Eastern Ranges 18.17 (125) defeated Bendigo Pioneers 7.12 (54)

Eastern goals: R. Sheridan-Ferrie 5, M. Traynor 3, L. Hannon 3, D. Crocker 2, C. Jones 2, B. Hardwick, B. Batty, L. Jeffs
Eastern best: R. Sheridan-Ferrie, J. Healy, L. Jeffs, M. Traynor, L. Hannon, B. Hardwick
Bendigo goals: J. Mangan 3, D. Jones, R. Barrack, K. Mueller, L. Barrett
Bendigo best: J. Mangan, B. Edwards, T. Cole, M. Pickering, D. Davie, S. Simmons

It was mixed conditions out at Highgate as the Eastern Ranges looked to make it two on the trot against the travelling Pioneers. The first quarter was a solid contest with scores split by the smallest of margins at quarter time with a strong breeze and inaccuracy costing both sides. The Eastern Ranges however put the foot down in the second term, piling on five goals whilst the Pioneers could only manage five points for the quarter.

Christian Petracca played a different role this week and was moved to half back where he was able to showcase his versatility and accountability, instructed to defend first and attack second. The power forward gathered 28 disposals playing largely off half back and through the midfield. Blake Hardwick played his best game for the club and the conditions suited him to a tee, finishing with 23 disposals, nine marks two tackles and a classy goal, while big Sheridan-Ferrie finished with five goals, 17 disposals and six marks in a polished display.

At the half time break, the Eastern Ranges had pushed the lead to 27 points, but the Ranges continued to put the Pioneers to the sword in the second half, with their better players running away with it. Although Jordan Mangan was able to steer three majors through for the game, the impressive Tom Cole backed up his performance against the Knights the previous week by being s a driving force for Bendigo in a whitewash affair. His 33 disposals spoke wonders of his character, as did his 10 marks and four tackles.

But with the wind coming down in the second half, Luke Hannon took it in his stride and was classy with the ball in hand, finishing with 24 disposals and three goals to all but take out best on ground. Top-ager Matthew Traynor continued his strong vein of form, gathering 26 disposals, three goals, nine marks and four tackles to lead the way for Eastern.11 second half goals to just five saw the Ranges run out 71-point winners. Next week Eastern take on Dandenong at Box Hill City Oval, whilst the Pioneers host the Jets at Epsom Huntly Reserve.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Blake Hardwick (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Matthew Traynor (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Luke Hannon (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Rory Sheridan-Ferrie (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Christian Petracca (Eastern Range)

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Dandenong Stingrays 12.8 (80) defeated NSW/ACT Rams 7.9 (51)

Dandenong goals: R. Fischer 2, J. Tomkins 2, K. Downie 2, A. Wilson, B. Mullane, T. Lamb, M. Cox, J. Lonie, B. Dale.
NSW/ACT goals: A. Davis 2, J. Hiscox 2, J. Steele, J. Thompson, Z. Fyffe.
Dandenong best: J. Lonie, T. Lamb, B. Dale, B. Mullane, A. Wilson, S. Guerts.
NSW/ACT best: I. Heeney, J. Hiscox, C. Mills, T. Faul, J. Foote, J. Thompson.

The NSW/ACT Rams ventured down to Dandenong’s Shepley Oval for their first game of the 2014 TAC Cup season. While they may not have known what to expect when the ball was bounced at 12:00pm, they would have been encouraged by the Stingray’s close loss to the Jets at the same location just a week earlier under the rain, similar to the wet conditions they would battle it out in on this day.

Dandenong kicked the first goal of the match before the Rams hit right back. While the football was predominantly being disposed of via the wing, Bailey Dale made a fantastic run through the corridor, putting the ball on the chest of Aaron Wilson who did not disappoint. For a large portion of the term the play was all in the Rams’ forward line and despite many chances to impact the scoreboard, they were inaccurate. Abe Davis took a strong mark late in the quarter and accordingly slotted the goal, but it was not enough as the Stingrays took a 10-point lead into the first break.

The second term started horribly for the Rams, conceding two free kicks in their backline to gift Bailey Dale and Keegan Dowie goals. Dandenong conceded the next goal before Jack Lonie hit back; the home side comfortably in front. From then on however, it was all NSW/ACT. Sydney Swans academy player Isaac Heeney started to rack up the disposals and the away side kicked the next three goals, the last of which was Brad Watson, who roved the ball off a ruck contest and slammed it home. Dandenong held a four-point lead at half time, but some could argue the away side should’ve been in front.

