Oakleigh's Ben Woodfull and Hamish Heine celebrate after the Chargers held on to beat Sandringham by five points in the NAB League at RSEA Park on Saturday. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

BENDIGO PIONEERS 5.15 (45)
MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 5.11 (41)

MURRAY Bushrangers missed out on securing a home Wildcard Weekend final in the cruellest and most unusual of circumstances as the Bendigo Pioneers pinched a dramatic four-point win in their NAB League final-round clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Sunday.

The Bushrangers, who had lost their previous three matches by four, five and 11 points to fall out of the top eight, were well in control at three quarter-time with a 23-point lead, having held the Pioneers to just one goal.

Bendigo flew home but were still trailing by two points after the Bushrangers rushed a behind with just eight seconds to play, only to be penalised under the density rule for not having five players in their attacking 50 at the kick-in.

The kick after the siren would normally have been taken from the 50m line, but Murray then conceded a 50m penalty for not returning the ball to Bendigo’s Harley Reid, and he converted the simple shot from the goal line for a unique victory.

Bendigo’s only goal in the first three quarters came from Carlton VFL-listed forward Harvey Gallagher just before half-time, and he ended up being best-on-ground in a remarkable performance that netted 37 disposals, six marks, 13 rebound-50s and two goals.

Reid (28, six entries, two goals), Noah Long (30, one goal), Footscray VFL-lister Jason Gillbee (25, eight marks, five entries) and Ben Cameron (21, five marks) also starred for the Pioneers.

Tyler Norton (35, nine rebounds) was outstanding in defence for the Bushrangers, with Ollie Hollands (27, five marks, five tackles, five entries), Essendon VFL-listed Ewan Mackinlay (24, five entries, one goal), Tom Cappellari (23, six marks), Nick Quigg (21, five tackles) and Joeve Cooper (19, six entries, six tackles) playing key roles in setting up their early lead.

Oakleigh's Luke Teal eludes Sandringham's Lachie McCluskey and Charlie Clarke at RSEA Park on Saturday. Picture: AFL Photos

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 14.9 (93)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 13.20 (98)

OAKLEIGH Chargers clung on for a heartstopping five-point win over a fire-breathing Sandringham Dragons at RSEA Park on Saturday – but only by a matter of a single metre.

Dragon Vigo Visentini takes a shot for goal. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

The Chargers had blown the game wide open with the wind in the third quarter, kicking 5.7 to 1.0 to turn a five-point advantage into a 36-point lead, but the Dragons then came to life in front of a healthy double-header crowd, slamming on 7.3 to 2.2 to get within a kick.

Jakob Anderson won a free kick after great forward pressure from Olli Hotton as the siren sounded but the 57m kick proved just a metre too far as Oakleigh held on to climb to fifth on the ladder, with Sandringham finishing eighth after Murray’s misfortune a day later.

Elijah Tsatas played his first match for Oakleigh since Round 4 and proved exactly why he is being touted as a potential No.1 NAB AFL Draft selection by racking up 12 touches in the first quarter before going on to finish with 38 disposals, 13 inside-50s and countless clearances.

Alwyn Davey Jnr brought his Vic Metro form back to the Chargers after making his VFL debut for Essendon last week, picking up 26 possessions and kicking a terrific opportunistic goal from 40m off one step, Kynan Brown (24, five entries, five tackles) and Angus Curry (23) worked hard as distributors, Hudson O’Keeffe (25 hitouts) shaded young Dragon Vigo Visentini (17) and Matt Jefferson overcame a good start from Nathan Scollo to kick four goals.

Harry Sheezel was the catalyst for the Dragons’ comeback, kicking three of his four goals in the last quarter to go with 22 disposals, six marks and seven tackles, while Cam McKenzie (23) was a consistent workhorse all day, Olli Hotton sparked his team with two brilliant first quarter snaps on his way to 26 touches, five marks and five inside-50s and Will Ashcroft (33, five marks, five tackles, six inside-50s) had no trouble finding the ball and made more an impact as the game drew on.

Oakleigh's Riley Voulanas runs away from Dragon Cam McKenzie. Picture: AFL Photos

DANDENONG STINGRAYS 7.12 (54)
GIPPSLAND POWER 7.8 (50)

DANDENONG confirmed its place in the top three, earning a week off and subjecting minor premier Gippsland to a third loss in four games with a thrilling four-point victory at Skybus Stadium on Friday night.

The Stingrays over possessed the ball early and trailed narrowly all night but had the answers when it mattered most in the cold and slippery conditions, booting the first three goals of the last term to turn a 10-point deficit into a nine-point lead after Sam Frangalas put them in front for only the second time and the polished Cooper Simpson (20 disposals, one goal) slammed home a ripper off a step from 40m.

