Ten Straight for Fitzroy & Old Peninsula Stun PEGS

In a round where the top four consolidated their positions, the bottom four continue to shuffle, with Old Peninsula securing a massive boilover against PEGS to keep the William Buck Premier C Men’s wooden spoon race alive.

Marcellin OC 3.8 (26) def by Fitzroy 14.16 (100)

No challenge is too large for Fitzroy in 2026 as they strung together another complete performance against Marcellin, making it 10 wins in a row.

The win was all but sealed in the opening term, as Fitzroy piled on 34 points to Marcellin’s zero, thanks to Bill Clayton’s two goals and Matteo Bombardieri, Nathan Ligris, and Jacob Burke with majors of their own.

Marcellin failed to fire a shot in the first quarter, which served as a true testament to Fitzroy’s defensive structure holding firm.

The Roys hardly got out of first gear, putting Marcellin under siege with repeated inside-50 entries, that gave Clayton and others a wealth of opportunities at goal.

Sam Jordan and Harry Tauber joined Clayton on the multiple goalkickers list with some smart finishes of their own. By half-time the margin was a comfortable 44 points in favour of the visitors.

The second half was a much-improved effort by Marcellin, highlighted by deputy vice-captain Lachlan Rush’s three goals.

The Eagles had greater looks at goal, as James May, Luke Daffey, Adam Tomaro, and Patrick Curtin got their hands on the ball more frequently, although the home side were not as polished as the ladder leaders, which meant that Fitzroy were never really threatened.

An eight-goal second half by the visitors extended the buffer to 74 points at the final siren, and crucially, a significant percentage boost that has them eight points clear of Parkdale in second position on the William Buck Premier C Men’s ladder.

Marcellin should be encouraged by their second half showing against Fitzroy, especially as they face St Bedes/Mentone in a home encounter next week.

Mazenod 11.12 (78) def Glen Eira/Old McKinnon 9.3 (57)

Mazenod have outmuscled Glen Eira/Old McKinnon in a low-scoring affair at Central Reserve, off the back of a five-goal final quarter.

Goalscoring was difficult all day, as the game was predominantly played between the arcs. Glen Eira booted the game’s first major at the sixth-minute mark, which was immediately responded to by Mazenod’s Jack Caspersz. Three consecutive goals in the latter half of the first term put Mazenod’s nose in front at the first break.

However, Brett Dunne’s squad had the game played on their terms with three of the second quarter’s five goals, kicking their way in front by four points nearing time-on in the second term.

Yet, as they were for most of the afternoon, Mazenod were not overwhelmed by the momentum changes, with Andrew Kovac kicking truly to give the home side a 13-point advantage at half-time.

Jack Caspersz was influential in wrestling the momentum in favour of Mazenod, as he booted four goals in his best outing for the season.

Crucially, when the Gryphons hit the lead, they were unable to hold their scoreboard advantage for very long. Just 10 points separated the two sides at three-quarter-time, leaving the match evenly poised heading into the final term.

A five goals to three burst followed, with Mazenod making the most of their opportunities for the first time in the game’s most critical juncture. Mazenod’s wayward goalkicking kept the door open for the Gryphons to pounce, but it was the former that were too strong when it mattered most.

Mazenod’s 21-point victory keeps them tied to fourth position, only separated by percentage. It is fair to say that Glen Eira missed an opportunity to revive their season after being in striking distance all afternoon.

Hampton 16.11 (107) def St Bedes/Mentone 12.4 (76)

Hampton is humming at the right time of the season, banking another victory at home against a defiant St Bedes/Mentone at Boss James Reserve.

After another productive week on the training track according to coach Paul Carrigan, the Rovers executed the game plan well with strong performances across the ground. But it was the Tigers who leapt out of the gates strongly, with a four goal to three opening term giving them a goal advantage at quarter-time.

“St Bedes pressed us into an arm wrestle in the first half,” Carrigan said. 

Hampton replied swiftly with consecutive majors to open their account in the second quarter, as Joshua McPherson and William Crawford got busy in the forward half.  McPherson and Crawford’s output helped the Rovers put on a six-goal quarter that saw them fly past the gritty Tigers.

