A look back at some of the key moments from the weekend’s NFNL senior football action.
MILNE LIGHTS UP LOWER
It was a big day at Montmorency Park South Oval on Saturday, with Lower Plenty hosting a 1979 and 1999 premiership reunion. The Bears wore brown and gold heritage jumpers to mark the occasion, while former St Kilda star Stephen Milne featured in a guest appearance. In tough conditions, the 39-year-old provided an impact and finished with an equal game-high three majors against Bundoora. His efforts nearly guided Lower Plenty to its second major scalp in as many weeks, with the Bears falling just one point short against the fourth-placed Bulls.
BOYDEN BAGS A DOZEN
Rhys Boyden certainly had a day out in Panton Hill’s big win over Lalor at A.E. Cracknell Reserve. The key forward finished with a personal best 12-goal haul as the Redbacks romped to a 133-point victory. It was the second time Boyden reached double figures in a match, after booting 10 against Reservoir in 2018. The haul moved Boyden’s season tally to 45, pushing him 11 clear of teammate Matthew Byron and Laurimar’s Josh Williamson on the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 goal kicking table.
TIGERS DOMINATE DERBY
Matches between Heidelberg and North Heidelberg are always key fixtures on the calendar and the weekend’s clash had extra significance, with second place on the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 ladder at stake. Heidelberg went in as the higher ranked side but had lost its previous three to the Bulldogs by an average of more than seven goals – including a 44-point defeat when the sides met at Shelley Reserve in Round 4. However, the Tigers were able to turn the tables on their neighbour and conceded just three goals in a 53-point triumph at Warringal Park. Frank Raso’s side set up the win with a seven-goal to nil third term, which helped them move six points clear in second place at the midway point of the home and away season.
SPURS DO IT AGAIN
Last week’s column featured a rare feat by the VU Western Spurs, whose three sides didn’t concede a score across three matches in the NFNL senior women’s competitions. The Spurs were at their dominant best again in Round 8, with their three sides combining for a score of 44.29 (293) to 1.1 (7). The Spurs currently sit first on the ANZ Division 1 Women’s and MC Security Division 2 Women’s ladders, while their third side pushed up to second place on the Mirvac Division 3 Women’s table, behind Greensborough.
SAINTS THROW SPANNER IN WORKS
Few would have given Watsonia hope of upsetting the Fitzroy Stars in their Round 9 outing at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval, despite their strong recent record against the Stars. The Saints entered the game on a five-game losing streak, while the Stars had won four of their past five and were a chance to move inside the top-four with a win. However, the form line was thrown out the window, with Watsonia producing a stunning upset to score a 38-point victory. The Saints started well and were able to ward off several challenges from their host, before kicking away in the final term with five goals to two. Hayden Mitchell and Kyle Kemp excelled, Tyrone Leonardis had an impact in his first game for the club, while Adrian Alfonsi booted five majors. The result means Watsonia has beaten Fitzroy each season since returning to A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 in 2017. The loss put a major dent in the Stars’ finals hopes, falling a game and percentage outside the top-four.
SLEEPING GIANTS RISING
Most pundits had written off 2018 grand finalists West Preston-Lakeside and Macleod after poor starts to the 2019 Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 season. The Roosters lost their first six games and the Roos their opening four. However, both have now stormed back into finals contention at the halfway mark of the year. Macleod has taken 14 points from its past five matches to move within two points of fifth spot, while the Roosters are only half a game behind the Roos after winning their past three. Macleod is one of only four sides with a percentage above 100 following a 73-point thrashing of Northcote Park in Round 9, while Matthew Signorello inspired West Preston-Lakeside to a gritty 19-point win away to Hurstbridge. Based on their recent form, both would have the sides inside the top-five peering over their shoulder.
