Return of the finals-bound Wellers

Meg Saultry

Old Camberwell shored up its first finals appearance since 2011 with a commanding 95-point victory over St Mary’s Salesian at Ferndale Park. After a number of years languishing in the middle of the pack, the Wellers will now feature in finals action, with the club two wins ahead of its next rival in fifth with one home and away round to go.  The match up dished up a very linear scoring pattern with the Wellers kicking 11 first half goals to the Saints’ four, before a second half effort of 12 goals was offset by the Saints three majors. Old Camberwell’s Alex Taverner finished with a season-high five goals, after some earlier four-goal hauls, while Matthew Powell was equally proficient down forward with four majors. Simon Bennett was BOG in the Wellers’ win, while midfielder Chris Hensby found plenty of the ball. Saints’ Ben Andrews was his sides best with his two goals, while Josh Tanner also slotted two for the defeated. The Wellers, in 4th, will have an opportunity to go into finals in strong winning form next week with a victory over Peninsula in their last home game of the season. The Saints, inevitably to be relegated at the end of the season after a bottom finish, can end their season on a high if they beat the Panthers.

Ladder-leaders Williamstown CYMS avenged their only loss of the season with a 22-point victory over Fitzroy FC at Fearon Park. After losing to the Roys’ by 45 points earlier in the season, CY came out on top in the second battle between one and two, with CY also locking up the minor premiership with the result. It begun goal for goal in the opening quarter, before Fitzroy’s Nino Lazzaro kicked a goal to give the Roys’ the edge at the first break. But the CY’s didn’t fold and returned to kick four unanswered goals in the second term to stretch out the lead. The Roys’ brought it back within two straight kicks by the last break, before CY got on the board twice early in the final quarter to give the home side enough breathing room to run out comfortable winners. CY’s Jack Noonan and Jack Gray each contributed with a handy two goals, with Yuma Hemphill earning BOG honors, while Fitzroy’s Ted Clayton and Nino Lazzaro were their side’s highest scorers with two apiece. CY comfortably sit atop the ladder with a round to go, but face a tough match up against Old Geelong next week. Fitzroy will end their season in second, already having shored up the second chance, and will look to get the better of PEGS in the last home and away game of the season after losing to the club earlier this year.

Old Mentonians have all but avoided relegation after a 25-point defeat of PEGS at PEGS Sporting Fields. The Panthers held the Bombers goalless in the opening half, putting the home side too far behind to ever catch up. Lachlan Boyd was on fire, kicking six of the Panthers’ seven goals in a BOG performance, while Lewis Oliver continues to show good form. Bombers’ star forward Adrian Romanyk was well held with only two goals to his name, though he continues to lead the competitions’ leading goal tally, ahead by 10 majors with a round to go, while Max Philpot was again his sides’ best. The Panthers sit in eighth, a game ahead of ninth, and will have chance to finish their season with a third win on the trot when they play the Saints next week, while the Bombers remain in seventh, and play the finals bound Fitzroy in their final match for the year.

Old Geelong continued its run towards the final series with a comfortable 37-point victory over Old Ivanhoe at Chelsworth Park on Saturday afternoon. Having already staked their position in the top 4, the OGs took the game on in the third term, after trailing in the opening half, by kicking a dominant seven goals to two to win the match. OGs’ Colby O’Brien earnt his first BOG honors with his two-goal effort, Christian Hatzis finished with his best haul up forward for the season with three goals, while the side impressively boasted 11 individual goal kickers. Old Ivanhoe forward Adrian del Monte tried to keep his side in the match with three goals, while Daniel Cookson fought hard for the home side. Old Geelong continue on in 3rd after the win, but have a tough challenge against CY next round. The Hoers drop from 5th to 6th after a second loss in a row, with the battle against the Eagles next round ultimately determining their final resting positions

Marcellin OC edged out a recently resurgent Peninsula by 12 points at Marcellin College to return to the winners’ list on Saturday. Though both sides proved wildly inaccurate throughout game, the Eagles held a slim four-point lead across the first two quarters, before kicking a goal clear to cement the match lead by three quarter time. Matt De Luca and Isaac Nolan were their side’s best scorers, slotting two goals each, while Patrick Lunn and Jacob Gasparini also impressed. Peninsula’s Stefan Barbour doubled his goal tally for the season in the one match, kicking three majors, while Mikey Mcllelan played well. The Eagles move up to 5th after the victory and will play Old Ivanhoe next round, while the Pirates, who will likely finish in the relegation zone in 9th, will line up against the Wellers in Round 18.