Blues, Bloods come from behind as Snow Dogs take outright lead

Five goals and a best-on-ground performance from Chad Jones helped St Bernard’s to a 17-point win over University Blacks at the Uni Oval. Despite having three less scoring shots than the blacks, the Snow Dogs were a picture of accuracy in front of goal with 15.6 as they built a 35-point quarter time lead and retained the margin for most of the match until the Blacks finished with five goals to two. Michael Caven kicked three alongside Jones, while Harrison Kennedy and Mitch Hughes were outstanding. Angus Locke and Joel Ernest impressed for the Blacks, as they now fall one behind the Snow Dogs at the top of the table.

Beaumaris solidified their position in the top four with a comprehensive 120-point victory over Mazenod at Banksia Reserve. Seven goals to one in the first term set the scene for the Sharks massacre as they continued to pile on another 14 goals to three in the remaining three quarters. In total, the Sharks had 42 scoring shots to seven. Joel Cusack was unstoppable for the Sharks in front of goal and finished with a game-high eight majors in a BOG display. Callum Beattie-Powell (2) and Rob Cathcart (3) were also influential with five goals between them and standout performances. Rees Thomas and Thomas Warby fought hard for the Nodders but to no avail as they fall into ninth spot with a percentage of just 58.44%.

Monash Blues kept the door slightly ajar for an unlikely tilt at avoiding relegation as they defeated Parkdale Vultures by five points at Frearson Oval. Trailing at both the first and second breaks, the Blues kicked seven goals to five in a tightly-contested second half to edge over the line. Gareth Taylor kicked two goals and was named best afield for the Blues, while teammates Keegan Mason and Joe Harrison impressed. Nathan Papatsanis top-scored for the Vultures with three majors and Noah Hura booted two as their best player. The Blues (10^th) are now just one game a fair whack of percentage behind Ajax, Old Haileybury and Mazenod, while the Vultures are sixth with four wins.

Old Haileybury secured a miraculous comeback when they defeated Ajax by five points at Princes Park, Caufield. After trailing by as much as 40 points during the second term, the Bloods turned their fortunes around with 7.8 to 3.2 in the second half. Nicholas Garratt and Lachlan Treverton starred for the Bloods, while Jake Lew kicked four goals for the Jackas. The Bloods’ win tightens the relegation race as three teams, Ajax, Haileybury and Mazenod, each have three wins while the Blues have two.

Old Carey secured their most convincing win since their Round 6 victory over old Haileybury, this week defeating Caulfield Grammarians by 26 points at Carey Sports Complex. Seven goals to two in a dominant second quarter performance shaped the Panthers’ victory, with the Fields outscoring them collectively over the course of the other three terms. Liam Mackie and Cameron Wallace were the best of the Panthers, while Will Osborn kicked three goals and starred for the Fields. The Panthers are now on 10 wins alongside Uni Blacks in third and the fifth-placed Fields fall two games behind the Sharks.