Mazenod & Parkdale Statement Wins as St Bedes/Mentone Build

Some big statements were made by Mazenod and Parkdale, both winning by more than a century, well on their way to a 2026 finals campaign.

Fitzroy remain undefeated and dangerous, while St Bedes/Mentone and Old Peninsula continue to register important wins as we near the business end of the season.

Fitzroy 15.10 (100) def Hampton Rovers 8.7 (55)

Anticipated to be a fiery contest, Fitzroy proved they are head and shoulders above the rest of the competition, recording a 45-point victory off the back of a seven-goal third quarter blitz.

For most of the game, the margin hovered around the two-goal mark, as Hampton set their sights on inflicting Fitzroy’s first loss of the season. Yet, Fitzroy’s physicality around the contest and ability to withstand the Rovers’ forward-half pressure was ultimately the difference between the two sides.

Corrupted by a long injury list, the Rovers kept their noses in the game until half-time, trailing by 12 points at the main break. 

“Fitzroy got going after four minutes into the third quarter, and we lost contact for 8-10 minutes of the third term, which the Roys made us pay,” Rovers coach Paul Carrigan said.

The third quarter was truly reflective of Fitzroy’s best football which we have grown accustomed to seeing in their 11^th straight win this season.

Bill Clayton found room in the forward fifty to boot three goals for the afternoon, while Harrison Grace damaged the scoreboard with a trifecta of majors.

In a blink of an eye, Fitzroy established a 44-point buffer on the home side to end the third term, and in effect, the game.

Carrigan was pleased with his side’s effort in the last quarter, but ultimately it was too little too late.

“We found it incredibly hard in the last quarter,” he said.

Hampton now sit a game behind third and have St Bedes/Mentone breathing down their necks after their victorious weekend against Marcellin.

Glen Eira/Old McKinnon 2.4 (16) def by Parkdale Vultures 19.24 (138)

The high-scoring Vultures came to play on Saturday afternoon, kicking 19 majors in a 122-point drubbing of Glen Eira/Old McKinnon.

Mitch Brown continued his stellar season in front of goal, kicking six, while Jack Vorbach made the most of his opportunities, kicking four himself.

The Gryphons mounted an early challenge in the first quarter, opening the scoring thanks to a classy team build up to a Jesse Maxfield goal. Before too long, Brown also found himself on the scoresheet with the Vultures’ first goal of the afternoon.

The Vultures could have opened a match-winning lead in the first quarter had they kicked accurately, leaving the game evenly poised at the quarter-time break.

Four consecutive majors to start the second quarter improved the margin in a hurry, putting the Gryphons on the back foot at the mid-way point of the second term.

Kai Day had a ‘day’ out, being named one of the best-afield by his coach Owen Lalor. Day was joined by Olly Green, Vorbach, Jake Ryder, Kai Colella, and Adam Eales on the list of most influential players on the ground, frequently winning first possession and giving their teammates 43-scoring shots.

Parkdale continued to score with ease in the second half, while their backline remained resolute in keeping the Glen Eira forwards to just one more goal after the main change. 

In a tough afternoon for the home team at Packer Park, Stuart Carey, Jack Richardson, Josh Boul, Ashley Carey, Lachlan Mirams and Jack Carey all stood tall in the loss.

The Vultures’ ability to score quickly and in quantities looms a significant threat for opponents in the coming weeks. Look out!

Marcellin OC 5.4 (34) def by St Bedes/Mentone 12.15 (87)

Overturning the result of last year’s corresponding fixture, the Tigers rallied through a first-quarter arm wrestle to record a resounding 53-point win on Marcellin’s home turf.

Marked by both teams turning the ball over between the arcs, the first quarter only recorded two majors, leaving the deficit at one-point in favour of St Bedes/Mentone.

“We were able to steady a bit in the second quarter and get our game going which was nice,” Tigers Coach Joel McKee said.

The larger ground suited St Bedes’ ball movement, flicking the ball wide before scything through the middle of the Marcellin College main oval. The Tigers dispelled some first-quarter jitters by booting the game’s next five goals, all the while keeping Marcellin scoreless.

“As the game went on, we started to open them up a bit,” McKee said.

The five-goal margin at half-time seemed sufficient for St Bedes, especially when Marcellin were not scoring as freely.

Jai Pugsley impressed in his first senior game for the Tigers, scoring 4.5 in a dominant display by the young forward.

McKee also praised the work of Jake Harding and Xavier Russo in setting up the 53-point win.

“Jake Harding and Xav Russo were excellent for us… Jake had a fair stint out with a hamstring and has played the last few now,” McKee said.

From the home team’s perspective, captain Josh Daniel led from the front with two goals, while Henco Cronje, Patrick Curtin, and vice-captain Adam Tomaro hit the scoreboard.

In doing so, the Tigers have recorded their seventh win for the year and continue to place increasing pressure on Hampton in fourth.

PEGS 4.4 (28) def by Mazenod 20.13 (133)

Mazenod did not put a foot wrong against PEGS, winning comfortably by 105 points, thanks to a seven-goal haul by Hayden Boyce.

Boyce continues to challenge Parkdale’s Mitch Brown to lead the league in goals this season and his seven goals consolidate his reputation as one of the premier forwards in the competition.

The visitors started the game like a house on fire, booting five goals to a goalless PEGS. The ball continued to roll that way in the second quarter, with seven consecutive goals putting the game to bed at half-time.

PEGS crumbled under Mazenod’s immense pressure, frequently turning the ball over when coming out of the back half.

The home side did discover some scoreboard momentum, kicking three goals to Mazenod’s four in the third. Aiden Testro kicked two, while Oscar Adams and Jackson Kerr also hit the scoreboard in a much-improved quarter for PEGS.

Mazenod made it nine individual goalkickers when Jarryd Raffa converted at the 10^th minute mark of the final term, putting the icing on the cake for a complete performance by the visitors.

Aside from Boyce, Patrick Klonis, Ethan Sherlock, Lachie Stewart, Daniel O’Driscoll, and Andrew Kovac were dominant in the 105-point victory, helping Mazenod continue their rise up the Premier C Men’s ladder.

Old Peninsula 13.6 (84) def Ormond 8.16 (64)

After a turbulent start to the season, Old Peninsula have made it two wins on the bounce, this time against Ormond by 20 points at Harry MacDonald Oval.

According to the old adage, bad kicking is bad football and Ormond booted themselves out of the game with 16 behinds.

The Monders were the better team for the first half, taking a 10-point lead at quarter time, then seven points at half time. Yet, Ormond could not make the most of their opportunities at goal, having 16 scoring shots to the Pirates’ nine.

The tide began to shift after the main change, with the Pirates getting in front through back-to-back majors early in the third quarter. The goal-for-goal nature of the third term continued, leaving Old Peninsula with their noses in front by eight points at the final break.

Bailey Payze put on a clinic in front of goal, willing his team into a winning position thanks to his five-goal haul.

Tom Feldgen and Andrew Hochegger both slotted two goals, while George Fletcher, Rhett Gowans, Matt Stone and Luca Tonner each kicked one each, all playing their part in firing the Pirates to a 20-point win, overcoming Ormond’s persistent challenge all afternoon.

Ormond found themselves within eight points of Old Peninsula at the 12^th minute mark of the final term, but the home side kicked away again with the last two goals of the game to run out by 20-points.