In the three VFL Round 11 games today, it was the top eight teams that prevailed.
Top two sides Box Hill Hawks and Port Melbourne got off to great starts in the first half to set up their wins, while Werribee left its run till the final term to overcome Geelong, and deny them a chance to return to the top eight at the end of the round.
Let's take a look at how the games unfolded:
Inaccurate Port still takes the points
Port Melbourne has returned to the winners list after a strong win over fellow standalone side Frankston. The Borough kept the Dolphins goalless in the first term, and if not for inaccuracy could have recorded at bigger win than the eventual 42 point victory.
The backline dominance continued for Port, with Sam Pleming and Daniel Noonan in the best, along with Damian Mascitti who picked up 35 disposals across the half backline helping repel numerous Frankston attacks.
Trailing by five goals at quarter time, Frankston were finally able to record its first goal early in the second term, but Port answered with another four goals to end an inaccurate term which say them kick 4.9, but still hold a 62-point half time lead.
While Frankston produced a better second half, the damage had already been done as the Dolphins were unable to record back to back wins.
Sandy Robinson, Chris Cain, Shannon Lange and Adrian Bonaddio all kicked two for Port. Luke Potts and Ben Cavarra the only multiple goal scorers for Frankston and were among their best, along with. Josh Tynan and Scott Simpson.
McEvoy shines in Hawks win
Box Hill Hawks has retained top spot on the ladder after Round 11, with a convincing 85-point win over Casey Scorpions.
A nine goal to nil final term provided the Hawks with a handy percentage boost as they enter the second half of the season. Ben McEvoy was the star with five goals and 36 hitouts in his second game back from injury, closely followed by Sam Cust with four goals.
Injuries hampered Casey in the second half with Shannon Byrnes and Tim Smith not returning to the field, but the Scorpions were already trailing by 38 points after a goalless second term.
The Hawks had winners on every line, as Marc Lock, Jonathan Simpkin (31 disposals) and Alex Woodward (27) dominated in the middle, and the defence restricted Casey to just five goal scorers.
For Casey, Viv Michie (30 disposals), Sam Blease (28), Alex Georgiou and Dom Barry were among their best, with Jack Fitzpatrick their only multiple goal scorer with two.
K-Rock Cup heads to Werribee
Werribee has shrugged off a poor recent record in close finishes to produce a nine point win over Geelong to claim the K-Rock Cup.
The result was book ended by six unanswered goals to start the game, and five to finish as the Tigers overcame a 23-point deficit early in the final term to claim the win. Majak Daw was awarded the Damian Drum Medal for best on ground, pushed deep forward in the last quarter to help the visitors over the line.
After Werribee dominated the first term, 23rd player Geelong Falcon Aaron Christensen extended the Tigers’ lead to 31 points early in the second.
Geelong however answered with a nine goal unanswered run to lead by 23 points late in the third term. While Tom Gribble goaled late reduced the Cats’ lead to 17 at three quarter time, Jackson Hollmer again pushed the Cats lead out to 23 points with the first goal of the final term and it looked difficult for the Tigers to get back.
But Werribee were not ready to see another game slip in the final term as they piled on five goals to finish the game full of run and claim a memorable victory.
Porter, Michael Sodomaco and and Daw were the multiple goal kickers for Werribee with two each, with their best Daw, Sodomaco, Ben Speight and Jye Bolton.
For Geelong, Hollmer was their only multiple goal kicker with two, and he was among their best along with Jansen and Mitch Brown.
CLICK HERE for the full results, best and goals
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SUNDAY GAMES
Bendigo Gold v Northern Blues
Collingwood v Footscray (VFL Radio)
Williamstown v Sandringham
Coburg v Essendon
North Ballarat v Richmond
Last Modified on 23/06/2014 13:10