The TAC Cup through up some huge blow-outs in the catch up Country round one at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo. Gippsland Power were devastatingly good, smashing the Bendigo Pioneers all over the ground. Nine goals from Josh Scott saw the Power run out convincing 105-point winners. Murray Bushrangers looked like doing the same, holding the North Ballarat Rebels goalless in the first half before easing off and securing a 46-point win. In the final game, the Geelong Falcons flexed their muscles to destroy the Dandenong Stingrays by 65 points in a comfortable win to place them on top of the TAC Cup ladder.

TAC Cup round one (Country Round):

Gippsland Power 23.11 (149)
Bendigo Pioneers 6.8 (44)

Power goals: Scott (9), Kearns (4), Carr (3), Saunders (3), Keilty (2), Webb, Rees
Pioneers goals: Conway (2), Spurr, Evans, Hywood, Maher
Power best: Scott, Webb, Muir, Carr, Kearns, Saunders
Pioneers best: Conway, Maher, Payne, Cakitaki, L. Barrett, O’Halloran

Gippsland Power continued its fantastic form this season, annihilating the Bendigo Pioneers by 105 points at Queen Elizabeth Oval. The Pioneers were missing Jacob Chisari, Jaden McGrath, Sam Heavyside and Isaiah Miller and it really showed as the Power’s hardened bodies convincingly won the midfield battle. Josh Scott booted four last quarter goals due to the onslaught to finish with nine to outscore the Pioneers by himself. Ben Kearns, Alex Carr and Alex Saunders all got on the scoreboard while bottom-ager Lukas Webb and rebounding defender Tom Muir were amongst the best outside the forward fifty. For the Pioneers, Jake Maher could hold his head high as he battled manfully all day while Blake O’Halloran also did his bit despite being sent off in the last quarter due to a couple of incidents through frustration. Both teams get a rest next week while the Vic Country squads are finalised, with many hoping to hear their name called.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal
5 – Josh Scott (Gippsland Power)
4 – Lukas Webb (Gippsland Power)
3 – Tom Muir (Gippsland Power)
2 – Alex Carr (Gippsland Power)
1 – Ben Kearns (Gippsland Power)

Murray Bushrangers 12.15 (87)
North Ballarat Rebels 6.5 (41)

Bushrangers goals: Impey (4), Neagle (4), van Berlo (2), Munro, King
Rebels goals: Mellington (3), Cassidy (2), S. Bennett
Bushrangers best: Gibbons, Drummond, Impey, Mennen, Cleeland, Martyn
Rebels best: Herbert, Cassidy, Webster, S. Bennett, Mellington, S. Hooper

The Murray Bushrangers won their second game in a row, defeating cellar dwellars the North Ballarat Rebels by 46 points at Queen Elizabeth Oval. Jarman Impey starred with four goals while Michael Gibbons and Nathan Drummond were everywhere across the ground. Jydon Neagle again showed how dangerous he can be up forward, slotting four goals from multiple attempts. For the Rebels, Louis Herbert was clearly the standout while Lachlan Cassidy and Keegan Mellington hit the score board in a vain attempt to keep the Rebels in the match. Next week both teams have a rest as the Vic Country intra-club match takes place with many keen to impress.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5 – Michael Gibbons (Murray Bushrangers)
4 – Jarman Impey (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Nathan Drummond (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – David Mennen (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Louis Herbert (North Ballarat Rebels)

Geelong Falcons 18.10 (118)
Dandenong Stingrays 7.11 (53)

Falcons goals: Fort (4), Boag (2), Goddard (2), Sharp (2), S. Dixon (2), Bond (2), McCartin (2), Batarilo, Thompson
Stingrays goals: Lamb (2), Scott, Gardiner, Tohiariki, Bastinac, Soroczynski
Falcons best: Cameron, Fort, Boag, Batarilo, Cordy, Bond
Stingrays best: Jones, Lamb, Patolo, Pickess, Capiron, Bastinac

Geelong have further staked its claims to be the team to beat this season with a commanding 65-point win over the strong Dandenong Stingrays. Fraser Fort continued his great form with another four goals despite a heavy clash with teammate Pat McCartin early on forcing him off the ground. The Falcons seem to improve every week and despite missing players through AIS, are convincingly dispelling of other teams. It would not be surprising to see a number of Falcons in the Vic Country squad this week with many impressing early. For the Stingrays, they have had a mixed bag of results this season but are still expected to be up there in finals contention especially with the return of Billy Hartung from Europe. Both teams will enjoy the rest before continuing in a fortnight.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5 – Fraser Fort (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Doug Bond (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Angus Scott (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Matthew Boag (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Jacob Sharp (Geelong Falcons)

TAC Cup round four (Metro Round):

Western Jets vs. Oakleigh Chargers (10:30am, Saturday 20th April at Box Hill City Oval)
Eastern Ranges vs. Northern Knights (1:00pm, Saturday 20th April at Box Hill City Oval)
Calder Cannons vs. Sandringham Dragons(4:00pm, Saturday 20th April at Highgate Recreation Reserve)