Bailey Humphrey’s fourth goal a couple of minutes later revived hopes for the Power but Dandenong held its nerve, with Mitch Szybkowski winning 30 touches in his return from school footy, Frangalas (29, six entries, one goal) stepping up in the second half, Henry Hustwaite (27, six tackles) showing clean hands in the conditions, Ned Moodie (21, five marks, six rebounds) starring in defence with assistance from Finn Emile-Brennan (22, seven rebounds) and Jaxon Binns (24, five entries) looking dangerous but kicking 0.4.

Coby Burgiel was Gippsland’s best, particularly in the first half on his way 20 disposals, five tackles, six inside-50s and a goal, with Zane Duursma (19) playing further up the ground and Rhys Galvin (13, nine rebounds) working hard in defence, while Humphrey (11, six tackles, four goals) played a lone hand up forward.

Sandringham's Angus McLennan looks for options. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

GWV REBELS 8.10 (58)
GEELONG FALCONS 7.13 (55)

GREATER Western Victoria consolidated fourth spot and the top seeding in the Wildcard Weekend after flying home from 30 points down midway through the third quarter to stun Geelong by three points at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Sunday.

The Falcons were awesome early, banging on 5.6 to 1.0 with the wind in the first term before holding firm in defence in the second, conceding just 1.5 to no score, but they missed their chance to put the Rebels away by kicking 1.6 from seven shots to 0.1 in the first 12 minutes of the third.

They were made to pay, with GWV’s Ethan Boyd kicking a late major against the wind to make it 22 points turning for home and piled on 5.2 to 1.1 in the last, grabbing the lead when Joel Freijah snagged his second goal in the 23rd minute to steal the win.

Aaron Cadman was the star for the Rebels with 20 disposals, seven marks, five inside-50s and four goals to top the NAB League’s goalkicking with 32 majors from 11 matches, with Hugh Bond (25, seven marks, five tackles, seven entries) terrific in the middle, Tristan Maple (21, seven marks, seven rebounds) on fire in defence and Freijah (18, six marks, two goals) also important.

Ted Clohesy returned from his VFL debut to lead Geelong with 24 touches, five tackles and a goal, with Patrick Hughes (21, five entries, one goal), Michael Rudd (15, five marks, two goals) and Angus Hastie (18, seven rebounds) playing well to set up the lead.

Calder recruit Harry Rowston is tackled by Eastern's Cameron Nyko at RSEA Park on Saturday. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

EASTERN RANGES 11.9 (75)
CALDER CANNONS 16.7 (103)

CALDER showed it can’t be underestimated in this week’s Wildcard Weekend after kicking seven goals to two in the last quarter to shock an in-form Eastern by 28 points at RSEA Park on Saturday.

Cannon Carlos Egan sends the ball into attack. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

The Ranges had belted Sandringham by 77 points two weeks ago and would still have been heavily favoured when they led by four points at the final break after a seesawing contest against the Cannons where the lead had already changed six times.

But Amin Naim put the Cannons in front inside a minute of the last quarter and Isaac Kako added two more before Josh Morris got those back with two of his own for Eastern.

But that only set the Cannons off and they took off all guns blazing, banging on four goals in the last 11 minutes for a confidence-boosting victory ahead of a Wildcard rematch in Ballarat this Sunday.

Former GWS Academy member Harry Rowston made his debut for the Cannons and carved the Ranges up with 30 disposals, six marks, five entries and a goal, while Tom O’Sullivan (20, seven tackles, one goal), Kade Mueller (20, six tackles, one goal), Reuben Rode (17, seven marks, seven rebounds) provided strong support, Matt Weber and Caleb Burquest produced identical games (22, one mark, four tackles, three entries, four rebounds, two frees against), Kako booted four goals including three in the last term and Isaac Cullen had 28 hitouts.

Fourth-gamer Josh Smillie had a breakout performance for Eastern, picking up 24 disposals and six marks and kicking two goals to be his team’s best, with Josh Bennetts (25, six marks) and Oliver Horlock (18, eight marks, two goals) also having career-best games and Harry Flynn (21, five entries) not far off either.

The ball just eludes Cannon Rye Penny in a contest with teammates Sam Valensisi and Isaac Cullen, as well as Eastern's Ry Cantwell. Picture: AFL Photos

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 18.5 (113)
WESTERN JETS 10.12 (72)

NORTHERN also gained plenty of confidence ahead of the sudden-death month ahead, overrunning Western in the last quarter to win by 41 points at Genis Steel Oval on Saturday.

The Knights finished on the bottom of the ladder but you wouldn’t have known it as they took apart a team that had thrashed Oakleigh a fortnight earlier, overcoming a slow start that saw them 14 points down at quarter-time to bang on six goals to two in the second term to take the lead at the main break before winning the third term four goals to two against the wind.

