The Casey Scorpions claimed the 2016 minor premiership, Essendon sealed a place in next week’s Legendairy Finals Series and Footscray put itself in the frame to win a top-four spot in Saturday’s Round 21 Peter Jackson VFL action.
The Scorpions capitalised on Collingwood’s 32-point loss to the Bulldogs to overtake the Magpies on top of the ladder and win their first minor flag since 2012 with a 30-point victory over the Box Hill Hawks. Second-placed Collingwood will now meet third-placed Williamstown in a qualifying final at Ikon Park.
The Bombers just needed to defeat the Northern Blues to sew up eighth position ahead of a chasing Richmond and did so to the tune of 73 points. The ninth-placed Tigers accounted for Coburg by 91 points today but their finals hopes had gone up in smoke about an hour earlier.
The Bulldogs will anxiously await the outcome of tomorrow’s clash between Port Melbourne and Geelong, with the Borough able to snatch Footscray’s fourth position and a qualifying final against Casey at Casey Fields if it can prevail by a big enough margin. With seventh-placed Sandringham also in action tomorrow, next week’s elimination-final line-ups are still to be determined.
Meanwhile, in the day’s other match, North Ballarat avoided the wooden spoon by knocking off fellow cellar-dwellar Frankston by 10 points.
* CLICK HERE to read the recap of Sunday's Round 21 VFL action.
ESSENDON 19.17 (131) d NORTHERN BLUES 8.10 (58)
Form: Essendon – L L W W W / Northern Blues – W L L L L
Telling facts: The Bombers booked their finals spot after overcoming a slow start at Windy Hill. The Blues led by seven points at quarter time and were still level at the main break, but Essendon piled on 13 goals to two in the second half to storm to victory. The loss saw Northern end the season in 13th position.
Leading goalkickers: Holmes 4, Hams 3, Edwards 3, Polkinghorne 2 (Essendon) / Wood 2 (Northern Blues)
FOOTSCRAY 16.9 (105) d COLLINGWOOD 10.13 (73)
Form: Footscray – L W W W W / Collingwood – W W W W L
Telling facts: The Bulldogs put themselves in a position to snatch fourth spot by ending Collingwood’s 12-match winning streak at VU Whitten Oval. Footscray trailed by 21 points at quarter time, but had taken an eight-point lead by the main break and eventually put the Magpies away with a six-goal-to-two final term.
Leading goalkickers: Austin 3, Dale 3, Staley 2, Hannan 2 (Footscray) / Hellier 2, Macaffer 2 (Collingwood)
* CLICK HERE for a full replay of Footscray vs Collingwood
RICHMOND 20.15 (135) d COBURG 6.8 (44)
Form: Richmond – W W W W W / Coburg – L L L W L
Telling facts: Despite a strong victory over the Lions at Punt Road Oval being their sixth in succession, the Tigers were unable to break into the top eight. Essendon’s win earlier in the day shut the door on Richmond’s unlikely bid for September action and consigned it to the club’s notoriously regular AFL finishing position of ninth.
Leading goalkickers: Kirby (pictured) 4, Butler 3, Vickery 3, Aarts 2, Lennon 2 (Richmond) / Saad 2 (Coburg)
NORTH BALLARAT 8.18 (66) d FRANKSTON 8.8 (56)
Form: North Ballarat – L L L L W / Frankston – L L L L L
Telling facts: A goal to Andrew Boseley at the 28-minute mark of the last quarter put the Roosters in front of Frankston for good at Eureka Stadium. After the Dolphins led by 10 points at the final change, North Ballarat kicked eight straight behinds before eventually hitting the lead and avoiding the wooden spoon thanks to its third victory.
Leading goalkickers: Marshall 2 (North Ballarat) / all singles (Frankston)
CASEY SCORPIONS 11.20 (86) d BOX HILL HAWKS 8.8 (56)
Form: Casey Scorpions – W W W L W / Box Hill Hawks – L W W L L
Telling facts: The Scorpions claimed the minor premiership thanks to an explosive last quarter at Box Hill City Oval. Casey struggled to score in the first and third terms, trailing the Hawks by nine points at the final change before unleashing six goals to one in the decisive fourth stanza. Box Hill’s loss saw it finish in 10th position.
Leading goalkickers: Kennedy 3, Pedersen 3, Terlich 2, Michie 2 (Casey Scorpions) / W.Langford 3, Spangher 2, Hardwick 2 (Box Hill Hawks)
SUNDAY GAMES:
Port Melbourne vs Geelong (Channel 7)
Werribee vs Sandringham
CLICK HERE for the full results, best players and goalkickers
CLICK HERE for the updated ladder
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VFL MEDIA COVERAGE: August 27/28
TEAMS: VFL Rd 21 / VFL Women's finals
Swisse VFL Women's finals begin
Wynstan Stats Central Rd 20: Geelong's goalkicking guns
Frankston's Brandon Wood - Wynstan Player of the Month for July
Last Modified on 28/08/2016 16:53
