Parkdale Vultures upset as Mazenod chase top two

Parkdale Vultures 7.14 (56) def Fitzroy 7.11 (53)

Parkdale Vultures produced the boil over of Round 12, running down premiership fancy Fitzroy with a stunning final-term surge at Gerry Green Reserve on Saturday.

Fitzroy, unbeaten and imperious for most of the season, looked to be cruising after dominating the opening exchanges.

The visitors kicked away to an 11-point lead at quarter-time before extending their advantage to 18 points at the main break, with the Vultures unable to find any answers in the forward half.

But the Vultures refused to fold. The hosts clawed their way back into the contest through the third term, cutting the margin to nine points at the final change, and then produced an amazing last quarter comeback, outscoring Fitzroy 20-8 after three-quarter-time to snatch victory by three points.

Kai Day and Lloyd Bailey were instrumental in the fightback, each finishing with two goals. Vice-captain Olly Green also chimed in on the scoreboard and was among Parkdale’s best alongside Adam Eales, Max Phillips, Liam Marshall and Jack Edwards.

For the Roys, Connor McAuliffe and Wilson Roberts booted two goals apiece, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the fast-finishing Vultures. Luke Minahan, Jacob Bourke, Jack Hart, Charles Roberts, Matteo Bombardieri and Sam Jordan were among the visitors’ better performers on a day that will sting given their season-long dominance.

The result throws the top of the Premier C Men’s ladder into sharp focus heading into the run to September.

St Bedes/Mentone Tigers 19.20 (134) def Glen Eira/Old McKinnon 2.5 (17)

St Bedes/Mentone Tigers produced their most emphatic performance of the season on Saturday, running riot over Glen Eira/Old McKinnon to the tune of 117 points.

The result was effectively decided inside the opening term, with the Tigers piling on 6.5 to Glen Eira’s solitary behind to set the tone for what would become a one-sided procession.

St Bedes extended the margin steadily from there, adding 3.5 in the second quarter and a further 4.2 in the third before cutting loose after three-quarter-time with a six-goal final term to blow the scoreline out beyond 100 points.

Glen Eira, by contrast, could barely find the scoreboard, managing just two goals for the entire afternoon as the injuries and inconsistency struggles continued to bite the Gryphons.

Liam Bowles was best afield with five goals, well supported by Jake Harding, who added three of his own to go with a strong all-round performance.  

Louis Hanson, vice-captain Lachlan Palfrey, Jai Pugsley and William Skinner all chipped in with multiple goals as St Bedes shared the scoring load across the ground. Zac Calvez, Ollie Etienne, Xavier Russo and Thomas Tyquin rounded out the Tigers’ best.

For Glen Eira, Ashley Hunter and Bailey Scrivener were the only players to trouble the scorers, while Jack Richardson, Jack Carey, James French, Stuart Carey, Jesse Maxfield and Jasper Waldren battled hard in a losing cause.

Ormond 16.17 (113) def Marcellin OC 6.11 (47)

Ormond posted a comfortable 66-point victory over Marcellin OC on Saturday, controlling the contest from the opening bounce.

The home side set up the win with a strong first term, kicking 3.7 to Marcellin’s solitary goal to lead by 19 points at quarter-time.

Ormond continued to build through the middle of the game, adding 4.2 in the second term and a further five goals in the third to push out to a 48-point lead at the final change.

The margin stretched further in the last as the Monders finished with 4.3 to the Eagles one behind, rounding out a dominant afternoon in front of goal.

Captain Jackson Hille was the standout, booting five goals to lead all comers, while Samuel Bailey and Ryan Barton each finished with three majors of their own.

Jasper Boag, Ryan Konstanty, Harrison Ross and Ben Williams also found the scoreboard as Ormond had a spread of goalkickers across the ground.

James Tsakonas, Aaron Taylor, Joshua Levine, Tom Stait and Harrison Burt were also named among the best.

Marcellin fought hard without ever threatening to trouble the scoreboard against Ormond’s dominant defensive unit.

Shaun Tyquin was the visitors’ best forward, kicking two goals, while Liam Atherton, Caleb Barry, James May and Lachlan Rush each managed a single major.

James Stapleton, Adam Tomaro, Josh Atwell, Hamish Geary and Elliot Atwell were among Marcellin’s better contributors on a difficult day.

The result keeps Ormond’s season firmly on track, while Marcellin will look to regroup as they push for a spot in the finals mix.

Mazenod OC 19.16 (130) def Old Peninsula 3.6 (24)

Mazenod produced a ruthless display on the weekend, running out 106-point winners over Old Peninsula on the back of a stunning 12-goal haul from Hayden Boyce.

The home side never let the Pirates into the contest, racing to a 32-point lead at quarter-time and continuing to pile on scores throughout the afternoon.

By half-time the margin had swelled to 54 points, and Mazenod kept their foot down after the main break, adding a further eight goals in the third term alone to push the lead out past 80 points heading into the final quarter.

A strong last term rounded out the rout, with Mazenod finishing with 19 goals to Old Peninsula’s three for the match.

Boyce was simply unstoppable up forward, booting an extraordinary 12 goals to headline a dominant team performance.

Mitchel D’Angelo and Tom Riley kicked two and Matt Fewings, Thomas Fewings and Jarryd Raffa hit the scoreboard as Mazenod shared the load around Boyce’s monster game.

Jonathan Hendricks, Tom McKenna and Hayden Boyce himself were named among the best afield alongside the Fewings brothers and D’Angelo.

Old Peninsula fought hard in trying circumstances, with Pete Evans-Brumby, George Fletcher and Andrew Hochegger each kicking a goal.

George Fletcher, Jake Williams, Nelson Forrest, Hamish McLeod, Edward Evans-Brumby and Craig Sanders were the visitors’ most consistent performers on a tough day out.

The result further cements Mazenod’s credentials as genuine premiership contenders, while Old Peninsula continue to search for consistency at the wrong end of the Premier C Men’s ladder.

PEGS 9.8 (62) def by Hampton Rovers 19.16 (130)

Hampton continued their strong form with a commanding 68-point victory over PEGS on Saturday, with Tommy Keyte leading the charge in front of goal.

The Rovers piled on the scoreboard pressure throughout, finishing with 19 goals to PEGS’ nine as they controlled large stretches of the contest.

Keyte was the standout, kicking five goals from three scoring shots, while William Crawford chimed in with four of his own.

Vice-captain Liam O’Driscoll continued his rich vein of form with three majors, while Max Blackie and Toby Clarkson added two apiece as Hampton spread their scoring across the ground.

Lui Coughlin, Christian Carnovale, Daniel Field and Mason Carrigan were also among the best afield for the visitors.

The Bombers were competitive for periods but couldn’t match the Rovers’ firepower up forward.

Jesse Cooke and Daniel Flaherty each finished with two goals, while Liam Flaherty, Sahand Ghasimzadeh and Jackson Kerr also hit the scoreboard.

Zach Genovesi, James Akhurst, Ethan Caddeo and Liam Flaherty were among PEGS’ better performers in a losing effort.