An upset, comebacks and classic encounters were all part of Round 15 Saturday games, with wins to Essendon, Sandringham, North Ballarat, Williamstown & Coburg.
Sandringham and Essendon both saved their best till the last term, overrunning Richmond and Geelong respectively, while Williamstown ran away from old rival Port Melbourne, North Ballarat enjoyed a comfortable win and Coburg caused the major upset with a win over reigning premiers Footscray.
Read about how all five games unfolded below:
Essendon 15.9 (99) d Geelong 13.8 (86)
Win/loss: Geelong 5-8 / Essendon 9-4
Telling facts: After Geelong led by 42 points early in the third term, Essendon stormed home with a nine of the last 10-goals of the game – including a dominant seven goal to no score final term – to win by 13 points. The Bombers jump into the top four, with Geelong facing an uphill battle to make finals.
Leading goalkickers: Vardy, Menzel, Sheringham 2 (Geelong) / Dempsey 4, Hardingham 2 (Essendon)
Williamstown 17.11 (113) d Port Melbourne 7.11 (53)
Win/loss: Port Melbourne 6-7 / Williamstown 10-3
Telling facts: After an even first term, Williamstown set up its win kicking six of the last seven goals of the opening half to set up a 26-point half time lead. The margin only got as close at three goals in the second half as the Seagulls flew home with six unanswered goals to finish the game 60-point winners.
Leading goalkickers: Lisle 4 (Port Melbourne) / Anastasio 4, Dunell (Williamstown)
Coburg 15.13 (103) d Footscray 7.13 (55)
Win/loss: Coburg 4-9 / Footscray 8-5
Telling facts: Coburg has claimed its first top eight scalp of the season, keeping the reigning premiers Footscray goalless in two terms to run out 48-point winners. The win was set up with an eight goal unanswered second term. The Bulldogs clawed their way back within 23 points in the third term, but the Lions steadied in the last with four multiple goal kickers.
Leading goalkickers: Orr 4, Hill, Macdonald 3 (Coburg) / All singles (Footscray)
Sandringham 15.12 (102) d Richmond 8.9 (57)
Win/loss: Richmond 5-9 / Sandringham 10-4
Telling facts: Sandringham left its best till last, overrunning Richmond in the final term with eight goals to nil to record a 45-point win. With only two goals to half time, the Zebras fired up with a 13-goal second half for their third win on the trot.
Leading goalkickers: McBean 4 (Richmond) / Acres, Membrey, Denis-Lane 3 (Sandringham)
North Ballarat 19.11 (125) d Frankston 3.4 (22)
Win/loss: North Ballarat 4-10 / Frankston 0-14
Telling facts: The North Ballarat small forwards proved hard to stop, with Robin Nahas and Andrew Hooper kicking four each, complimenting tall forward Aaron Black with four as well. It was the first win for the Roosters since Round 10, but they stay bunkered in 14th spot.
Leading goalkickers: Nahas, Hooper, Black 4 (North Ballarat) / All singles (Frankston)
CLICK HERE for the best players, goal kickers and quarter by quarter scores
CLICK HERE for the updated ladder
SUNDAY GAMES
Collingwood v Casey Scorpions (Casey Radio)
Werribee v Box Hill Hawks (VFL Live/video stream/3WBC)
Photo: Arj Giese
Last Modified on 27/07/2015 14:19