With a 13-point lead turning for home, there was no stopping Northern as they booted another six goals to one in its best performance since it thrashed the Sydney Swans Academy by 69 points in Round 1.

Nate Caddy (20 disposals, five inside-50s, three goals) and Jason McCormick (16 disposals, four goals) were more than a handful in attack for the Knights, finishing off the dominance in the midfield of Carlton VFL-listed star Patrick Dozzi (35, nine marks, five entries) and North Melbourne father-son prospect Cooper Harvey, the eldest boy of AFL games record holder Brent, who returned from a month out with a broken arm with a career-best 30 touches, seven marks and a goal.

Aleksandr D’Arro (28, six rebounds), John McInerney (21, eight rebounds) and Jonathan Tomasiello (21, five tackles, five rebounds) sparkled in defence.

Darcy Weeks continued his late-season emergence with a career-best 25 disposals and seven inside-50s for the Jets, with support coming from Harry Miller (15, two goals), Ned Conway (18, five marks) and Jake Smith (18, seven entries).

Calder's Isaac Cullen and Eastern's Clay Tucker contest a ruck knockout. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

Bye: Tasmania Devils

NAB LEAGUE LADDER ROUND 16, click here

Eastern's Joshua Davies makes a break. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

THIS WEEK

WILDCARD WEEKEND
Saturday, August 26:
4.GWV Rebels v 13.Northern Knights (Mars Stadium, 11am)
Saturday, August 26: 6.Geelong Falcons v 11.Western Jets (Mars Stadium, 1.30pm)
Saturday, August 26: 8.Sandringham Dragons v 9.Murray Bushrangers (Williamstown Cricket Ground, 2pm)
Sunday, August 27: 7.Eastern Ranges v 10.Calder Cannons (Mars Stadium, 11am)
Sunday, August 27: 5.Oakleigh Chargers v 12.Bendigo Pioneers (Mars Stadium, 1.30pm)

NEXT WEEK: Saturday, September 2: Quarter-Final double header (Ikon Park). Sunday, September 3: Quarter-Final double header (Mars Stadium). Finals schedule: 1 v 5th Highest Wildcard Winner; 2 v 4th HWW; 3 v 3rd HWW; 4th HWW v 5th HWW.

THEN: Saturday, September 10: Preliminary Final double header (TBA). Finals schedule: Winner QF1 v Winner QF4; Winner QF2 v Winner QF3.

FINALLY: Friday, September 16: Grand Final, PF1 Winner v PF2 Winner (Ikon Park, 5.10pm)

(All games are streamed live on the NAB League app except for the Herald Sun games, which are on that website).

NAB LEAGUE LEADING GOALKICKERS

NB AFL Academy member Aaron Cadman kicked four goals for the GWV Rebels to top the NAB League goalkicking table at the end of the home and away season. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos

32: Aaron Cadman (GWV) 4
29: Zane Duursma (Gippsland) 0
29:
Brandon Leary (Tasmania) bye
28:
Logan Morris (Western) 2
27:
Will Splann (Tasmania) bye
26:
Harry Sheezel (Sandringham) 4
23:
Brady Wright (GWV) dnp
21:
Ingo Dammersmith (Oakleigh) dnp
21:
Jovan Petric (Western) 1
20:
Euriah Hollard (Geelong) dnp
20:
Bailey Humphrey (Gippsland) 4
19:
Charlie Clarke (Sandringham) 2
19:
Jason McCormick (Northern) 4
19:
Beau Tedcastle (GWV) dnp
18:
Brayden George (Murray) 1
18:
Tom Gillet (Geelong) dnp
17: Nate Caddy (Northern) 3
17:
Fletcher Hart (Murray) 0
17: Harry Miller (Western) 2
17:
Nick Watson (Eastern) 2
16: Jacob Konstanty (Gippsland) 1
16:
Toby Murray (Murray) 1
15:
Seth Campbell (Tasmania) bye
15: Joeve Cooper (Murray) 0
15:
Jerome Lawrence (Oakleigh) 0
15:
Riley Weatherill (Eastern) dnp

Oakleigh's Nathan Philactides is hauled in by Sandringham's Jamie Hope. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos
Dragons captain Will Ashcroft takes a strong mark against Chargers Scott Beilby and Elijah Tsatas. Picture: AFL Photos
Eastern's Joshua Bennetts takes a mark on his way to a team-high 25 disposals. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos
Luke Said of the Cannons handballs under fierce pressure from William Evans and Harry Flynn of the Ranges during the NAB League Boys match between Eastern Ranges and Calder Cannons at RSEA Park on August 20, 2022. Picture: AFL Photos