Pirates pull off an upset, as Prahran go top

Round 12 saw Division 1 men’s teams battling it out in wet conditions this weekend as the race for the top four intensifies.

Kew and Parkside both sit on seven wins each with the Old Peninsula Pirates made their case, taking a huge scalp over UHS-VU that gets them right back into finals contention.

Old Peninsula claimed a huge win on the weekend defeating UHS-VU by five points in a thriller.

The first quarter was a game of momentum shifts with the Pirates opened up a 21-point lead early, then the Vultures midfield of Harrison Kennedy and James Healey got to work as they kicked the next four unanswered goals to give them the lead.

Pirates Forward Bailey Payze was the real difference in the game kicking six goals to have one of the best individual performances this season. 

The ruck matchup was an important one given the conditions and Pirates ruckman Lochie Baczyk competed well against Nicholas Wallace which was a great battle.

Pirate midfielders James Bravo and Kurt Thiele continued to stamp their authority on the game helping their side have a slender four-point lead at three-quarter time.

The game for the majority of the last was at a knife’s edge with every contest, tap forward and smother crucial in defining the winner.

Ultimately, some Nelson Forrest magic for the Pirates took some crucial contested marks down back to help his side get the win.

Prahran took top spot after having a hard-fought win over Parkside by 17 points.

Conditions affected both side’s ability to deliver inside 50 efficiently, so the midfield battle was always going to be crucial not just this game but across all games this weekend.

In wet games, the classy players are known to step up and Prahran midfielder James Musster did just that, proving a difficult matchup for the Devils in the first quarter.

Prahran were able to lock it in their forward half early with Ethan Plaza getting the scoreboard ticking and looked dangerous early as his side took an eight-point lead at quarter time.

In the second term Prahran started to have a big influence on proceedings as forward Matt Clifford kicked the visitors only two goals scored in the quarter to give them a 15-point lead in a low scoring affair.

The game saw a momentum shift in the third term when Prahran onballer Joey Bell was involved in a collision which resulted in a melee behind play.

The Devils punished the opposition whose heads were not in the game kicking three goals in a row including a classy finish by Matt Holden.

Michael Romano isolating deep in the forward line had a positive impact for the Devils as his side trailed by a solitary point at three-quarter time.

Oliver Burke struck early in the last quarter with a much-needed steadier for Prahran as they proved too strong with three goals to one in the run home.

With Shaun Chapman being out in the past couple of weeks, Prahran captain Rory Brodie has stood up having another great game this time on Joel Stevens and Lewis Daniels.

Ormond had a comfortable win over the Old Yarra Cobras by 73 points.

It was a first half where the Monders really should have had a larger lead dominating territory but not being able to capitalise kicking 6.11 into half time.

Ethan Hanley thrived in these tricky conditions, applying elite pressure around the contest which the Old Yarra Cobras couldn’t handle having kicked just the one major at the main break. 

The Monders midfield had a stronger second half with Jack Mason continuing his impressive form, as did Rhys Kennedy and Jackson Hille all displaying they have the ability to hit the scoreboard.

The Cobras defence had it tough all day with the amount of entries coming in but credit to Benjamin Makowski who played a strong game.

The Monders running away 15.21 (111) to 5.8 (38) winners.

Kew go one step closer in their pursuit to the top four defeating Therry Penola by 35 points.

The Bears went off the blocks quickly kicking the first three goals of the game.

Bears half-back Max Poletti still was able to make an impact in the wet conditions but his side’s inaccuracy kept Therry Penola in the game.

Therry Penola brought up their first major late in the second quarter to give them some momentum trailing by only 20 points at half time. 

The young Therry Penola side was able to peg back the lead in the third term, with some good pressure from their midfield and a late goal brought it back to 15 points.

With a bit of scoreboard pressure on the Bears and the out of William Llewelyn this week, Therry Penola could sense an upset. But Bears defender Luka Argent had other plans helping his side keep Therry Penola goalless in the last quarter.

The Preston Bullants got over the line against a gallant West Brunswick side by 8 points.

The first three quarters were dominated by the Preston Bullants’ midfield with Luke Green and Hugo Byron leading the charge but couldn’t capitalise kicking 5.12 at half time.

Bullants forward Alex Johnston presented as a great target for his side proving difficult for Magpies defenders.

Trailing by 27 points at three-quarter time the Magpies knew they had nothing to lose and decided to keep the game plan simple and just get it forward in a messy fashion.

The Magpies kicked four out of the last five goals but a Conor Howard goal for the Preston Bullants spoiled the party.

Sides will have a much-needed break again this weekend as a big round 12 awaits them.

Another top-four clash awaits us at DW Lucas Oval as the top of the table Prahran play the Monders in what could be a game for top of the table. Both midfields are ticking along nicely as Prahran would be hoping Shaun Chapman is available.

Therry Penola and the Magpies play each other again. The Magpies are playing much better footy compared to the last time they met Therry Penola (in a defeat of 50 points in round 1) as it poses an opportunity for redemption.

The Kew Bears are away against the Old Yarra Cobras in what is a must-win game for the Bears top-four hopes.

The game of the round is Pirates and the Devils at Harry McDonald Oval. The Devils will be looking to get back on the winners list after losing three in a row whilst the Pirates will be coming off the bye full of confidence.  The Vultures line up against the Preston Bullants who desperately needed that win on the weekend. The Vultures have missed Esubalew Ramsay in the midfield and they are hopeful he will be back in round 12.