The VFL ladder is starting to take shape for the finals, with wins today to North Ballarat, Williamstown, Footscray and Box Hill Hawks.
The top four teams are closer to being finalised, with Box Hill Hawks just needing one more win to secure the double chance. North Ballarat will be seeing finals action after defeating Geelong, making the Cats no certainty of finals action being half game outside of the top eight.
Let's take a look at the Sunday games in Round 18 of the VFL:
Seagulls secure double chance
Williamstown overcame a slow start to defeat Northern Blues by 40 points at Burbank Oval. The win locks in a top four finish for the Seagulls, as they now aim for the top two, currently sitting in third, even on points but 24% behind Footscray.
After the Blues claimed a four point win in Round one, it looked like it would be the same again as they jumped out to a 22 point quarter time lead with the breeze.
But Williamstown answered in the second term, kicking seven goals to one to jump out to a 20 point half time lead - Ben Casley kicking three goals for the term.
With the breeze in the third term the Northern Blues were unable to hit the lead, with three goals to one they trailed the home side by two points at three quarter time.
The final term was all Williamstown, as they kept the Blues scoreless while adding five of their own to run out 40 point winners.
Willie Wheeler continued his positive return from injury to again be among the best players, along with State Combined invitee Adam Marcon and Anton Woods. Sam Cattapan was the best for the Blues with 33 disposals, along with Jack Anthony and Nick Holman.
Roosters finals bound
North Ballarat is now two games clear inside the top eight, after defeating Geelong by 17 points at Eureka Stadium. The Roosters now sit in fifth spot with two rounds to play, and are all but assured a finals berth with the teams below them all playing each other in the remaining rounds. Geelong now sits half a game outside of the top eight, needing to win more games than Sandringham on the run home.
It was a slow start for the Roosters as Dom Gleeson , Lincoln McCarthy and Josh Walker kicked the first three goals before the home side registered their first score, helping Geelong to a 28 point quarter time lead.
This was quickly reversed in the second term as North Ballarat kicked five unanswered goals to lead by five points at half time. Matt Sully and Josh Walker were forced to share ruck duties against Eric Wallace with Dawson Simpson leaving the field in the second term, not to return.
It was North Ballarat with the injury concerns in the third term, as Daniel Wells headed to the rooms early in the term with a knock to the shin, and did not return to the field as a precaution. The Roosters were out to a 16 point lead half way through the quarter, but two late goals to the Cats cut the margin at three quarter time to under a goal.
After Mitch Wilkins extended the Roosters four point three quarter time lead with the first major of the last, it was left to the Jackson’s of Thurlow and Hollmer to give the visitors a one point lead nine minutes into the final term. Wilkins then regained the lead for the Roosters, Nick Couch extended it to 11 points then Wilkins finished the game with his third after the siren to give the Roosters a 17-point win.
Lachie George was best afield for North Ballarat with 33 disposals and two goals, and he was joined in the best by Liam Anthony (25) and Tony Lockyer (21). Walker, Jordan Schroder and Thurlow were the best for Geelong, with Hollmer the only multiple goal kicker with two.
Another flying start for Footscray
Footscray continues to charge towards a top two finish, with a 40 point win over Werribee Tigers. The win ended the Tigers’ top four chances, as they fall two and a half games behind fourth placed Box Hill Hawks.
Footscray kicked the first eight goals of the game, opening a 49-point quarter time lead with Jarrod Grant the key target early with three goals.
Majak Daw finally kicked the first goal of game for Werribee in second term, before leaving the ground on a stretcher later in the quarter with a leg injury. But the Tigers could only manage two goals for the term, kicking the first and last of the quarter with Footscray adding another four in between to extend their margin to 59 points at half time.
It was a more competitive performance by Werribee in the second half, kicking eight goals to five – finishing with a six goal final term – but the damage had been done.
Grant finished with five goals for the Bulldogs, Jason Tutt 3, with two each to Tory Dickson 2 and Ayce Cordy 2. Fletcher Roberts, Tom Young (30 disposals), and captain Nick Lower (28) were the best for the Bulldogs, with Kieren Harper, Jarred Moore and Nathan Laracy were the best for Werribee, Mason Wood and Addam Maric the only multiple goal kickers with two each.
Hawks challenged but get points
Box Hill Hawks overcame a third quarter challenge from Frankston to come away with a 30-point win. In a low scoring affair, the Hawks kept the home side goalless in the first half, taking a 14-point lead into the second half.
In the third term Box Hill jumped out to a five goal lead, as Frankston recorded its ninth behind without scoring a major. But the home side suddenly found the goals, and kicked all four of their goals for the game during the third term as they got to within eight points as the likes of Michael Lourey and Khan Haretuku registered majors.
The final term however belonged to the Hawks though, Jonathon Ceglar kicked his second to join Tim O’Brien as the Hawks multiple goal kickers, as the visitors settled to kick three final term goals to win by 30 points.
Kyle Cheney was a rock in defence with 20 disposals, and was among the best along with Mitch Hallahan (28) and Ceglar.
Nick Newman topped off a big week with a NAB AFL State Draft Combine invite with 40 possessions, and was best on ground with Ben Cavarra and Josh Newman.
- CLICK HERE for the Rd 18 best players, goal kickers and qrt by qrt scores
- CLICK HERE for the updated ladder
CLICK HERE for all the Saturday results and game reviews
Last Modified on 11/08/2014 11:52