Opening quarter blitzes from the Animals, the Snakes and the Hawks

Mitch Dyer

The third round of VAFA football is in the books, and there were some exciting matchups that took place over the weekend. 

From blowout victories to nail-biting finishes, this round had it all. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key games and results from Division 3.

First up, the Wattle Park took on La Trobe University in a match that saw the Animals run rampant, securing a comfortable 90-point win.

A six-goal opening quarter set up the victory for the Animals. Nathan Bird was the star of the show, scoring four goals and leading the team to an easy victory.

With players like Baxter, Schache, Bird and Davis in their ranks, the Animals could be a real force to be reckoned with. They have started the season with two wins from three matches and building some genuine confidence through the opening month of the season. 

La Trobe’s, Matt Ogle has been an early season shining light, after one goal in round one, two goals in round two, he managed to find three girls in round three. How many are set for the record books in round four?

Canterbury Cobras went head-to-head with Elsternwick, the two sides who made up the top four in 2022 but were the unlucky losers. 

After holding a 13-point lead at half-time, the Wicks pulled away with a strong second half. It was a dominant performance in the midfield and goal-kicking department with Daniel Marchese kicking four majors. 

Despite the loss, the Cobras can take some solace in Tommy Lowden’s impressive performance, as he continued his quest to be the league’s leading goal-kicker.

In the battle of the bottom, the winless Richmond Central faced off against the rising Swinburne University. 

The Snakes were on fire from the first bounce with 8-goals in the first quarter. Keeping Swinburne to 6-goals across the first three quarters, the final quarter became a shootout with the margin beyond doubt.

A total of 14 goals were kicked, Benson Adams was the standout player, scoring an impressive seven goals to lead his team to victory.

Last but not least, Hawthorn took on the powerhouse of the league, Power House. The Hawks managed to secure their biggest win of the season so far, with a 20-point victory over their formidable opponents.

The game was a true test of both teams, keeping Power House goalless in the opening term went a long way to the Hawks winning the contest. Power House attempted to fight their way back from 27 points down at three quarter time, but couldn’t make up the ground. 

Will Meehan kicked four goals, and Luke McLeod took the best on ground honours.

Looking ahead to Round 4, there are some exciting matchups on the horizon. Hawthorn are tipped to beat Richmond Central, while Wattle Park are expected to come out on top against Canterbury. 

Elsternwick will look to secure a comfortable win over Swinburne, while the Power House are expected to overcome La Trobe University.

With first to fifth place on the ladder separated by just percentage, Round 4 promises to be a moment of separation across the league. 

You can expect more thrilling action on the field as the teams battle it out for supremacy in Division 3 Men’s of VAFA football.