Top 4 unchanged after windy round of Division 3 football

Posted on - Latest News, Featured, Division 3 Men's

James Armit

In a wind-swept round of football, it was a case of one team remaining winless atop the ladder and another remaining lossless at other end. It wasn’t just the top and bottom ladder position that remained unchanged after Round 14; two important victories to Swinburne and Westbourne meant the top four stood stagnant, while a comfortable two game buffer was created between fourth and fifth spot on the ladder. Could the top four be locked in?

UHS-VU remain unbeaten on top of the Division 3 ladder after their 173-point win over South Melbourne. It was one way traffic all day with South Melbourne held scoreless for three quarters of football. UHS- VU began the game well enough as they sprinted to a 29-point lead at quarter time and then stretched that to 77 points at half time. Ethan Clarke was at his prolific best as Mitchell Sweeney (7) and Nicholas Ingleton (4) combined to do most of the damage in front of goal for the Vultures. Jeremy Corby and Luke Money tried hard all day for the Bloods as they try to win some respectability back in their 2017 season. They have an opportunity to break their duck next week as they face Point Cook at home, with relegation confirmed the remaining four games of the year are purely a matter of prid for the Districts.

Two of best teams in the competition, Canterbury and Swinburne, did battle at the Canterbury Sportsground in a game that will define home final positions. With only a handful of games remaining in the season, the Razorbacks flexed their muscle with a big away win. They edge closer to securing a top four position whilst making it more difficult for Canterbury to do so. The game lived up to expectations as the two sides were locked in a shoot out for much of the game. Swinburne held the advantage when leading by 17 points at three quarter time and managed to take advantage of the wind and see the lead stretch to 58 points by the final siren. Ben Higgins (6) and Richard Lugg (4) combined to do most of the damage for the Razorbacks whilst Zac Scrase was named their best player. For the Cobras, Andrew Hummerston was the main benefactor in front of goal gaining best on ground honours in the process. The Razorbacks were able to show the rest of the competition what they are capable of with the win and display that they are a premiership smokey due to their good form in the back half of the home and away season. They’ll truly be able to gauge their finals and premiership chances when they face Westbourne Grammarians at home next week.

Most games of VAFA football on the weekend were in some way or another affected by the gale winds blowing for much of the day and the game between La Trobe and Albert Park was a matter of who could make best use of the breeze. Every game is important for Albert Park at this stage as they are now in a battle to save themselves from relegation. They gave themselves every opportunity to win against La Trobe who are two wins from a finals berth and one win away from a relegation spot. La Trobe were able to contain Albert Park as the Falcons led by six points at the first change of ends. In the second quarter, La Trobe piled on 12 scoring shots to one from Albert Park. In the third quarter, the momentum and wind were handed to the Falcons as they reduced the deficit to 15 points. In the end, the Trobers were too strong for the Falcons as they used the wind to the best of their advantage. Mathew Ogle and Bryce Dowler were impressive around the ground all day whilst Jonathon Neville increased his goal tally for the year to 37 with three goals. For Albert Park, James Brick was named for the Falcons as he kicked three goals whilst Daniel Ella was also impressive. Albert Park will look to get back to winning ways when they face off against seventh-placed  Richmond Central next week.

Premiership contenders, Power House, were made to work for their win over Point Cook when the two sides met at the Saltwater Reserve. The House held Point Cook scoreless in the opening quarter but were unable to capitalise on their nine scoring shots only managing three goals. Declan Nannery was at this prolific best named his side’s best with four goals while Adam Collett was also impressive. In the third quarter, Power House stretched their lead to 35 points but with the wind as strong as it was the home side was able to get within the eventual nine points. No goals or best players were recorded at the time of publication. Point Cook will be confident in knocking off bottom placed South Melbourne when they travel to the Lindsay Hassett Oval next week.

Westbourne Grammarians continue to show the rest of the competition why they should be considered as genuine premiership contenders with a comfortable victory over Westbourne Grammarians. Richmond Central have proved to be a tricky opponent this season due to their fire power mainly through Jake Munro who has kicked 58 goals this year. There was only one point separating the sides at the first change of ends but the Warriors managed to the be leading by 21 points at the main break, thanks to Agon Bahtiri’s three goals and Chris Hudson’s best on ground performance. In the third quarter, Richmond Central were able to wrestle the margin back to eight points with Harry Crowe and Wade McGrath dominant around the ground. Jake Munro had a relatively quiet day by his standards with two goals. The Warriors proved to be too strong in the last quarter as the extended the margin to the eventual 34 points.