The top eight teams on the ladder following the NAB League Boys home-and-away season have advanced through Wildcard Round to the first week of the 2019 finals series. We reveal the team line-ups and preview all this weekend’s games here.
2nd Elimination Final
NORTHERN KNIGHTS vs WESTERN JETS
Saturday 11.30am @ Mars Stadium
WINNER: faces loser of Gippsland Power vs Oakleigh Chargers in semi final
LOSER: season over
2019 ENCOUNTERS
Rd 17 @ Avalon Airport Oval: Northern Knights 10.8 (68) d Western Jets 4.12 (36)
The Knights restricted Western to just two goals until the final three minutes of the match, with Adam Carafa (game-high 23 disposals and eight clearances) and Josh D’Intinosante (four goals) standing out in victory.
Rd 1 @ Ikon Park: Western Jets 12.8 (80) d Northern Knights 11.7 (73)
The Jets won a thriller by booting a flurry of late goals to come from 23 points down with less than 11 minutes remaining in the match. Archi Manton (three goals) and Aaron Clarke (two) were keys for Western inside 50.
FORMLINES
The Knights (finished 6th on ladder, 9-7 overall record) won five of their last six home-and-away games before defeating the Bendigo Pioneers by 42 points in Wildcard Round. / The Jets (7th, 9-7) snapped a three-match losing streak with a 50-point victory over the GWV Rebels last week.
SELECTION NEWS
Northern has brought ruck Nathan Howard and bottom-ager Cooper Barbera into its line-up, with Joel Trudgeon added to an extended bench. / Western will gain promising bottom-age defender Cody Raak and possibly Vic Metro forward Emerson Jeka, who has been named on an extended bench.
1st Qualifying Final
EASTERN RANGES vs SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
Saturday 2pm @ Mars Stadium
WINNER: advances to preliminary final
LOSER: faces winner of Calder Cannons vs Dandenong Stingrays in semi final
2019 ENCOUNTERS
Rd 11 @ Box Hill City Oval: Eastern Ranges 8.8 (56) d Sandringham Dragons 5.8 (38)
In a Futures Round clash, the Ranges held Sandringham at arm’s length for much of the contest, with Lachlan Stapleton (22 disposals and 10 tackles) among their best players and Darcy Chirgwin winning a game-high 32 touches for the Dragons.
Rd 7 @ RSEA Park: Eastern Ranges 8.7 (55) d Sandringham Dragons 6.10 (46)
Eastern overturned a small deficit at the last break with the only two goals of a tense final term. AFL Mid-Season Rookie draftee Cody Hirst (31 disposals and 10 marks) and James Ross (24 and nine rebound-50s) were among the best players in the win.
FORMLINES
The Ranges (finished 1st on ladder, 12-3 overall record) have lost only once since Round 6 (by eight points to the Oakleigh Chargers in Round 14), posting eight wins in that time. / The Dragons (4th, 10-6) rebounded from a final-round loss to Oakleigh with a 103-point defeat of the Geelong Falcons in Wildcard Round.
SELECTION NEWS
Eastern has lost top-age regulars Jacob Gilbee (shoulder) and Ben Hickleton (illness) as well as under-16 talent Jake Soligo while adding six players to its extended squad. / Sandringham top-ager Jackson Voss (knee) and bottom-ager Archie Perkins (hip) are out due to short-term injuries, with George Grey one of five possible ins.
1st Elimination Final
CALDER CANNONS vs DANDENONG STINGRAYS
Sunday 11am @ Ikon Park
WINNER: faces loser of Eastern Ranges vs Sandringham Dragons in semi final
LOSER: season over
2019 ENCOUNTER
Rd 13 @ Rams Arena: Calder Cannons 17.5 (107) d Dandenong Stingrays 5.9 (39)
The Cannons were never headed after booting the game’s first four goals and they also finished with the final seven of the match. Sam Ramsay won a game-high 32 disposals and nine clearances for Calder while Mason Fletcher kicked four majors.
FORMLINES
The Cannons (finished 5th on ladder, 10-6 overall record) won four straight games before losing to the Eastern Ranges in Round 17 and then pipping the Tasmania Devils by six points last week. / The Stingrays (8th, 7-8-1) conveniently ended an eight-game losing run with a 21-point victory over the Murray Bushrangers in Wildcard Round.