The rain fell hard during the break, thus the game became more contested. Bailey Dale kicked a long bomb to open proceedings to hand the Stingrays a 10 point lead and found himself increasingly in the action. Helping him out in the midfield was Tom Lamb, who seemed to have the ball in his hands every 30 seconds. Dandenong’s accuracy was impressive and it allowed them to kick the next three to take full grasp of the game. Jack Steele kicked a goal just before the siren to reduce the lead to 22 points.

The final term was a dour affair with the wet conditions proving it hard for each side to score. It wasn’t bad for everyone however, Jack Lonie relished weather and was constantly at the bottom of the packs. Tom Lamb kicked the only goal in the quarter to wrap up a 29 point win for the home side.

Isaac Heeney was best afield 33 disposals and 10 tackles while Tom Lamb also collected 33 disposals and kicked one. NSW/ACT travel back to their own territory next week to take on the Murray Bushrangers at Lavington. The Stingrays will meet Eastern Ranges at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday.

BFGN Rising Star Medal:

5 – Isaac Heeney (NSW/ACT)
4 – Tom Lamb (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Jack Lonie (Dandenong Stingrays)
2- Bailey Dale (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Sam Guerts (Dandenong Stingrays)

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Western Jets 13.16 (94) defeated Gippsland Power 8.10 (58)

Western goals: M. Orr 2, C. Sullivan 2, M. Norton 2, L. Duggan, L. Pulitano, B. Payne, B. Ferrari, C. Menadue, M. Palma, B. Myers
Western best: B. Monk, J. Viola, D. Viojo, J. Volpato, L. Duggan, M. Norton
Gippsland goals: J. Cunico 2, A. Di Ciero, N. Holmes, T. Marsh, B. Olsson, A. Carr, T. Beck
Gippsland best: A. Carr, J. Dunkley, D. Grech, N. Holmes, C. Ambler, S. Skinner

Western Jets have continued their rebounding form of the last few weeks to make it three wins on the trot by knocking off the Gippsland Power by 36 points. Despite the loss, Alex Carr found his form from last year with 25 disposals (21 effective), four marks, two tackles and a goal. Unfortunately for the Power, the Jets had more contributors with Dillon Viojo, Liam Duggan, Mitch Norton and Jackson Volpato all contributing. Next week the Jets travel to Bendigo to face the Pioneers, while Gippsland host Queensland in Morwell.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Alex Carr (Gippsland Power)
4- Dillon Viojo (Western Jets)
3- Mitch Norton (Western Jets)
2- Liam Duggan (Western Jets)
1- Josh Dunkley (Gippsland Power)

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Geelong Falcons 14.4 (88) defeated Northern Knights 7.11 (53)

Geelong goals: A. Christensen 3, T. Miles 2, B. Remmos 2, R. Mathieson 2, J. Hickey, S. Dixon, M. Augerinos, D. Parish, J. Nelson
Geelong best: T. Miles, S. Dixon, A. Christensen, J. Nelson, M. Augerinos, P. Bright
Northern goals: C. McCabe 2, S. Switkowski 2, C. Porter, A. Di Paolo, J. Perry
Northern best: Z. Ballard, S. Switkowski, R. Tester, J. Booth, L. East, C. Sloan

Geelong Falcons bounced back from a loss to Oakleigh to skip past the Northern Knights by 35 points. Inside midfielder Teia Miles was fantastic around the stoppages, collecting 20 disposals, taking five marks and laying seven tackles to cap off with two goals. Scott Dixon was equally impressive while Jackson Nelson provided run and Aaron Christensen was sneaky around the goals, booting three. Northern struggled to match the class of the Falcons, but Samuel Switkowski was solid with 25 disposals, five marks, three tackles and two goals. Next week the Falcons welcome arch-rival Calder under lights at Simmonds Stadium, while Northern take on the North Ballarat Rebels at Eureka Stadium.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Teia Miles (Geelong Falcons)
4- Scott Dixon (Geelong Falcons)
3- Jackson Nelson (Geelong Falcons)
2- Aaron Christensen (Geelong Falcons)
1- Samuel Switkowski (Northern Knights)

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Calder Cannons 13.5 (83) defeated Murray Bushrangers 4.9 (33)

