By Cameron Hutchison
With only two rounds to go in Division 1, Healesville and Woori Yallock share top spot, but Olinda-Ferny Creek and Wandin are only two points behind in equal third and Upwey are solid in fifth place. The final five is set but the make up of it and final placings are up for grabs.
The home and away season ends for Division 2 next week and Belgrave are one win clear on top from Seville while Yarra Glen holds onto third spot with 48 points but have Powelltown just behind them on 44, and Alexandra secure in fifth.
Meanwhile, the veterans played under the lights at Emerald for the Grand Final between Mount Evelyn and Healesville.
Bluegum Veterans
Mount Evelyn 6.11(47) def Healesville 2.6(18)
Mount Evelyn capped off an undefeated home and away season with a 29-point victory in the Veterans Grand Final. Played under lights at Emerald in front of a huge crowd, both teams found the conditions challenging early, with a constant light rain making for a very slippery ball and playing surface. Leading by two behinds to no score at quarter time, Mount Evelyn found some scoreboard impact with 3.5 to 1.2 for a half-time lead of 17 points. After a close third quarter, Healesville threatened to come back with an early goal in the final term, however Mount Evelyn held firm to win the match and lift the trophy at the end of the night.
Mount Evelyn Best: C. Buckland, T. Kleverkamp, M. Holly, P. Tempest, M. Whitehead, J. Dalton.
Healesville Best: R. de Munk, M. Krikas, D. Collins, D. de Munk, A. Peters, E. Hennig.
Division 1 Seniors Football
Round 16
Emerald 17.17(119) def Warburton Millgrove 11.6(72)
Emerald has notched up their fifth win for the season after an early start by Warburton Millgrove. Emerald trailed at the quarter time break by ten points but they swung the game in their favour in the second term kicking 7.6 to 2.4 and the lead was theirs at half time by 22 points. They kicked away in the third quarter and extended their lead to a healthy 43 points. Both sides kicked four goals in the last but it was Emerald’s day.
Emerald Best: D. Karacsonyi, P. White, M. Dompietro, L. Sheppard, M. Pierce, J. Bishop.
Warburton Millgrove Best: L. Barnard, T. Walker, T. McKail, T. Mavric, S. Muir, A. White.
Healesville 15.15(105) def Monbulk 5.10(40)
Healesville have bounced back from last week’s defeat by accounting for Monbulk by 65 points. They share top spot with Woori Yallock as things hot up for minor premiership bragging rights. Healesville never looked in trouble and got the early break by 26 points at quarter time. They kicked away with a four goal to one second quarter and the margin was 37 points at half time. Consistency wins games and they kicked five goals to two in the third term to extend their lead which was now out of reach of Monbulk. Monbulk held them to three goals in the last quarter but the game was already won.
Healesville Best: N. Mende, B. Murphy, D. Plozza, C. Warren, M. Anson, A. Davies.
Monbulk Best: J. Major, B. Jennings-Allen, S. McBride, S. Williams, A. Smith, B. Emmett.
Olinda-Ferny Creek 17.16(118) def Mount Evelyn 7.6(48)
Olinda sit third on the ladder and share with Wandin and are only two points away from top spot after showing Mt Evelyn a clean pair of heels. The game was tight in the first term and Olinda went into the quarter time break with a slim four point lead. They exposed the Mount Evelyn defence in the second quarter and kicked 3.3 to 1.3 to have a lead of 16 points at half time. A five goal to two third quarter and the lead was becoming out of reach of the Mounters. Olinda kept up the momentum in the last and kicked another five goals to one and finished with a very much needed confidence boosting win by 78 points.
Olinda-Ferny Creek Best: E. Greenall, C. Beattie, M. Hottes, T. Millwood, J. Charge, M. Bonuda.
Mount Evelyn Best: C. Urquhart, M. Bail, D. Matarazzo, D. Wootton, M. Gibbons, M. Brierley.
Upwey Tecoma 16.12(108) def Wandin 14.6(90)
Upwey have secured themselves fifth spot and put Wandin in the hot seat and fighting for outright third on the ladder with only two games to go after a hard fought 18-point win. Upwey got the jump on them in the first term kicking 6.4 to 3.2 and claiming a 20-point lead at quarter time. Wandin rebounded in the second quarter kicking 4.1 to 3.3 and reduced the margin to 16 points at half time. Upwey came out with a new purpose in the third term and kicked four goals to two to give themselves some breathing space going into the last. Wandin found their second wind and outscored Upwey kicking 5.1 to 3.2 but they left their run too late in the end.
