GWV REBELS 13.8 (86)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 8.13 (61)
BRADY Wright and Aaron Cadman slammed home 10 goals between them as GWV blew the NAB League top three race open with an impressive 25-point upset victory over the second-placed Oakleigh at Mars Stadium on Saturday.
The Chargers had lost just once for the season and had the chance to join Gippsland on top of the ladder but were stunned by an eight-goal to one burst across the middle two quarters to slip to third and only percentage clear of the wildcard weekend positions.
Despite losing the in-form Flynn Loader early, the Rebels kicked 5.5 to 1.0 in the second quarter to lead by 19 at the main change, and they didn’t look back as star forward Cadman had a day out with 20 disposals, seven marks and 4.4 to finetune for the NAB AFL Under-19 National Championships.
His partner in crime Wright took all his opportunities, turning 12 disposals and five marks into a terrific 6.0 haul as the Oakleigh defence had no answer to the twin-pronged assault.
At the other end, Hamish Sinnott (20, six tackles, five rebounds, one goal), Josh Sparkman (18, five marks, seven rebounds) and Brody Pope (20, eight rebounds) and were similarly strong, while Alex Molan (23, five inside-50s), Hugh Bond (17, 14 tackles, five entries, one goal) and James Clark (18, six marks) were good in the middle.
Oakleigh’s midfielders won enough of the footy to make a difference, led by Will Sexton’s game-high 30 possessions, nine marks and eight inside-50s, with Braden Andrews (28, six marks, seven entries, one goal) and Andrew Noblet (25, six marks, six entries) also firing, while Jed Rule (23, nine marks, nine rebounds) was outstanding in defence.
TASMANIA DEVILS 5.5 (35)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 17.13 (115)
DANDENONG sent Tasmania spiralling out of the top three in flogging the Devils by 80 points at North Hobart Oval on Saturday.
The Devils went into the game ahead of the Stingrays by a win and percentage but were no match as their Victorian rivals extended their lead at every change on the back of five goals from Jesse Davidson-Lopo.
Dandenong also found stars in Lachlan Robinson (22 possessions, five marks, seven entries, three goals), Sam Frangalas (24, eight marks, seven entries, two goals), Kade De La Rue (21, two goals), Taj Campbell-Farrell (28, seven entries) and Henry Hustwaite (21).
Tasmania, which slipped to fifth, had solid performers in defenders Arie Schoenmaker (29 touches, 13 marks, six rebounds), Braidy Simpson (28, six marks, six rebounds) and Mitchell Nicholas (22, four marks, seven rebounds), who worked overtime to repel the flood of Stingray attacks that yielded 65 inside-50s to 31.
Fletcher Hooker (23, 10 marks, five inside-50s) and Will Clifford (22, seven marks, six tackles) also impressed through the middle.
WESTERN JETS 8.6 (54)
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 13.16 (94)
PROBABLE top three NAB AFL Draft pick Will Ashcroft racked up a ridiculous 51 possessions as a near full-strength Sandringham kept itself on the heels of the competition’s top teams with a comprehensive 40-point victory over Western Jets at Williamstown Oval on Sunday.
The Jets kicked the first two goals and trailed by only 15 points at the main break after the Dragons proved wasteful in front of goal, spraying 5.11 to 4.2, but kicked clear with four goals to two in each of the third and fourth quarters to lift their percentage to the third best in the league, despite being seventh.
Levi Ashcroft, 15, the second son of Brisbane Lions great Marcus, made a confident and sparkling debut with 20 disposals, six marks and 1.2, waxing well on occasions with his older brother, who had 19 kicks, 32 handballs, six tackles and nine inside-50s.
Cam McKenzie burst through the midfield with regularity to have 35 touches, seven marks, six tackles, five entries and a goal, Harry Sheezel racked up a power of clearances to finish with 33 disposals, six marks and 3.2, Charlie Clarke (33, eight marks, seven inside-50s, two goals) wasn’t far behind, Mitch Rowe (17, six entries) provided a strong springboard from the wing and Gus McLennan took five marks in his best game since returning from injury.
Jaelen Pavlidis (23, six tackles, one goal) and Jake Whybrow (20, six entries) again led the way for the Jets, with Billy Kolynuik (16, eight marks, six rebounds) and Harry Miller (15, three goals) also able to hold their heads high against a powerful opponent.
BENDIGO PIONEERS 7.9 (51)
MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 9.7 (61)
MURRAY was forced to fight all the way to overcome Bendigo by 10 points at Mildura on Sunday to stay in touch with the top three.
The Bushrangers trailed by a goal at quarter and half-time and drew level at the final change before kicking the last two goals of a seesawing contest to get away with their fifth win of the year.
