however, the defensive structures could have improved on both sides.

The Saints bolstered a 4-point buffer at half time into a 17-point advantage after an impressive third quarter. But it was not enough, as Hawthorn dominated the final quarter, scoring an impressive 8.5 and shattering St Mary’s hopes.

Hawthorn’s Jack Kenny was the player of the match, finishing with 7 goals for his team. Lachlan Russell from St Mary’s gave his everything and booted 4 goals. Hawthorn has retained its fifth position on the ladder from last week.

In another match that saw goals-aplenty and resulted in a combined double-century Elsternwick defeated Aquinas, 20.14 (134) to 15.11 (101).

Even at Elsternwick Park, the first two quarters were fairly balanced, as both sides thrived against each other. After the halftime siren, the Wickers had a slight edge, leading by 6 points.

Elsternwick took control in the third to build a healthy margin of 26 points heading into the final quarter. They were able to thwart the pressure Aquinas had mounted and produced an attacking brand of football that paid dividends.

In the fourth quarter, the Wickers maintained their lead and stayed focused on their passing game, securing a hard-earned victory. Elsternwick’s Vice-Captain, Spencer Hankin, was undoubtedly one of the best, kicking a season-high 8 goals for the game. Jamie Mount contributed 5 of his own.

The following two weeks will decide every team’s fate and finalise a crop of finals contenders. Round 17 kicks off at the Gillion Oval, where Brunswick will challenge MHSOB. Aquinas will host South Melbourne Districts, and over at Rathmines Road Reserve, Hawthorn will challenge Whitefriars. Wattle Park will face St Mary’s Salesian at Bennettswood Reserve, while Bullen Templestowe will host Elsternwick.