All facets of Hampton’s game clicked into gear shortly after putting the Tigers to the sword.

“Our defence, matchups, and tempo saw us pull away in the third quarter,” Carrigan added.

Despite scoring the first two majors of the second half, Hampton steadied again through goals from Dan Hall, Crawford and Liam O’Driscoll, to lead by an unassailable margin of 27 points at three-quarter-time.

“To their credit they worked their way back into the contest,” St Bedes/Mentone coach Joel McKee said about the third term.

St Bedes could not stop the third quarter rot according to McKee, not aided of course by unforced turnovers in their back half.

“We were really flat with how we gave them goals right throughout the day…probably just gave the ball back too easily in dangerous parts of the ground.”

“Stopping momentum has been a challenge for us against the best teams right throughout the year and it was similar again on Saturday.”

The Rovers’ 31-point victory puts them comfortably inside the top four, while St Bedes missed an opportunity to jump ahead of Mazenod into fourth.

Old Peninsula 17.16 (118) def PEGS 13.13 (91)

Old Peninsula has snagged their first win in five weeks to down PEGS by 27 points at Harry MacDonald Oval. The Pirates overturned a 14-point deficit at quarter time to charge home in the second half.

Captain-coach Brendan Dunne was instrumental in stirring the Pirates’ victory, booting five goals for his best performance for the year. George Fletcher, Craig Sanders, and Andrew Hochegger were the other multiple goalkickers, supporting Dunne up forward.

PEGS had a productive first term that saw them boot three goals to Old Peninsula’s one, in an opening term that yielded them a 14-point margin at the break. The slow-starting Pirates kicked into gear in the second quarter, offering elite pressure to force front half turnovers.

“Peninsula won it with a patch in the second quarter…our defence got a bit panicked as the ball got over the back,” PEGS coach Rob Kerr said.

Kerr noted the efforts of his opposition coach Brendan Dunne in mounting a comeback that saw the two sides level at the main change.

“(Brendan Dunne) was the difference in the end with his goals…he outmuscled and outsmarted his opponents.”

PEGS just could not stop the wave of Old Peninsula’s forward forays, culminating in conceding another five-goal quarter that saw the Pirates occupy a 12 point lead at three-quarter-time.

Full forward Riley Simmons attempted to put PEGS on his back with a monster six-goal haul for the afternoon.

From 12 points up at three-quarter-time, the Pirates stormed home with a six-goal final quarter to earn a precious four points for the first time since Round 5.

Parkdale 21.20 (146) def Ormond 7.4 (46)

Parkdale have flexed their muscles against Ormond on Saturday afternoon, notching up their fourth 100-plus point victory in the season to date. The win was set up by another Mitch Brown clinic at full forward, as the former Cat, Bomber and Dee booted a six-goal haul in the 100-point shellacking.

The outright goalkicking leader took his season tally past the half-century mark, bringing him to 51 goals. Brown formed part of the twin towers up front, with Eden Honan booting four goals himself.

Owen Lalor praised his side’s first half in setting up the win.

“(We had a) very good first half…controlled the game especially keeping the ball in our forward half.”

Charlie Yee, Olly Green, Kai Day and Jake Ryder were prolific in the backline and midfield respectively, especially around clearance. Their domination ensured Brown and Honan were frequently getting fast entries inside 50. 

Despite the scoreboard showing Parkdale’s domination, Ormond worked their way back into the contest after Parkdale became “complacent” according to Lalor. Ormond kicked five goals in the second half, outperforming their first half of only two majors.  

“We played a heap of kids,” Ormond coach Kyle Pinto said.

Pinto noted an impressive debut by Jimi Windust, a Year 11 student from Brighton Grammar School.  While Flynn O’Toole, not for the first time this season, held his own in the ruck.

Parkdale’s win secured a huge percentage boost for the Vultures, leaving them two games behind the unbeaten ladder leaders Fitzroy. Meanwhile, Ormond will take on ninth-placed Old Peninsula as the wooden spoon race tightens up.