A DAY FOR FORWARDS

Andrew Leonard 

At Camberwell Sports Ground in Premier section, Old Scotch reversed their form from the previous weeks with a resounding win by 81 points over a hapless De La Salle. Four goals to Mark Passador and three from midfielder in a dominant win for the Cardinals was one of many surprise results on the day. No surprises in the other Premier section matches as Damien Yze booted 11 goals in a 75 point win for Old Carey over University Blues.  In an expected result Collegians won by 61 points over Caulfield Grammarians and despite four goals to Jack Hunt and Tim Walsh Old Trinity fell four goals short of a Brendan Goss (5) led Old Xaverians. St Bernards host St Bedes / Mentone Tigers at Sportscover Arena tomorrow from 1.20pm, entry is free so get there if you can.  
In Premier B Old Ivanhoe were close to the upset of the season at half time as they trailed St Kevin’s by just four points. A half of football later and SKOBs had recorded an 88 point thanks in part to this week’s rising star Henry Parkes who kicked six and Zac Ginies who kicked five equally impressive goals. Tonight St Kevins are back in second spot. In a massive upset – more so for the size of the margin than the result – Old Haileybury thumped Beaumaris by 76 points at McKinnon, with Travis Ridgway kicking 10 for the home side. University Blacks did as expected and beat AJAX by 127 points, another bag of 10 goals to another former rising star nomination, Jandre Slabbert slotted 10 in the rout. Old Melburnians hold on to fourth tonight courtesy of a 62 win over a struggling Werribee Districts, Cam Beck booted five for the visitors. Old Brighton maintained the rage for fourth with Daniel Anthony (7 goals) helping them to a 59 point win. 
Premier C has the tightest ladder in the VAFA and tonight things got a little clearer for some clubs, although with the upsets continued, most significant, was Monash Blues winning just their second game of the season against second placed Marcellin by 38 points. Chameth Jayaweera added another six goals  and Rees Thomas also kicked half a dozen to help Mazenod thrash Rupertswood by 102 points. Old Camberwell led by Sam Kilworth’s half dozen were 98 points better than Hampton Rovers. Despite an early lead and five goals from David Frost PEGS couldn’t hold against Parkdale Vultures who finally overhauled PEGS to record a 16-point win. Fitzroy at found some form at home to courtesy of five goals to Luke Ablett in a nine goal win over Banyule.
In Division 1, NOBs / St Pats with a huge spread of goalkickers continued on their merry way dismantling Ormond by 84 points and Old Geelong (Ryan McEvoy 5) had an expected win over MHSOBs by six goals to keep them on track for September action.  The wins of the day that had most ramifications on them were the teams battling to avoid relegation. It was a battle to see who could lose by the least for both Williamstown CYMS and Glen Eira. Both faired badly. The CY’s went down by 160 to a Peninsula side that racked up 35.20.230 for the day. The Pirates had 15 goalkickers with Stefan Barbour best with seven. Not to be outdone Whitefriars  had 12 goalkickers of their own as they thrashed Glen Eira by 146 points. The close game was at St Johns, but the home side couldn’t stop Old Mentonians 37 points as Dustan Mills kick a bag of seven for the visitors. 
Division 2 also saw some blow outs to margins, starting with Eltham Collegians (Seb Ciavola 7 goals) who won by 50 points over Emmaus St Leo’s. Prahran Assumption had a monster win at St Mary’s Salesian by 126 points with Adam Sleight (6) and John Ribbons (5) joining in the rest of the competition’s forwards in kicking bags. David Boundy left himself outside of the best despite kicking seven to help Old Paradians win by 68 points over La Trobe Uni. Therry Penola will be calling on the mathematicians after losing to Monash Gryphons by 31 points.  In probably the biggest upset of the day South Melbourne Districts continued their renaissance in defeating top-side Bulleen Templestowe by 39 points. Toby Parish kicked five for South who continue to ride the wave of their centenary celebrations. 
In Division 3 Aquinas kept their good form going with a big 85 point win over Power House at home, Sam Williams (8 goals) and Jack Price (7) were dominant. Ash Close is four goals short of the ton after his seven goals for Ivanhoe in his side’s 147 point win over Old Westbourne, Lach Roberts chipped in with six goals of his own in the rout. Elsternwick assumed the mantle of leading team outside the finals with two goal win over St Francis Xavier. UHS-VU finally got back on the winners list with a good win at Richmond by three goals with the help of five goals from Rhys Kirk. Yarra Valley had bags of 6, 5, 5, and 5 from Russell Yeo, Chris Hodgens, Sam Savage and Stephen Donald respectively in their 179 point win over Albert Park. Kew had a big win at Hawthorn by 107 points to close out the section. 
We had to turn to Division 4 to get a close game and it was in the game least expected. South Mornington were scoreless in the final quarter as North Brunswick kicked 6.6 but still fell short by a point! Patrick Notaro was outstanding with six goals but it wasn’t enough. The result stitches u the final four with three games left as Point Cook won by 16 points at home to West Brunswick. Eley Park Sharks won comprehensively at Chadstone with David Viola kicking six for the Sharks in the 69 point win. Box Hill North had a great day at the more fancied Manningham Cobras winning by 59 points. Swinburne University beat Mt Lilydale by 65 points with Chris Kilmartin kicking six goals for the victors.