Noah Bradshaw, the son of Brisbane Lions champion Daniel, continued his upward trajectory with a best-on-ground 33 disposals, seven marks, five tackles, six inside-50s and one goal, with support coming from Nick Quigg (31, seven marks), Darcy Wilson (28, five inside-50s, one goal), Oscar Ryan (26, 10 marks, five tackles), Ewan MacKinlay (23, one goal), Coby James (24, seven marks), Tom Cappellari (22, eight marks) and Max Clohesy (22, six tackles, eight inside-50s).
The Pioneers were best served by Harley Reid (28, 12 marks), Solly McKay (24, five marks, five tackles) and Bode Stevens, who returned from a North Melbourne VFL debut to have 23 touches, four marks and five inside-50s.
NORTHERN KNIGHTS 12.5 (77)
EASTERN RANGES 14.7 (91)
EASTERN Ranges edged out Northern Knights by 14 points in an epic battle at Genis Steel Oval on Saturday.
The teams traded punches like heavyweight boxers all day, with scores being level on no less than eight occasions and the lead changing four times before Eastern finally broke clear with the last three majors of a six-goal-to-three third term to stay in the hunt for a wildcard home final.
Josh Bennetts was the star for the Ranges with 22 disposals, six marks, eight tackles and three goals, with Connor Smith (21, five tackles, two goals) and Jye Peacock (23, seven marks, 10 tackles, six entries) proving to be good wingmen and Callum Verrell (23, one goal), Cam Nyko (22, six tackles), Kai Windsor (18, seven tackles, six entries), Lewis Hayes (17, eight marks, five rebounds, one goal) and Lachy Reidy (19, five marks) also shining.
The bottom-placed Knights threw everything at their next-door neighbours, led by Joel Fitzgerald, who had 30 touches, 12 marks and five rebounds in his first appearance of the season, while Jason McCormick snagged four goals from 16 touches, Patrick Dozzi (23, six marks, five tackles, one goal) continued his fine year and Matthew Ryan (23, six tackles), Aleksandr D’Arro (22, eight marks, seven rebounds) and Ben Ham (20 disposals, seven tackles, five entries, one goal) kept their team in the game.
GEELONG FALCONS 15.11 (101)
CALDER CANNONS 9.5 (59)
EURIAH Hollard’s outstanding six-goal haul lifted Geelong back into the top two after wearing Calder down to win by 42 points in the second game of the Mars Stadium double header on Saturday.
The Falcons led by just a point at quarter-time, but won every term to gradually edge clear, booting nine goals to four in the second half, despite the Cannons getting within three points early in the third term.
Hollard’s 6.2 came from 19 disposals, five marks and five inside-50s, with the in-form Tom Gillet adding three goals from six marks to give him 11 in just three appearances as they cashed in on the dominance of Jhye Clark (33 possessions, five inside-50s), Osca Riccardi (28, seven entries, 10 rebounds), Liam Kershaw (23, 12 marks), Ted Clohesy (25, nine tackles, five entries) and Patrick Hughes (22).
Kade Mueller starred for the Cannons with 31 touches, six marks and five inside-50s, while Jack Newitt (21, nine marks), Dane Whitnall (17, 10 rebounds) and Jack Brown (25, five entries) were also strong and Jordan Croft kicked three goals.
BYE: Gippsland Power
NAB LEAGUE LADDER ROUND 10, click here
THIS WEEK
ROUND 11: Saturday, June 25: Oakleigh Chargers v Dandenong Stingrays (Warrawee Park, 10.30am); Gippsland Power v Sandringham Dragons (Morwell, 1pm); Calder Cannons v Eastern Ranges (Highgate, 2.15pm – Herald Sun); Northern Knights v GWV Rebels (Genis Steel Oval, Preston, 2.15pm). Sunday, June 26: Geelong Falcons v Murray Bushrangers (Avalon Airport Oval, 12.30pm); Bendigo Pioneers v Tasmania Devils (Highgate, 2pm). Bye: Western Jets.
NEXT WEEK: July 2-3: General Bye
THEN: ROUND 12: Saturday, July 9: Calder Cannons v Northern Knights (Highgate, 10.30am); Gippsland Power v Oakleigh Chargers (Morwell, 1pm); Dandenong Stingrays v Murray Bushrangers (Shepley Oval, 2pm). Sunday, July 10: Western Jets v Eastern Ranges (Avalon Airport Oval, 11am); GWV Rebels v Sandringham Dragons (Mars Stadium, 1pm); Geelong Falcons v Bendigo Pioneers (Avalon Airport Oval, 1.30pm). Bye: Tasmania Devils.
(All games are streamed live on the NAB League app except for the Herald Sun game, which is on that website).