SELECTION NEWS
Calder welcomes under-16 player Harrison Andronaco into its line-up, with Ben Bozinovski and Joshua Eyre added to an extended bench. / Dandenong will be boosted by the return of All Australian key defender Sam De Koning and possibly highly-rated bottom-ager Deakyn Smith.
2nd Qualifying Final
GIPPSLAND POWER vs OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
Sunday 1.30pm @ Ikon Park
WINNER: advances to preliminary final
LOSER: faces winner of Northern Knights vs Western Jets in semi final
2019 ENCOUNTER
Rd 11 @ Morwell Recreation Reserve: Gippsland Power 13.13 (91) d Oakleigh Chargers 6.9 (45)
A five-goal-unanswered third term powered Gippsland to victory in a Futures Round clash. Fraser Phillips shone for the winners with five majors from 20 touches, while Leo Connolly (game-high 32 disposals) and Ryan Sparkes (26) were also influential.
FORMLINES
The Power (finished 2nd on ladder, 11-4 overall record) have won five of their last six games, most recently accounting for the Bendigo Pioneers by 10 points in Round 17. / The Chargers (3rd, 11-4) ride a five-match winning streak into September, having last defeated the Sandringham Dragons by seven points in the final home-and-away round.
SELECTION NEWS
Gippsland will be thankful to have All Australian midfielder Caleb Serong come into its side, particularly given fellow Vic Country representatives Brock Smith (illness) and Charlie Comben (Achilles) are out with short-term niggles. / Oakleigh has added Kaden Schreiber and Bailey Laurie to its line-up, with Joel Capetola the only confirmed out at this stage.
See the full teams for the first week of the NAB League Boys finals below.
SATURDAY
NORTHERN KNIGHTS v. WESTERN JETS
2nd Elimination Final - 31/08/2019
11:30am
Mars Stadium – Ballarat
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
B: 4. J. Davies, 45. A. Taylor, 27. E. Macpherson
HB: 41. N. Kitchell, 9. C. Simonsen, 11. R. Sturgess
C: 12. C. Barbera, 8. A. Carafa, 37. K. Brandt
HF: 7. R. Gardner, 5. J. D'Intinosante, 10. J. Lucente
F: 59. J. Boyd, 40. L. Mcmahon, 23. N. Cox
R: 15. N. Howard, 13. S. Philp, 14. J. Watson
Int: 17. J. Bowne, 28. K. Davies, 46. S. House, 30. B. Leonard, 43. T. McMahon, 31. H. Ramshaw, 19. J. Trudgeon
23P: 24. L. Kolar
In: C. Barbera, N. Howard, J. Trudgeon
WESTERN JETS
B: 42. E. Acevski, 28. K. Crimmins, 4. L. Rocci
HB: 20. D. Cassar, 26. C. Raak, 8. J. Kellett
C: 14. M. Cousins, 24. J. Honey, 33. S. El-Hawli
HF: 13. D. Bolkas, 44. A. Manton, 17. N. Reynolds
F: 1. L. Failli, 45. A. Clarke, 3. E. Ford
R: 47. W. Kennedy, 19. J. Horo, 7. D. Andrews
Int: 15. H. Blake, 5. K. Borg, 37. L. Conway, 18. E. Jeka, 39. L. Phillips, 41. L. Rzanovski, 32. H. Schumann
23P: 6. B. Cootee
In: E. Jeka, K. Borg, C. Raak
EASTERN RANGES v. SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
1st Qualifying Final - 31/08/2019
2:00pm
Mars Stadium – Ballarat
EASTERN RANGES
B: 10. C. Black, 39. J. Nathan, 40. J. Hourihan
HB: 16. T. Garner, 21. J. Ross, 19. W. Parker
C: 20. C. Downie, 7. L. Stapleton, 30. T. Edwards
HF: 11. M. Mellis, 18. B. McCormack, 52. T. Sonsie
F: 9. J. Duffy, 13. J. Rossiter, 27. J. Jaworski
