The race for eighth position is still alive after Richmond over-powered Sandringham by nine points in Sunday’s Round 20 Peter Jackson VFL action.
The ninth-placed Tigers are one win and just 0.05 percentage points behind eighth-placed Essendon with one home-and-away match to play. Richmond will now face Coburg in Round 21 while the Bombers meet the Northern Blues, with both games taking place this Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Zebras slipped out of the top four due to their loss, as the three teams they’re competing with for the last double-chance in finals all won today.
In those games, Geelong toppled the Casey Scorpions by 11 points (and thus handed Collingwood outright top spot for this week), Footscray accounted for Werribee by 63 points, and Port Melbourne – now in fourth position – defeated Frankston by 46 points.
GEELONG 13.5 (83) d CASEY SCORPIONS 10.12 (72)
Form: Geelong – W L W L W / Casey Scorpions – W W W W L
Telling facts: Geelong rallied from deficits of 27 points at half time and 16 points at three-quarter time at Simonds Stadium to end Casey’s four-match winning streak. The Cats held the Scorpions to a solitary goal and booted eight majors of their own in the second half to keep alive their hopes of snatching a top-four spot in next week’s final round.
Leading goalkickers: Lucey 2, Stewart 2, Dobson 2 (Geelong) / Scott 3, Hulett 2 (Casey Scorpions)
FOOTSCRAY 18.19 (127) d WERRIBEE 9.10 (64)
Form: Footscray – W L W W W / Werribee – W W L L L
Telling facts: Footscray claimed a third straight victory by dominating throughout the contest against Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval. The Bulldogs opened up a 27-point lead by quarter time and never looked back, with 2015 All Australian forward Jake Stringer kicking one goal after being dropped from the Western Bulldogs’ senior team.
Leading goalkickers: Long 3, Jamieson 2, Hamilton 2, Campbell 2, Minson 2 (Footscray) / Nahas 3, Porter 2 (Werribee)
* A replay of Werribee vs Footscray will be available to watch on vfl.com.au later tonight.
PORT MELBOURNE 16.8 (104) d FRANKSTON 8.10 (58)
Form: Port Melbourne – W L W L W / Frankston – L L L L L
Telling facts: Port Melbourne stayed in the race for fourth position by blowing the Dolphins away in the first half at Frankston Oval. The Borough quickly had the first four goals of the game on the board and had built a 60-point lead by half time. Frankston limited the damage in the second half but couldn’t avoid a 12th straight defeat.
Leading goalkickers: Hogan 4, Lisle 3, Pearson 3, Dickson 2 (Port Melbourne) / Gardiner 2, Gleeson 2 (Frankston)
RICHMOND 14.14 (98) d SANDRINGHAM 12.17 (89)
Form: Richmond – W W W W W / Sandringham – L L W L L
Telling facts: Richmond notched a fifth consecutive win by over-powering Sandringham in a rainy second half at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. The Zebras held a 21-point lead early in the third quarter, but the Tigers then reeled off seven of the next nine goals – including four to 23rd player Kayle Kirby of the Bendigo Pioneers – to stay in the finals hunt and cause Sandringham to drop out of the top four.
Leading goalkickers: Kirby 5, Conca 2, Vickery 2 (Richmond) / Shenton 3, Fisscher 3, Curren 2 (Sandringham)
* CLICK HERE to read the recap of Saturday's Round 20 VFL action.
CLICK HERE for the full results, best players and goalkickers
CLICK HERE for the updated ladder
* Photo: Arj Giese
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Last Modified on 21/08/2016 17:40