In the Saturday Rd 13 matches, top eight teams Port Melbourne, Collingwood and Geelong all prevailed.
The three teams all side inside the top six of the Bailey Ladders VFL Ladder, with all three to enjoy a rest next weekend as part of the Round 13 split round.
Port wins standalone battle
Port Melbourne has broken their three game losing streak to defeat Bendigo by 59 points at North Port Oval. Despite 14 scoring shots to four in the first term, Bendigo made the most of their opportunities pushing forward and trailed the home side by 20 points. The Gold cut the margin to just nine points after scoring the first two goals of the second term, but it spurred Port into action, kicking four of the next five goals to end the term 27 points up at half time. Josh Scipione was lively up forward for Port with three of his game high six goals kicked in the first half.
Despite Bendigo kicking the opening goal of the third term, Port Melbourne took control of the game with a six goal unanswered run, with John Baird giving his side first use of the ball out of the middle, and the likes of Dean Galea (four goals) plus Dale Whelan and Clayton Hinkley (three goals each) providing options up forward.
Despite Port getting out to a 77-point lead in the final term, Bendigo never gave up fighting kicking the final three goals of the game, with Jack Sheahan finishing with three goals, and the likes of Tom Hams (23 disposals), Alik Magin (37) and Shannen Lange (three goals) among their best. Baird was a standout for the home wide with 36 disposals, with Scipione (20), Mitch Wooffindin (20) and Wayde Skipper named their best.
Geelong new ladder leaders
Geelong moved back to top spot on the Peter Jackson VFL ladder with a convincing 74-point win over North Ballarat. The Cats overcame the early loss of Nathan Vardy who was stretchered off after a head clash in the opening minutes of the game, to stop the three game winning streak of the Roosters. After leading by 15 points after a close first term, Geelong opened the game up with seven goals to two in the second term to head into the second half with a 47-point advantage. The Cats continued their dominance in the second half, proving to have too many forward options and a superior midfield.
Trent West had 60 hitouts, dominated in the middle, helping the likes of Billie Smedts (11 disposals to three quarter time before being rested) and George Horlin Smith, who was the Cats leading possession getter with 23 disposals. Troy Selwood and Mitch Brown both finished with 18 disposals each. Returning from injury, Jared Rivers and Travis Varcoe had 8 and 7 disposals respectively.
Ryan Bathie continued his conversion from a defender to key forward target kicking 4.2 (with five marks) to be the Cats leading goal scorer ahead of Horlin Smith with three, and Dom Gleeson, Ben Raidme and Daniel Gibbs with two each. For North Ballarat, Liam Anthony once again led the disposals with 26 and 8 marks, with Myles Sewell with 21 and Luke Kiel with 19. Bill Driscoll returned from injury with 12 disposals, four marks and 2.3, while Luke Delaney, Ben Mabon and Anthony were named the Roosters best.
Collingwood continues climb up ladder
Collingwood has drawn level with the Box Hill Hawks in fourth spot on the Peter Jackson VFL ladder, after inflicting the home sides’ second loss in a row. The Magpies hit the front in the third term in a closely fought game, with scores level in time on of the final term. But a late goal to Dayne Beams – his second for the final term - gave Collingwood a seven point win – their third win in a row, and second on the trot against a team above them on the ladder.
Inaccuracy to goal hampered both sides in the opening quarter, as 19 shots at goal only produced seven goals, but gave Box Hill a four point quarter time lead. The Hawks increased this in the second term to 18 points, as the home side shared around the goals up forward with seven separate goal kickers. Collingwood hit the front in the third term, with Beams starting to have an influence (28 disposals) and Brody Grundy (28 hitouts – two goals) got on top in the ruck against Luke Lowden and Sam Grimley. Lachlan Keefe continued his return from injury down back, and proved hard to pass in the final term as the Hawks drew level. But with the experience of Marty Clarke (34 disposals), Kyle Martin (two goals and 26) plus captain Jack Hellier, Collingwood were able to hold on for an important away from home win.
Jackson Paine (10 marks), Beams, Martin and Grundy were the multiple goal kickers for Collingwood with two each, with Keefe, Clarke, Beams and Jackson Ramsay among their best. For Box Hill, Liam Tobin was their only multiple goal kicker with two, with Jordan Kelly, Angus Litherland, Sam Iles, Mitch O’Donnell and Kyle Cheney their best.
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Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 06/07/2013 19:15