Bungaree 12.8 (80) d Creswick 12.6 (78)
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
By Tim O'Connor
Bungaree left Creswick with the four points on Saturday, but it took every ounce of strength to hold out the home side.
The two teams traded the lead all afternoon, but it was the Demons that emerged victorious by two points to take their win-loss ledger to four-three after seven rounds.
Trailing by three points at the final change, the Wickers peppered their forward 50m arc in the last term but only managed one goal as the Demons’ defenders consistently thwarted the attacks.
In a fast-paced and entertaining match, it was Luke Mirtschin’s first half masterclass that proved telling.
The star forward kicked five goals in the first two terms to be clearly the most influential man on the ground to the main break.
He didn’t manage a major in the second half, but was still important in a Demons forward line that functioned well across the afternoon.
Jason Linke kicked three goals, while Jackson Murphy, Chase Morgan and Joel Mahar got plenty of the ball out of the midfield and were among the best contributors.
For Creswick, young ruckman Tom Walmsley had a great battle with dual league best and fairest winner David Benson and was a leading performer along with onballer Joel Berry, who kicked two goals. Pat Taranto also had a good game, while coach Ryan Knowles was dangerous in attack and kicked four majors.
There was injuries for both sides, with Knowles reporting a hand concern for recruit Luke Walker and Bungaree coach Heath Pyke revealing a shoulder issue for Ben Willian and wrist problem for Grant Trevenen.
Next weekend, the Demons take on Carngham-Linton and the Wickers battle Gordon.
Buninyong 21.12 (138) d Rokewood-Corindhap 6.4 (40)
By Tim O'Connor
Patrick Dillon will be forced to front the tribunal after being reported in Rokewood-Corindhap’s heavy loss to Buninyong.
Dillon was booked for deliberately striking Bombers youngster Hunter Donald.
The Grasshoppers suffered a 98-point loss on home soil, with Bombers forward Sam Cooper kicking nine goals. Onballers Tim Brayshaw and Jacob Coxall were other stars, while Lachie Baker was rated Rokewood-Corindhap’s standout.
Daylesford 11.11 (77) d Carngham-Linton 10.9 (69)
By Tim O'Connor
It has taken until late May, but Daylesford has opened its account for season 2018.
The Bulldogs won their first game under new coach Zac Tisdale on Saturday, beating Carngham-Linton by eight points.
Daylesford led the clash at Linton by 23 points at the final change, but only managed to sneak away with a 11.11 (77) to 10.9 (69) success.
Key backman Max Risstrom and onballer Emlyn Nettleton were named the best players for the Bulldogs, while Ross Waters booted five goals and defender Tim Clarke was a standout performer for the Saints.
Tisdale said he was pleased to get some reward for the side’s perseverance this year after a tough start to the campaign.
Beaufort 20.10 (130) d Springbank 8.13 (61)
By John McGregor
Beaufort snapped into gear in the last term on Saturday to blow away Springbank’s three-quarter challenge.
The Crows laid on a seven-goal last quarter to crush a gallant Tiger push, which had threatened to take the lead.
Springbank had worked hard to narrow the gap to two points at one stage in the third term, but in the end it was the Crows that charged to a 69-point victory.
Afterwards the two coaches described a lack of consistency in their players.
“You never question the boys for effort,” Crows coach Rohan Brown said.
“It’s more that they drift in and out of the game sometimes. We’ve just got to get consistency over four quarters. When we do that we get really good football.”
It was the flip-side for Springbank coach Troy Beamond when it came to consistency.
“For the first three quarters we showed Beaufort we were a very good side and we can match them,” Beamond said.
“We tried to win the game in the last. We attacked. We took risks we probably wouldn’t normally take.”
When it came to the most damaging Crows players Jack Duke was top of the list. He booted four majors and was a headache for Tiger defenders.
Those who made a big impact on the scoreboard were Rupert Sangster, Nick Sullivan, Tim Haase, Alex Petrie and Joseph Mason, who all kicked two goals each.
It was Mason’s two rapid-fire majors in the third term that stopped the Tiger advance and gave the Crows breathing space before their final-term goal-kicking spree.
There were six other goal-scorers for Beaufort and one who stood out for his cool, calm approach was Jarrod McCorkell in his first game back from injury. He kicked a memorable long bomb from a pocket in the final term.
Mitch Jenkins, Daniel Venditti, Tom Stapleton, Jake Garvey and Ben Hayes were listed by the Crows as best on ground.
But Tom Le Lievre and Brendan Howard also showed a lot of courage.
