Vultures down Raiders in GF re-match

Therry Penola secured their second win of the season, defeating St Mary’s Salesian by three points at John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve. Trailing by six points at half time, the Lions booted seven goals to three in a barnstorming third term and held on when the Saints came with four goals to two in the last. Jarrod Bannister played his first game of the year for the Lions and kicked six goals in a match-winning performance, while Jack Elliston took his season goal kicking tally to 19 for the Saints after he notched five of his own. The Lions come up against the in-form UHS-VU this weekend where the Vultures have won 25 of their past 29 at Brens, ensuring a tough ask of Damian Peverill’s men. Meanwhile, the Saints will be looking to end a three-game losing streak when they travel to Scammel Reserve to try and curb Aaron Cloke’s Oakleigh.

The 2018 Division 2 Grand Final re-match took place at Parade College on Saturday and the result was much the same as their last encounter with UHS-VU defeating Old Paradians by 73 points. Brandon Jackson reclaimed the type of form that won him the Fullerton Medal/Sharpshooter double last year with seven goals for the Vultures, while Benjamin Dimattina starred in a BOG display. Marcus Nolan recovered from the hard fall he encountered after taking a screamer last week and was the best for the Raiders. A return to Brens Oval generally means only one thing for the powerhouse Vultures; by how much? They will be, however, facing an in-form Therry Penola/Jarrod Bannister combo, while the Raiders will be tasked with bouncing back against Prahran Assumption.

It was a low-scoring affair, but Preston Bullants got the job done when they defeated Prahran Assumption by 11 points, 61-50. The Bullants trailed by five points at half time but kicked six goals to three to see out the match. Gerard Sutton was best afield for the Bullants while Luke Kerr did his utmost to try and give the Two Blues their second win for the season. The Bullants host Kew this weekend and a strong win may see them surpass Peninsula in the four. The Two Blues, who have now lost three on the trot, host Old Paradians at Toorak Park.

Kew proved too strong for Peninsula in their mouth-watering Round 5 match-up, running out 43-point winners at Victoria Park. Five unanswered goals in the first term paved the way for the Bears’ fourth win of the season and secured second spot on the ladder. Matthew O’Dicho top-scored with four majors for the Bears, while Tory Taylor booted three and took his season tally to 15 for the Pirates. Kew will trek to Ruthven Reserve against a Bullants outfit that could produce anything on any given day, while the Pirates will be warm favourites to bounce back against West Brunswick at the school.

Finally, Oakleigh had few issues dispatching West Brunswick last weekend as they ran out comprehensive 80-point winners at Ransford Oval. Leading by 33 points at half time, the Krushers ignited with seven goals to two in the third term before finishing off with another four goals in the last. Leading goal kicker, Aaron Cloke, bagged six for the Krushers and Harry Boontjes starred in a BOG display. Oakleigh and St Mary’s Salesian bodes as an intriguing match-up as the Saints look to bounce back from three straight losses, while West Brunswick will be up against it on the Peninsula.