No results from round thirteen can give any comfort for any sides looking to play finals.
Birchip-Watchem who after last week’s round finished in second position now have a fight on their hands to reclaim a top four spot as they now sit in fifth place and have the bye next round. Donald who a couple of weeks ago were outside the four now have moved into second place, but for how long as they take on the ladder leaders in St Arnaud next week. Charlton now move to third after defeating Birchip-Watchem with both sides going into the game minus some key players. Wycheproof-Narraport with a big win over Boort who managed only one goal for the day and that came at the time on period have now re-entered the top four and the interest still continues as we draw closer to our finals.
North Central Football has again ticked the boxes in Representative football with players from our league in Luke Fisher, Donald and Dale Hinkley, Birchip-Watchem playing for AFL Victoria Country against the VAFA in Bendigo and from all reports both North Central players were named as best players with Luke Fisher winning the Medal. And just to add a bit more from our rep football, Tom Campbell from the Wedderburn Club was a member of the winning under 16’s Victoria Country side that won the Division one under sixteens championship on the Gold Coast last week, well done to all our representatives and that is not forgetting the victorious AFL Victoria Country Division 2 side was coached by Charlton’s John Cossar.
Donald v Wedderburn.
Donald and Wedderburn staged a solid contest in the opening term with Wedderburn’s Danny Benaim kicking the first goal of the match, but it would turn out to be the Redbacks only major score for the quarter. Donald first response came from Darcy Harrison who got the Royal Blues on the scoreboard with his first for the day. Scoring for both sides was limited as the game started to get a bit scrappy. Acting coach for the Donald side in Nick Garner brought up Donald’s second goal just prior to the end of the first term to give the home side a five point lead heading to the first break.
In the second quarter Donald got the upper hand over the Redbacks to kick out to a handy lead as the weather appeared to be closing in and any lead under those conditions would be a huge benefit. Donald held Wedderburn to just the one point for the quarter and stretched their lead out to 27-points by the main break. Murrie, Haddow and Wood were better players for Donald and for the Redbacks Postle, Tonkin and Strange were keeping them in the game.
Wedderburn came out a different side after the long break and when Benaim again got the Redbacks going. Wedderburn played more direct football in this term resulting in positive scoring results. Cavallaro, Dahlenburg goaled for the Redbacks and they were with two goals of Donald, before Haddow steadied the ship to for the Royal Blues to give them a bit more breathing space as they got out to lead by 20-points just prior to the siren but right on the bell Nathan Holt goaled for Wedderburn to have them trail by just fourteen points at the last break.
Donald were able to run the game out better than the visitors as Hogan who had been reasonably quiet up forward came to life with three last quarter goals. Cam Steel kicked Wedderburn’s only goal for the final term and Nathan Dunstan kicked the final goal of the game to give the Royal Blues a 32-point win. The win of Donald has now elevated them back into second place and the Redbacks finals chances may have slipped for 2015 as they now sit two games and percentage behind the fifth placed side. Scott Wood at full back, Charles Murrie, Brody Haddow and Glenn Wyatt were best for Donald and best for the Redbacks was Robbie Tonkin, Jacob DeAraugo, Adam Postle and Brett Strange.
Final scores Donald 10-14=74 def Wedderburn 6-6=42
Charlton v Birchip-Watchem
Charlton sitting fourth took on the second placed Birchip-Watchem and would be hoping for a repeat result from their last meeting where the Navy Blues came from behind to win by two points. Both sides went into the game missing some key players. Birchip-Watchem with Castellano in good form was first on the scoreboard with a goal to their small forward. Charlton worked hard to gain entry into their forward line where Jake Noonan was solid in defence. Kyriakides finally broke through for the Charlton side well into the term as the scores levelled nearing the first break but Castellano for the Bulls again broke free to goal and give his side a five point lead at quarter time.
In the second term Charlton got some system into their game as Vigus started to get plenty of the ball and Coach Aaron Walklate also came into the game and this lifted the Navy Blues workrate which resulted in three goals to Vigus to give the Navy Blues the lead at half time. Castellano and Messer registered goals for the Bulls late in the quarter to reduce Charlton’s lead back to just three points by the main break.
The third term was a struggle for both sides and scoring opportunities were limited, Charlton’s defence led by Rhys Thompson turned back all of the Bulls forward moves which resulted in the Bulls failing to add to their half time score. Charlton managed to kick two goals in this quarter and went to three quarter time eighteen points clear and going on the scoring in the three previous terms that lead would nearly get them a win. Daniel Thiesz kicked Charlton’s two goals for the quarter.
Trailing by three goals the Bulls needed to regroup and put in a big effort to gain the four points and hang onto second spot and while Castellano again got them started the Navy Blues Vigus answered to hold their three quarter time margin. Thiesz again goaled for Charlton and the game was slipping away on the Bulls, Messer cut the margin back and Douglas and Castellano also chimed in again give the Bulls a sniff but time was running out and at the end of play the Navy Blues had got home by thirteen points. Best for Charlton was Vigus, Aaron and Ben Walklate, Daniel Thiesz. Better players for the Bulls Jake Noonan, Zac Holmes, Daniel Castellano.
Final scores Charlton 8-10=58 def Birchip-Watchem 7-3=45
Wycheproof-Narraport v Boort
With plenty to play for after suffering defeats in their last two games the Demons were out to prove a point against Boort and a nine goal first term set the pattern for the day’s play.
This was by far the best opening term the Wycheproof-Narraport side had produced for the year and in kicking their big first term score they held the young Magpies scoreless.
In the second term Boort were able to restrict the Demons to just four goals but they still went to half time without a score on the board and trailed the Demons by 90-points and if they could not produce some better form after the long break then this was going to get ugly.
After the half time break things didn’t get any better for Boort as the Demons again peppered the goals and only for some bad kicking could have produced the highest score in the league for the year. Boort were not able to break through the Demons defence and again they went scoreless in the third period as the Demons lead got out to 133-points with a quarter to go. Dec Lourey was playing well for the Demons with Coles, McLennan and Prestige being among their better players. Hatcher, Weaver and Robertson rated mentions as the better players for Boort.
Boort came out with a goal that they at least put a score on the board, but as they had in the earlier quarters found it hard to break through the Demons backline this goal was being hard to achieve. Wycheproof-Narraport kicked a further six goals in the final period and were well on target to keep the Magpies scoreless for the game but in the time-on period Murphy was awarded a free and he didn’t let the opportunity slip to kick the Magpies only goal and score for the game. Lourey, Coles, McLennan, Prestige, George Turner and Rolly White were best players for the Demons while for the Boort Side Chalmers, Robertson, Weaver, Aaron Wilson, Hatcher and Pearce rated among their best.
This win for the Demons places them back in the four with a superior percentage over Birchip-Watchem and Boort’s long year continues.
Next week
St Arnaud v Donald
Wedderburn v Wycheproof-Narraport
Boort v Charlton
Birchip-Watchem bye.
Last Modified on 15/07/2015 23:52