Springbank 5.5 (35)

Former AFL star Nick Dal Santo made a surprise appearance against Springbank as the smooth-moving midfielder helped the Burras to an outstanding 62-point victory over the previously-undefeated Tigers.

Dal Santo was not alone either. Ex-St Kilda teammate and 219 AFL-gamer Jason Blake also pulled on the boots, however, he did not feature after half-time due to a quad complaint.

Hepburn had forecast Dal Santo would play three matches in order to qualify him for a likely finals campaign, and expects to do likewise with Blake, but Saturday’s appearance was unexpected to outsiders.

The 322-game AFL star was one of many contributors to what was an “unheard of” result at Wallace Recreation Reserve.

“It was penciled in months ago, I just didn’t want to publicise that…and I wanted to throw an element of surprise on Springbank with a player like that,” coach Jason Olver said.

“He’ll definitely play his three (games).”

Hepburn was fast out of the blocks kicking 3.4 to one goal in the opening term, Springbank provided some resistance in the second to leave 16 points separating the sides at half-time. 

However, Hepburn delivered a dominant six-goal third term as the Tigers were left scoreless – the Burras breaking open a 53-point three quarter-time lead.

Olver was immensely proud of his charges post-match and said while Springbank did have some key players out it was still an outstanding result.

“You walk away with a 10-goal win at Springbank, it’s unheard of.

“We always knew it was going to be a challenge and we’d have to play at our best, even though they had players out. They still bat so deep, it was always going to be hard for us to match them.”

Olver said the victory was crucial to building the belief it can deliver in big games – something it will again have to do next week against Waubra.

“A couple of years ago Springbank wanted to get the culture that we had, and they actually overtook us. For us, we want to try and get that culture back – the belief in yourself to win big games of footy.

“We’re pretty confident in ourselves at the moment.”

Olver praised his back six who all had jobs on dangerous Springbank forwards, and all delivered on their role. While Andrew McKay was again dynamic through the midfield, amassing 41 possessions on the Hepburn stats sheet.

Springbank were without Mitch Couch, Tom Eltringham, Peter Lewis, Justin Simpson, Mitch Keighrey and Drew Tyler but coach Michael Searl made no excuses on a day his side was “outclassed” and beaten around the contest.

“We’re 8-1, we’re in a very healthy position but we certainly need to rectify a number of areas that were a weakness today,” Searl said.

Captain Joel Maher went off early with groin soreness and did not return.

Beaufort 10.15 (75) 

Waubra 8.6 (54)

Beaufort players were full of confidence and dictated the play starving the Kangaroos of scoring opportunities.

Waubra was locked down and only managed three entries into their forward 50 as Beaufort kicked away to lead by 27 points at the first change. The Kangaroos finally got on the scoreboard with a gutsy goal from skipper Tom Nash just before half-time.

It was a 39-point lead the Crows took into the second half but dismayed their home crowd spraying eight behinds in a row before a steadying major from Tom LeLievre on the third term siren.

Waubra threw everything into the fray with half forward Paul Dodds and backman Ben Wilson slotting a goal each. Beaufort had taken its foot off the pedal in the last term and Waubra pegged back some respectability booting five goals to two. It narrowed the Crows winning margin to 21 points after promising a blowout all day.

Without doubt the best on ground performance was from Beaufort’s Alex Petrie who kicked three majors and dominated play. He had fine companions in big man Josh McDermott, centre dynamos Jayden Orr and Joe Mason, with Lee Marshall and Chris Drew solid down back.

Along with Petrie, Jack Duke was fierce in front of goal with two majors. Single goalkickers were LeLievre, McDermott, Orr, Drew and Tim Haase.

After a disastrous start some Kangaroos tried to turn the tide. They included Bill Douglass, Josh King, Nathan Patrikeos, Lachlan Johns, Will Corbett and Nick Aringo.

Waubra’s only multiple scorer was Josh Crawford with two goals. The club’s leading goalkicker Tim Boyle had a dirty day booting just a solitary major.

Beaufort coach Rohan Brown didn’t mince words, “We’ve still got a lot of improvement to go as a group”

“The first quarter was really, really good. Looking back at the last three quarters...we’ve got a lot of improvement to go,” Brown said.

