Rain, hail or shine, Division 1 continues to deliver

Wet weather footy hit the competition in Round 6, proving to be a real challenge to some of Division 1’s strongest performing sides, whilst others thrived in the cold and wet. These conditions often bring about low-scoring, uninteresting matches, but that certainly wasn’t the case with an average score of 71 across the division.

Two of the division’s best performing sides to date, Ormond and the Preston Bullants, locked horns at E.E. Gunn Reserve which saw Ormond come away 24-point winners.

When these two sides met in 2024, Ormond won both encounters, the first by 8 points and the second by 66 points, so the Bullants had a point to prove to correct that record.

The first half was incredibly close as both sides kept each other accountable on the scoreboard. Ormond let a few opportunities slip inside 50 with more behinds than Preston, but nonetheless held a narrow 6-point lead at the main break.

It was in the third quarter where Ormond took control and dictated the game on their terms in a dominant six goals to two display; and whilst Preston showed more promise in the later stages of the final term, they left their run too late and could not overcome Ormond who claimed their sixth consecutive win to remain undefeated in 2025.

After going down close last week, UHS-VU found themselves back on the winners list with a 10-point victory over Elsternwick.

Elsternwick, yet to win a game since joining Division 1, started on the right foot with the opening goal of this game to Daniel Marchese, and some back and forth between both teams saw UHS-VU leading by a slim margin of 5-points at quarter time. The second quarter saw Elsternwick find more luck getting the footy through the big sticks, as UHS-VU will be ruing missed opportunities with inaccuracy, which resulted in their lead diminishing to just 2-points at half-time.

As the temperature continued to drop throughout the afternoon, a lower scoring third quarter saw just three majors recorded – two of those going to UHS-VU which afforded them saw breathing space heading into the final term.

A close and tense final quarter saw Elsternwick score the first goal to reduce their deficit to two-points, followed by a UHS goal, another Elsternwick goal, but a final UHS-VU goal to Lachlan Hull sealed the home side victory which puts them 7th on the ladder at the end of this round.

Kew survived a scare from a rampaging Therry Penola, in a 5-point victory at Fawkner Reserve.

On paper, Kew looked like the obvious team to back in this match but to Therry Penola’s credit, they gave them a real challenge and sent the rest of the competition a message that they can contend with the top sides, as the wet and cool conditions kept them in the contest.

Kew started the match on top, converting opportunities inside 50 as Therry Penola’s inaccuracy let them down to give Kew a 9-point lead. Therry Penola’s fortunes changed in the second quarter as their forwards stood up for them and edged them ahead on the scoreboard by half-time.

In these conditions, a clear ‘scoring end’ emerged, as by the end of the third quarter eight of the eleven goals had been kicked at one end. This meant Kew had the upper hand in the third quarter to lead by a narrow 3 points at three-quarter time.

To Kew’s credit, they changed this trend in the final quarter which saw both sides kick four goals, and a couple of additional behinds to Kew saw the Bears win this game by 5-points.

Whilst Therry Penola will have been disappointed not to claim the four points, there are many positives for them to take out of this game, with two of their next three games very winnable.

If onlookers thought the weather in Melbourne was bleak, try heading down to Harry MacDonald Oval in Mount Eliza where it felt many degrees cooler as competition heavyweight Old Peninsula defeated Oakleigh by 48 points.

Both sides were well matched and kept up with each other in the first quarter with Old Peninsula’s accuracy giving them a narrow 3-point buffer at quarter-time. The Pirates built up momentum in the second quarter with three goals to Oakleigh’s one, as Oakleigh were once again let down by inaccuracy in a quarter where they kicked five behinds.

Old Peninsula’s 13-point lead at half-time grew to 24-points at three-quarter-time as the Pirates continued to find the big sticks. Oakleigh couldn’t keep up and the Pirates ran away with it in the fourth quarter to win comfortably.

This match has once again proven that Old Peninsula are a tough proposition at home. With an average winning margin of 51 points in home matches this season, the Pirates know how to play their ground well, and will be a road trip that oppositions fear.

Brunswick recorded their second win on the trot and their third win of 2025 in a 21-point victory over the Monash Blues.

The first term saw most opportunities come Brunswick’s way to see them bank an 8-point lead, but with a scoreline of 1.9 (15) they could’ve been much further ahead. Brunswick began to rectify that in the second quarter as both sides managed three goals to see Brunswick lead by just 7-points at half-time.

Monash kicked the opening goal of the third quarter, so it looked like a real contest was about to emerge, but Brunswick fired back with three consecutive goals to build their lead up to 17 points at three-quarter time. Both sides managed two goals each in the final term but a few additional behinds going the way of Brunswick gave them more breathing room as they held onto the final siren to claim victory.

Round 7 sees the two struggling sides, Elsternwick and the Monash Blues, go head-to-head in a game that will give one of these sides a much needed first win of 2025.

Fifth-placed Oakleigh will come up against the undefeated Ormond, with both sides well positioned in the forward line to kick plenty of goals.

Other games in Round 7 involve Therry Penola hosting UHS-VU, Old Peninsula travelling up the freeway to meet the Preston Bullants, and Brunswick hosting a top two side in Kew.