Springbank looked ready to break open the game with goal-kickers like Billy Driscoll and Paul O’Shea, who were dangerous early. They booted two goals each. David Wall, Colin Vaughan, Justin Simpson and youngster Will McGannon had singles.
Best for the GJ Gardner Tigers included James Wall, Joel Maher, Kieran Maher and 200-gamer Shannon Donegan.
Beaufort remains on top of the Central Highlands Football League ladder following the win, while Springbank is now sixth after a second-straight loss.
Hepburn 11.12 (78) d Dunnstown 6.12 (48)
By David Bilbrough
Hepburn's 30-point win over Dunnstown on Saturday came on the back of a six-goal opening that was enough to keep its rivals at bay after quarter time.
Facing a 37-point deficit at the first change, Dunnstown rallied, slowed the game down and held possession of the footy in an attempt to work a way back into the game.
Towners coach Justin Abrams summed it up.
“It was disappointing to lose, but we won the last three quarters of footy, so we were the better side, maybe, on the scoreboard for the last three quarters,” he said.
“In the first quarter, they smashed us and it took us a quarter to understand how to play at stoppages and get our structures right and after that I thought we were very good.
“We've come a long way as a group and we're playing good footy, we've just got to hang in there.”
In his return to the side, Dunnstown skipper Angus Thompson did much of the heavy lifting, crashing through packs and driving the ball forward.
Nick English ignited the visitors after half time with a superb running goal, while the clear head and poise of Sam Jenkins was pivotal in defence.
Michael Archer bagged two for the visitors and Matt Bullus capped his fine game with a goal early in the third term.
But it was Hepburn's initial burst that ultimately proved decisive in the end result.
The fans tuned in to the “Brad and Andy Show” early on, with the McKay brothers sharing three of the first four goals of the game. But it was the third of these that had the grandstand shaking when Andy burst from the centre ball-up, found Brad on the lead who, in one motion, gathered the bouncing ball and swung onto his lethal left foot to slam home the Burras’ fourth.
This was quickly followed by a monster from Jimmy Rodgers, another from Tanner Wills and the home side had the match in its keeping despite losing the class and drive of Andy McKay early in the second half with what appeared a corked leg.
Hebpurn coach Siga Asa Leausa was satisfied with his team's fifth win of the Central Highlands Football League season.
“Our start was very pleasing and I was also happy with the way our boys reacted. It takes leaders to react to something that's going wrong in a game and then make it right,” Asa Leausa said.
“Whenever they threw something at us we managed to find a counter for it.”
Hepburn has climbed to seventh spot on the ladder following the win, while Dunnstown remains outside the top eight in 11th.
Next weekend, the Burras hit the road to take on ladder-leaders Beaufort while the Towners host an in-form Waubra.
Newlyn 16.19 (115) d Clunes 5.7 (37)
By Tim O'Connor
Newlyn has strung together a sixth-straight win with a strong display against the battling Clunes.
Led by onballer Luke Prendergast and his four goals, the Cats kicked clear of their 19-point half time lead to win the match by 78 points.
Sewell brothers Myles and Adam were other stars for the victors.
For the home side, which is still winless after seven rounds, Aidan Thompson and Cal Newton were standouts.
Gordon 17.11 (113) d Skipton 6.8 (44)
By Tim O'Connor
Gordon recruit George Walker was stretchered from the ground with a knee injury during his side’s 69-point win over Skipton on Saturday.
Walker had kicked three goals before he went down with what is understood to be a dislocated knee cap.
The Eagles were led by Tye Murphy and Matt Spezza, while Kal Dubbeldam and Josh Draffin played well for Skipton, which let the margin blow out with an eight-goals-to-one final term.
Waubra 27.9 (171) d Ballan 4.8 (32)
By Tim O'Connor
Ballan coach Jason McNamara ordered his players to a few laps of the Waubra oval in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s heavy loss to the Roos.
The Blues coach was bitterly disappointed with his side’s effort in the 139-point thrashing, which leaves the team as one of two winless outfits in the competition after seven rounds.
McNamara told The Courier that he threatened his charges with the laps during his address at the final change and then followed through after they conceded seven goals in the last quarter.
Waubra’s Jarred Crabtree was a doubtful starter on Saturday after pulling up sore from the interleague clash, but played against the Blues and finished with a 10-goal haul.
Crabtree was named the Roos’ best, with James Lukich also among the standouts.
McNamara said onballer Sam Sher was the leading performer on the day for the Blues.