Hawks swoop on Snakes, Falcons open account

Michael Davey

Albert Park hosted Latrobe University, with both clubs looking to open their accounts after disruptive starts to their seasons. With the Grand Prix done and dusted, the Falcon’s were back on their home deck for the first time this season. A stiff breeze blew across Albert Park Lake favouring the city end, and despite some stern La Trobe defence, the fired up home team took advantage to lead at the first bell. The match was physical, but fair, with strong tackling and shepherding a feature by both teams. The sticky conditions in the centre square made it hard to break clear, but Albert Park ran the ball into the wind well in the second term to extend their lead. The Falcons dominated the third quarter, but the windy conditions made it hard to convert, then late in the term big Matt Ogle drifted forward and took a strong high mark, then converted to give the visitors hope. Early in the last term the Falcons moved the ball quickly into their forward line, where the ball held up in the wind and Jack Amies pounced for a clever soccer goal and it was game over.

The visitors were typically brave, with the usual suspects standing up again. Matt Ogle’s strong overhead marking in the wind and fine tap ruckwork was a standout, with Seb Nelson, Brad Fendyk, Tom Mooney and David Hart all playing well for the Trobers. The Falcon’s Adrian Snowden turned back the clock in a best on ground performance along with ‘Milky’ Maloney showing he still has some run left in those legs. Kirk Murray continued a solid run of form along with Jack Lee, who constantly mopped up in defence. The Centurions were chaired off the ground before a loud rendition of the club song. Let’s hope their win will get the season back on track for the Falcons, who take on the in-form Swinburne this week.

Richmond Central travelled to a windy Rathmines Road Reserve to take on Hawthorn in a decisive ‘8 point match’. After a sunny morning, the dark rain clouds gathered, but it didn’t trouble Hawthorn, who broke out to a five goal lead at quarter time. A ‘Kouma’ blast at the break did the trick for the visitors, who lifted in a massive second quarter to claw back the margin to three points at the main break. In a fiery second half, the Hawks kicked 5.9 with the breeze in the third term to take a commanding lead, before booting another five majors in the last term.

Hawks Tom Bevan, Tom Boots, Tim Matheson, Cam Allum, Lee Jefferies, Brodie Johnston continued with great form, while Rick Ogge (4) moved up the sharp shooters list, sharing the spoils with ‘George’ Priest (3) and Darcy Johnston (3). The win saw the Hawks replace the Snakes in third place on the ladder, while the continued good form of Damien ‘Dutchy’ Holland, Stewart Beswick and Tom Foott was a positive for Richmond Centrals. The fourth placed Snakes will look to lick their wounds and reset for another ‘8-point game’ against second placed Canterbury this week.

Westbourne Grammarians hosted Swinburne University in a game where goals were rare. The visitors got out to a good start, but couldn’t open a big gap, kicking 2.12 in the first term. Straighter goal kicking saw the home team fight back in the second to trail by a goal at the half. It was close game, but the Razorbacks led all day to run out three goal victors.

These two teams are far better than their ladder positions suggest, and the Warrior’s can take heart knowing they won two quarters. Plus, there are other positives in the continued great seasons of Tim Rogers and Patrick O’Brien, plus the return to form skipper Michael Culliver and vice Adam Imber. For the visitors Joldy Bradley was BOG again, while Dan Close, Lee Dalton and Kane Fitzpatrick (3) shone on an overcast arvo, with Ben Higgins among the goals again with four majors.

Aquinas took the short trip to Surrey Hills to take on second placed Canterbury who were keen to atone from their first defeat last weekend. In a high-scoring affair, the visitors were quick out of the blocks with a seven goal to five quarter, before the locals evened the ledger at the main break. That was where the closeness ended, as the home team outscored the Bloods by five goals in both the third and final quarters to run away 69-point victors in a percentage boosting win which consolidated their second place on the ladder.

Goals were plentiful in the windy conditions with Blood’s true-boot Ash Naulty kicking six majors, and Cobra Martin Astbury converting five to see them close in on the sharp shooter leader board. Astbury was BOG for the home team, sharing the Best accolade with Jake Rowe (4), Dan Walden (3), Jordan Tomas (3), Nick Joss and Bob Hawke. Best for the Bloods were Lachlan Naulty, Ash Naulty, James McMahon, Dan Foley, Sam Porter and Joseph Morrison-Story. It’s not going to get easier this week for Aquinas, who host the undefeated Gryphons.

A severely undermanned Glen Eira welcomed Manningham to the pristine Packer Park, which showed no signs of the months worth of rain it received the previous day. After a physical first half, where the lead changed several times, Glen Eira went into the sheds five points in front. Gryphon’s Coach, Edgar, and his assistants threw the magnets around and demanded an all out attack in the premiership quarter. Glen Eira responded well, led by Daniel Entwistle who took incredible marks, then hurting Manningham on the scoreboard. Lachlan Pound controlled the midfield and big Brent Connelly stamped his authority as the Gryphons kicked six unanswered goals in the third. The Cobras didn’t lie down, and fought the game out till the final siren to reduce the end margin to 19 points.

Best for the winners was the evergreen Chris Higgins, who was given the job on the competition’s leading goal kicker and kept him goalless for the first time this season. Chris was supported by Ashley Carey and Julian Stone, while Stuart Carey, Daniel Entwistle and Lachlan Pound continued their great run of form. Michael Muller kicked four goals for the visitors, whose skipper Ayden Sukkel was best again, and Jason Stephens continued his strong form. The Cobras will hope to carry their last quarter momentum into this weeks match against Westbourne Grammarians.