R: 49. R. Smith, 23. Z. Pretty, 45. M. Zalac
Int: 4. J. Clarke, 14. L. Gawel, 1. K. Hubber, 26. C. Norris, 41. K. Phelan, 59. B. Tennant, 53. J. Tilly
23P: 44. H. Keeling
In: K. Phelan, K. Hubber, B. Tennant, C. Norris, J. Tilly, H. Keeling
Out: B. Hickleton, J. Soligo, J. Gilbee
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
B: 9. N. Burke, 33. C. Watts, 18. J. Lloyd
HB: 13. L. Butler, 29. F. McAsey, 74. H. Loughnan
C: 15. A. Hanrahan, 5. R. Byrnes, 36. O. Lewis
HF: 6. M. Bergman, 14. K. Yorke, 11. H. Ralphsmith
F: 3. G. Grey, 12. C. Dean, 39. B. O'Leary
R: 32. J. Bell, 2. D. Chirgwin, 4. F. Maginness
Int: 43. J. Bowey, 26. J. Castan, 30. A. Courtney, 51. D. Hipwell, 10. J. Le Grice , 37. W. Mackay, 17. T. Milne
23P: 49. L. Carrigan
In: L. Carrigan, T. Milne, J. Castan, D. Hipwell, G. Grey
Out: A. Perkins, J. Voss
SUNDAY
CALDER CANNONS v. DANDENONG STINGRAYS
1st Elimination Final - 01/09/2019
11:00am
Ikon Park – Carlton
CALDER CANNONS
B: 39. B. Overman, 23. C. Brand, 31. G. Thomas
HB: 5. C. Brown, 38. B. Newman, 32. M. Simpson
C: 29. C. Edwardes, 8. S. Ramsay, 43. L. Gollant
HF: 12. J. O'Sullivan, 21. H. Jones, 2. J. Sutton
F: 44. H. Andronaco, 26. M. Fletcher, 10. H. Minton-Connell
R: 61. J. Hotchkin, 27. N. Gentile, 1. D. Mott
Int: 37. B. Bozinovski, 3. J. Cardillo, 41. J. Eyre, 16. J. Keeping, 60. S. Paea, 48. N. Stewart, 59. D. Tully
23P: 45. F. Gentile
In: B. Bozinovski, J. Eyre, H. Andronaco
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
B: 35. D. Popa, 1. H. Berenger, 37. B. Welsh
HB: 39. J. Toner, 32. B. Kuipers, 2. H. Young
C: 13. N. Heath, 45. L. Goonan, 50. L. Williams
HF: 47. W. Bravo, 17. B. Milford, 11. E. Cahill
F: 10. C. Gay, 20. S. De Koning, 44. C. Weightman
R: 24. B. Nyuon, 58. L. Scott, 4. W. Lewis
Int: 26. J. Andrews, 61. J. Cahill, 27. K. George, 55. P. Gerdan, 9. W. Howe, 14. D. Smith, 30. J. Thomas
23P: 49. C. Macdonald
In: J. Andrews, D. Smith, S. De Koning
GIPPSLAND POWER v. OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
2nd Qualifying Final - 01/09/2019
1:30pm
Ikon Park – Carlton
GIPPSLAND POWER
B: 36. M. Bentvelzen , 14. T. Hourigan, 37. H. Pepper
HB: 10. L. Connolly, 24. B. Maslen, 29. T. Rees
C: 15. R. Sparkes, 6. R. Baldi, 35. J. van der Pligt
HF: 21. M. McGarrity, 13. T. Fitzpatrick, 20. H. Neocleous
F: 7. S. Berry, 16. J. Smith, 19. F. Phillips
R: 22. Z. Reid, 4. S. Flanders, 2. C. Serong
Int: 1. R. Angwin, 30. T. Baldi, 26. C. Doultree, 8. B. McAuliffe, 9. W. Papley, 33. N. Prowd, 32. L. Williams
23P: 44. K. Robinson
In: N. Prowd, C. Serong, W. Papley, B. McAuliffe, C. Doultree
Out: B. Smith, C. Comben
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
B: 49. H. Mastras, 36. R. Valentine, 34. V. Zagari
HB: 5. T. Bianco, 52. N. Guiney, 15. K. Schreiber
C: 27. J. May, 6. J. Lucas, 9. W. Phillips
HF: 39. R. McInnes, 25. J. Ugle-Hagan, 61. C. Stone
F: 29. F. Macrae, 73. C. Sharman, 77. N. Stathopoulos
R: 4. N. Bryan, 8. N. Anderson, 11. M. Rowell
Int: 58. Y. Dib, 18. F. Elliot, 22. T. Graham, 12. L. Jenkins, 30. S. Tucker, 17. G. Varagiannis, 1. L. Westwood
23P: 2. B. Laurie
In: G. Varagiannis, S. Tucker, K. Schreiber, B. Laurie
Out: J. Capetola