Calder goals: J. Foster 4, P. Wright 3, V. Carboni 2, P. Ahern, A. Petryshyn, J. Flower, M. Goodyear
Calder best: T. Miller, J. Foster, N. O”Kearney, R. O’Brien, T. Wallis, V. Carboni
Murray goals: B. Webster 2, C. Marchbank , M. Mahady
Murray best: N. Drummond, I. Muller, N. Mellington, K. Ellis, C. Marchbank, M. Brennan

Calder Cannons continued their ripper start to the 2014 season with a comprehensive 50-point win over the Murray Bushrangers. Jayden Foster, a potential Geelong father-son pick booted four goals while ruck/forward star Peter Wright chipped in with three. Victor Carboni and Touk Miller were impressive around the ground for Calder, while for the Bushrangers, Nathan Drummond was sensational, albeit alone with 31 disposals, nine marks and 12 tackles. Next week Calder travel to Geelong to face their arch-nemesis the Falcons on Friday night, while Murray host the NSW/ACT Rams in Albury.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Jayden Foster (Calder Cannons)
4- Nathan Drummond (Murray Bushrangers)
3- Victor Carboni (Calder Cannons)
2- Touk Miller (Calder Cannons)
1- Peter Wright (Calder Cannons)

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Sandringham Dragons 11.13 (79) defeated Queensland 6.9 (45)

Sandringham goals: H. Dear 3, D. Atkins 2, B. Maynard 2, A. Giuliano, H. Whitehead, M. Manteit, A. Brayshaw
Sandringham best: T. Grace, A. Brayshaw, H. Balic, M. Manteit, B. Maynard, H. Dear
Queensland goals: M. Uebergang 2, H. Andrews 2, G. Woosup, L. Weller
Queensland best: M. Uebergang, H. Bertoli-Simmonds, B. Keays, J. Watson, L. Weller, L. Dawson

Sandringham made the long trek to Queensland and came home successful with a well-earned four points in the bag. Angus Brayshaw and Taylor Grace were among the stars while both Brayden Maynard and Michael Manteit continued their great start to the season. Grace had 30 disposals, 10 marks and four tackles while Brayshaw amassed 21 disposals, seven marks and 12 tackles to compliment his goal. For Queensland, the man that will give commentators sleepless nights in Matthew Uebergang again booted multiple goals while a J. Watson (Jacob in this case) was fantastic around the ground with 25 disposals, 10 marks and five tackles. Highly touted Scorpion Lachie Weller had 17 disposals, two marks, seven tackles and kicked one goal. Next week Sandringham meet Oakleigh at home, while Queensland make the trip to Morwell to take on the Gippsland Power.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Taylor Grace (Sandringham Dragons)
4- Angus Brayshaw (Sandringham Dragons)
3- Brayden Maynard (Sandringham Dragons)
2- Michael Manteit (Sandringham Dragons)
1- Jacob Watson (Queensland Scorpions)

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North Ballarat Rebels 6.13 (49) defeated Oakleigh Chargers 6.10 (46)

North Ballarat goals: J. Palmer 2, D. Butler, J. Wheelahan, J. O”Beirne, L. McLeod
North Ballarat best: R. Marshall, T. Schnerring, D. Butler, O. McDonald, T. Templeton, D. Tucker
Oakleigh goals: C. Bentley 2, J. De Goey, T. McLean, A. Urban, A. Oppy
Oakleigh best: H. Beasley, A. Urban, J. De Goey, T. McLean, A. Oppy, N. Taylor

In the biggest upset of the season, the last-placed North Ballarat Rebels defeated the Oakleigh Chargers by three points. Oakleigh were on top of the ladder and previously undefeated, but the loss of players to the APS system left them to their depth as the previously win-less Rebels held on at Warrawee Park. It was a low scoring affair with a total of 12 goals kicked, but the class of Alex Urban shone through, collecting 36 disposals in the wet. Jordan De Goey and Hugh Beasley were also impressive for the Chargers, while the Rebels didn’t have a stand out player but a whopping 17 tackles by Daniel Butler and Tom Templeton’s great all round game earned them votes. Next week the Rebels host Northern at Eureka Stadium for the first time this year, while Oakleigh face off against Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Alex Urban (Oakleigh Chargers)
4- Jordan De Goey (Oakleigh Chargers)
3- Daniel Butler (North Ballarat Rebels)
2- Hugh Beasley (Oakleigh Chargers)
1- Tom Templeton (North Ballarat Rebels)