Moorcroft crafts a top ton

IN Division One of the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League, Silvan’s Gary Moorcroft showed a masterful display at full forward.
In a 12-goal best on ground performance, and bringing his season tally to 103, Gary Moorcroft performed with distinction in a hard-fought victory over Healesville 19.7.121 to 16.11.107.
Healesville was storming homing at the finish but ran out of time.
Silvan’s third quarter was match-winning, with six goals to none creating too big an advantage for Healesville to overcome.
Silvan under 18 player Cameron Hoare had an outstanding game.
Healesville is not far away, and the likely inclusion of two key forwards next time may see an even closer result.
Nevertheless, Silvan performs when it counts and is a worthy flag favourites.
Gembrook-Cockatoo reversed some indifferent form of late with a stirring victory over a disappointing Mt Evelyn, 22.15.147 to 19.8.122.
Mt Evelyn was never in the hunt and is now in danger of losing complete touch with the top five.
Andrew Shipp was back to his best with a best on ground performance.
Wandin put paid to Olinda’s effort to get off the bottom of the ladder with a comfortable victory 22.13.145 to 10.7.67. Olinda’s recent good form went missing as Wandin dominated all game.
Wandin leaders Adam Bonsak and Paul Grayling stood tall in a tremendous four-quarter performance.
Monbulk has taken two big scalps in Upwey and Woori Yallock in recent weeks and looks to be developing into a formidable unit which may be able to challenge Silvan at finals time.
The team’s 8.15.63 to 7.7 49 victory was a credit to its concentration dedication for the full game. Chris Hughson was best on ground in a great display.
Upwey Tecoma is back with a vengeance and a big victory over an improving Warburton.
With some key players returning, Upwey blasted the opposition in a powerhouse display of team football.
The 24.20.164 to 8.9.57 victory sounds warnings to other finals aspirants that Upwey Tecoma is priming itself and looks well placed sitting one game clear in second position.
Michael Charles and David Van Hoorn with five goals each were stand-out performers, as was Steven Brotja, who was best on ground.
In Division Two, the battle for the final five has shifted and the battle for third to fifth has become fair game for the best contenders over the last five rounds.
Yarra Glen travelled to Thornton for a game that was to be hard and important for both.
Yarra Glen got off to a flier and at half-time it held a lead of 16 points.
Indirect kicking by Thornton in the third term saw the lead at the final change 12 points in Yarra Glen’s favour.
Thornton then kicked 3.0 to Yarra Glen’s 0.2, giving Thornton the four points a game clear on top. Best for Thornton were Hourigan, Hardy, Parker and Musgrove. Yarra Glen’s best were Ratten, Moate, Roberts and Holt.
Alexandra came up against a Kinglake side stung the week before.
The Lakers held Alexandra scoreless in the first term with a 44-point lead.
Alexandra managed some respectability by half-time, reducing the deficit to 25 points.
Kinglake had other ideas, and after half-time inflicted a another scoreless term on its opponent to be up 53 points at the last break.
Alexandra fought back with five goals to two in the last term, but it was all too late. The best for Kinglake were Lovick, Walker, Butterworth and Bannister. Alexandra’s best were Kidd, Krijt, Hill and Wandmaker.
Powelltown was coming off a big win and was up against an Emerald side that had knocked off the reining premiers.
Emerald is never easy to beat at home and Powelltown was on the receiving end.
A 12-goal-to-one first quarter saw Powelltown playing catch-up footy all day. Robbie Stewart with eight and Jesse Mather with seven goals were firing up forward for the Bombers and were well supported by Cusworth and Gough.
The best for Powelltown were Darwall, Ryan Cowan, Walker and Camilleri.
Belgrave travelled to Seville in what many believed to be a given win for the Magpies.
Seville had different ideas and made Belgrave earn every point. A half-time Seville led by 18 points.
But Belgrave has earned its place in the five for good reason and came out after the long break with a renewed energy to be up by a point at the last break, and that was the difference at full time.
The best for Belgrave were Meyer, Pearce and Wilson, who contributed seven goals between them. Seville’s best were Clarke, Mullett, Senior and Wilson.
Yarra Junction, venturing to Yea against a side coming off a big loss, would have given itself every chance of coming home with the points.
Yea went into the first break with a seven-point lead, and after a six-goal second quarter increased the margin to 31 points.
A nine-goal third quarter for Yea sealed Yarra Junction’s fate as Yea’s forwards proved too hard to hold.
McKenna with six and Cunningham with four were among Yea’s best, while Gates, Edwards, Chandler and Clarke battled hard all day for Junction.