Waubra coach Grant Luscombe was succinct about his team’s erratic performance: “You’ve got to rock up with the right attitude.”

Ballan 20.15 (135)

Skipton 2.1 (13)

Ballan handed down a 122-point belting to the winless Skipton in a one-sided Central Highlands Football League encounter.

The Blues held the Emus scoreless for the first three quarters in a disciplined display of football.

It continues to be a difficult season for Skipton, which has a percentage of just 22.3. But Blues’ assistant coach Glenn Ross, who took the matchday reins alongside Adam Kurzman in the absence of coach Jason McNamara, was pleased with the group’s ability to stay true to the gameplan despite the weaker opposition.

“The boys played really well, we had a bit of a gameplan at the start of the game and they stuck to it really well,” Ross said.

“It’s always hard to stick to a plan when the opposition isn’t quite as strong, you tend to waiver off that and start chasing kicks, so it was pleasing that they stuck to their guns.”

The four-quarter performance added to the day, consistency within matches something the club has been working towards.

“We’ve just been trying to work on playing our style of football. 

“Early in the year when we were playing the good sides, we’d match them for a half or a quarter, then we’d drop off. So we’re just trying to get them to have that intensity from quarter to quarter.”

Learmonth 14.7 (91)

Newlyn 7.9 (51)

Learmonth finished strongly against Newlyn to register a 40-point victory and move into the top two on the Central Highlands Football League ladder.

It led by 15 points going into the last quarter, but kicked 5.3 to 1.2 in the final term to deliver a valuable victory. 

Matthew Bond starred with nine goals, he now leads the goal-kicking with 36.

Coach Steve Biggin said he was pleased with the display, but added his side still had plenty to improve.

A clear top and bottom half of the league has arisen in recent weeks, with ninth two games clear of tenth. With the top nine outlined, Biggin felt the true test for his group would come over the next month as it takes on four top nine teams.

Despite its 6-2 record, the Lakies two losses have come against top nine sides – the challenge awaits.

Learmonth expects to welcome back three players next week which will have it at “full strength”.

Bungaree 12.17 (89)

Clunes 6.6 (42)

There was just 12 points between Bungaree and Clunes at three quarter-time before the Demons stormed away in the final term.

Bungaree kicked 7.5 to just two goals to deliver a 47-point win and stay firmly in the mix of the top four sides. 

Coach Heath Pyke said the message at the last change was simple - continue to stick to what has worked for it in order to get the game on its terms.

“Stick to what we know works,” Pyke said.

“On any given day if you don’t turn up near your best, irrelevant of ladder position, there can be a boilover.”

Bungaree is well-placed as it enters the bye, third on the ladder with seven wins from nine outings.

Gordon 22.19 (151)

Carngham Linton 9.5 (59)

Swift ball movement was the key to Gordon’s comprehensive defeat over Carngham Linton on Saturday.

The Eagles thumped the Saints by 92 points for a percentage-boosting four points. It was Gordon’s sixth win of the season as it sits seventh on the ladder with the third best percentage.

Coach Gary Learmonth said it was a competitive match in the early stages before a nine-goal third term blew the game wide open. 

While he was pleased to come away with the win, he feels it still needs to tighten up defensively. 

It has conceded 601 points from its nine matches this season, the biggest points against tally of all the top eight teams – underlining Learmonth’s concern.

Buninyong 18.10 (118)

Creswick 8.2 (50)

Buninyong secured its sixth win of the Central Highlands Football League season with a 68-point win over Creswick courtesy of a strong first half.

The Bombers led by 48 points and boasted 15 scoring shots to two for the half. Creswick managed to stem the flow in the second half, but was still off the pace. 

The win keeps Buninyong in the eight and in touch with the top four.

Dunnstown 11.7 (73)

Rokewood Corindhap 9.6 (60)

Dunnstown notched up its first win of the Central Highlands Football League season with a hard fought victory over Rokewood Corindhap.

Scores were level at half-time before the Towners skipped out to a 14-point lead going into the last. Rokewood Corindhap trimmed that margin, but only by one point come the final siren.

Harry McKimmie was best afield for the winners, kicking five goals, while Sam Cameron was named the Grasshoppers’ best player.