Upwey Tecoma Best: B. Oates, J. Hackett, K. Grenda, B. Duncan, H. Stanley, D. Waters.
Wandin Best: R. Ross, P. Bruzzese, M. Polkinghorne, N. Molnar, B. Harvey, J. Ladner.
Woori Yallock 26.28(184) def Gembrook Cockatoo 2.4(16)
Woori Yallock share top spot with Healesville and have given their percentage a huge boost after a blistering win over Gembrook. Woori Yallock took complete control of this game in the first quarter kicking seven goals to one and had a lead of 40 points. They held Gembrook goalless until the last quarter and kicked 12 goals over the second and third quarters. Marcus Baxter had a day out booting 15 goals for the day, to have a lead of 124 points at the last change. It was a tough day for Gembrook while Woori Yallock celebrated their big win.
Woori Yallock Best: M. Baxter, H. Smith, M. Wright, K. Busoli, C. Smedley, S. Ismail.
Gembrook Cockatoo Best: J. Kruithof, R. Causer, R. Wilson, L. Henzen, D. Welsh, S. Ponter.
Division 2 Seniors Football
Belgrave 19.10(124) def Kinglake 13.10(88)
Belgrave have secured their spot as minor premiers after a 36-point win over Kinglake on Saturday. Belgrave started well kicking 4.4 to 1.4 in the first quarter and had a lead of 18 points at quarter time. Kinglake played a contested game of football in the second term but could not bridge the gap at half time. Belgrave had a blinder in the third quarter booting nine goals to three and the gap was now 57 points and the game was out of Kinglake’s reach. The last was all Kinglake with them kicking 5.5 to 2.2 but Belgrave had already set up the win.
Belgrave Best: M. Sproules, J. Brown, M. Brown, T. Marks, N. Thompson, M. Johnson.
Kinglake Best: J. Crowe, J. Butterworth, H. Prest, B. Robinson, R. Mitchell, M. Fitzclarence.
Seville 14.14(98) def Thornton Eildon 4.9(33)
Seville will finish second on the ladder after a convincing win over Thornton Eildon and with only one game to go have earned a second chance come finals. Seville kicked three goals in the first term and held Thornton Eildon goalless setting up a lead of 20 points at quarter time. They really kicked away in the second quarter with a five goal to one quarter. The third term was evenly matched with Seville kicking 3.1 to 2.4 but the margin was now 48 points. Thornton was held to one goal in the last while Seville finished with another 3.6.
Seville Best: M. Cecere, P. Bailey, D. Groen, A. Wind, J. Young, J. Nolan.
Thornton Eildon Best: T. Keating, B. Wratten, R. Chapman, J. Ashby, T. Bicknell, D. Creed.
Yarra Glen 17.13(115) def Alexandra 14.10(94)
Yarra Glen is hanging onto third position and the second chance after a 21-point win over fifth placed Alexandra. The first quarter was a challenge for both sides with Alexandra holding the slimmest of margins at quarter time. Yarra Glen started to play a running game of football in the second term with 8.1 to 4.1 and they stole the lead back by 23 points at half time. The third quarter tightened up again and Alexandra kicked 2.5 to 2.1 but the lead was still going to be tough to claw back. Alexandra won the last quarter kicking 4.1 to 3.3 but the honours went to Yarra Glen at the final siren.
Yarra Glen Best: R. D’Argent, J. Clare, A. Smith, L. Vanderstadt, B. Muurling, C. Thomas.
Alexandra Best: S. Hill, B. Woollard, S. Woollard, R. Norris, B. Norris, J. Purcell.
Yarra Junction 26.17(173) def Yea 7.7(49)
Yarra Junction had a day out on Saturday with one of their best wins for some time after accounting for Yea by 124 points. Yarra Junction opened with a ten goal first quarter while Yea could only manage two behinds. Yea held them to four goals in the second term and kicked two goals themselves but the margin at half time was 76 points. Leigh McCombe amassed 15 goals for the day in a best on ground performance. The third quarter saw them add another six goals to two and another six goals in the last quarter finished off the day for them.
Yarra Junction Best: L. McCombe, A. Chandler, A. Taylor, A. Ward, J. Welch, J. Holmes.
Yea Best: R. Aldous, H. Jarvie, P. Evans, J. Mahon, A. McSpeerin, C. Evans.
