Vultures soaring as Raiders rain on Westies’ Parade

Alisha Min

In front of the Lions faithful at John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve, Therry Penola have registered win number one for the season after a compelling 42-point win over the now 10^th placed Prahran Assumption. With only a point separating the sides at the opening break, the Lions hit their straps in the second kicking seven goals straight all while limiting the Two Blues to 1.1. With their 33-point buffer heading into the latter half, and with Stephen Keiller putting on another BOG masterclass to make it two weeks in a row, Therry’s six multiple goal-kickers accounted for 13 of their 15 majors for the afternoon, including three off Darcy Ryan’s boot, which all but solidified their first victory for 2019. For Prahran Assumption, Jayden Williams was awarded his first BOG selection after a gallant display around the ground, and teammate Jack Matherson backed-up his two goals from Round 3 with another two here. On home soil again this weekend, the Lions will be vying for consecutive wins with they host a St Mary’s Salesian outfit gunning for retribution after back-to-back losses (UHS-VU & Kew). In a similar vein, Prahran Assumption have ample opportunity to re-join the winners circle in Round 5 when they travel to W.R. Ruthven Reserve to challenge the Bullants, who also sit 1-3 so far in 2019.

Notching the highest total score of the round with 118 points, further building upon their 99ppg average and consequential claim as Division 1’s highest scoring team, UHS-VU have continued their unbeaten run as they accounted for a tough Oakleigh outfit to the tune of 66 points at the Krushers W.A. Scammell Reserve. With the section’s most damaging goalkickers lining up at either end, we were not left disappointed after Thomas Waters snagged eight of the Vultures 18 goals, taking his tally to 19 for the year, while the Krushers 2018 centurion, Aaron Cloke (102 goals), added three majors to his name. UHS-VU’s Brendan Jackson has followed-up his dominant 2018 season, which saw him take home the Division 2 leading goalkicker medal (71 goals) and J Fullerton medal, with a five-goal display here, while Liam Gillard was named BOG for the defeated after consecutive weeks in the best. Sitting pretty on top of the table, UHS-VU have Old Paradians in their sights away from home in Round 5, while the Krushers will face a swooping West Brunswick adamant on bettering their current ladder position (7^th).

Though we may have pencilled St Mary’s Salesian in for a slim victory over Kew in Round 4, the Bears were all business at Ferndale Park, cementing their finals intentions with a 47-point win over the (slightly) favoured Saints. With 50 points under their belt come half-time, all while restricting the home team to just nine points, the Saints looked all but set for an afternoon of woe before a six-goal to two, spearheaded by Jack Elliston (2) and James Barrie (2), put them just 14 points behind the pace at 3QT. The momentum swung back in Kew’s favour come the fourth term, however, with their 5.6 to the Saints three points putting the final nail in the coffin. For the victors, Matthew O’Dicho top scored with three majors and Jack Powell was named Best after chiming in with two goals of his own, while St Mary’s acknowledge Cameron Rose for his on-field efforts. St Mary’s will have a tough opponent in Therry Penola on their cards for Round 5, a clash they’ll certainly hope to emerge with four premiership points in hand should they stay relevant to the top four. Kew (2^nd) will host Peninsula (4^th) in their annual Danny Delbridge Memorial Round.

Peninsula had Preston Bullants under siege for most of their Round 4 battle on the confines of Peninsula School, eventuating with a 37-point win in front of their Pirates fanbase. Peninsula jumped the gates early with a seven goal to four opening term, though the Bullants showed staunch in the third term when they outscored the Old Boys 5.1 to 3.5 – strapping us in for a 14-point ballgame heading into the final term. The cool heads at Peninsula, charged by James Logan and BOG William Harbinson’s six majors, proved telling in the fourth as they held the Bullants to a solitary point. Jay Phelan was a standout for the defeated Bullants, while Mark Cigagna (2) and Liam Carter (2) were solid up forward. The Pirates set sail for Victoria Park in Round 5 to face a robust Kew outfit, who will loathe to part with their second spot on the ladder – an outcome very plausible should Peninsula claim the win. Preston will host 10^th placed Prahran Assumption.

Fast starting West Brunswick were unable to maintain their fierce intensity for the match duration at Ransford Oval in Round 4 as Old Paradians managed to flip a four-goal deficit after quarter time into a one-goal victory at the final siren. This see-sawing affair saw the Westies grapple momentum early through the ilk of Bill Irving (5) and BOG Jake Meade, before Parade’s Best for the afternoon, Marcus Nolan (3), and teammate Michael Marrone (3) shone in the closing term. With both West Brunswick (7^th) and Old Paradians (6^th) situated in the middle of the Division 1 pack as it stands, their encounters with Oakleigh (3^rd) and UHS-VU (1^st) in Round 5, respectively, could just be the tipping point which sees them stake their claim in this section.