North Ballarat Rebels 11.11 (77)
Gippsland Power 9.10 (64)

North Ballarat goals: D. Rioli 3, E. Frank 2, J. Hopper 2, D. Tucker 2, M. Johnston, J. Cowan.
Gippsland goals: T. Papley 4, H. McKay 2, B. Olsson, T. Marsh, C. Ambler.
North Ballarat best: J. Hopper, Y. Eades, T. Taurau, J. Webster, J. Berry, B. Simpson
Gippsland best: T. Papley, J. Patullo, C. Ambler, N. Holmes, B. Dessent, R. Hearn

North Ballarat Rebels clawed their way back from a six goal to two first half to record a strong 13-point win over Gippsland Power and maintain their top-of-the-table status. The Power jumped out of the blocks to kick three goals to zero in the first quarter, before extending that margin to 22 points by half time. A nine goal to three second half saw the Rebels storm back into the contest led by usual suspects Jacob Hopper and Darcy Tucker. Gippsland had a host of impressive players with Thomas Papley booting four goals and Nash Holmes continuing his great season.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Jacob Hopper (North Ballarat Rebels)
4 – Thomas Papley (Gippsland Power)
3 – Nash Holmes (Gippsland Power)
2 – Darcy Tucker (North Ballarat Rebels)
1 – Connor Byrne (North Ballarat Rebels)

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Northern Knights 7.10 (52)
Tasmania 16.16 (112)

Northern goals: K. Waari 2, M. Ercolano, J. Gresham, I. Soldo, B. Fiorini, K. Declase.
Tasmania goals: N. Dodge 4, M. Rainbird 3, C. Brown 3, H. Pearse 2, J.Johnson 2, K. Lovell, B Kamaric.
Northern best: B. Fiorni, J. Gresham, M. Ercolano, M. Blakey, M. Maynard, M. Hill
Tasmania best: K. Lovell, M. Hibberd, N. Franklin, B. McGuinness, H. Pearce, B Karmaric

Tasmania travelled to Preston City Oval to face the Knights and brushed the home team aside as they came away with a 60-point win. Tasmania started the game kicking five of the first seven goals and did not look back as Northern could not cut into the lead, with Tasmania increasing their lead at every break. Tasmania’s pressure was the key to their success as they did not allow any room for Northern to breathe. Tasmania’s Kieran Lovell and Nathan Dodge were stand outs on the day as they both won clearances out of the middle and were able to go up forward and kick five goals between them. Jade Gresham and Brayden Fiorini again continue to impress and had solid games for the Knights.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Nathan Dodge (Tasmania)
4 – Kieran Lovell (Tasmania)
3 – Brayden Fiorini (Northern Knights)
2 – Jade Gresham (Northern Knights)
1 – Michael Ercolano (Northern Knights)

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Oakleigh Chargers 9.5 (59)
NSW/ACT Rams 10.14 (74)

Oakleigh goals: J.Silvagni 2, M.Jackson 2, N.Silvestro, J.Whitehead, J.Ridley, M.Giles, T.Duman
NSW/ACT goals: M.Flynn 2, M.Kennedy 2, S.Wilson 2, C.Bance, J.Kelly, J.Cornell, H.Himmelberg
Oakleigh best: B.Crocker, F.Pearce, J.Ridley, K.Answerth, J.Silvagni
NSW/ACT best: M.Kennedy, M.Flynn, J.Cornell, T.Faul, H.Perryman

The NSW/ACT Rams continued their fine form in the TAC Cup competition, defeating powerhouse Oakleigh Chargers at Warrawee Park on Saturday. NSW/ACT bounced back from their disappointing loss the week before to the Bushrangers, with their fast flowing game style ensuring that they would come away with the four points.

A sickening clash of heads resulted in Jack Roughsedge from Oakleigh being stretchered off just before half-time after a collision with a Rams player. Unfortunately Mason Giles, another Oakleigh player, was stretchered off just after three-quarter time from an accidental high tackle resulting in both sides being down two players for the final 18 minutes. NSW/ACT’s midfielders however were able to overrun the Chargers players and ensuring victory by 15 points.

With the scores level at half-time Matthew Kennedy single handedly changed the game collecting 30 disposals, creating shots on goal for NSW/ACT. Kennedy starting on half-back and was able to run freely through the midfield, as well as kicking two crucial goals for the Rams.

Next week there are no TAC Cup games with the Under 18s National Championships beginning.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Matthew Kennedy (NSW/ACT Rams)
4 – Ben Crocker (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Thomas Faul (NSW/ACT Rams)
2 – Matthew Flynn (NSW/ACT Rams)
1 – Jock Cornell (NSW/ACT Rams)

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Dandenong Stingrays 23.13 (151)
Western Jets 10.13 (73)

Dandenong goals: J. Freeman 6, M. Poholke 3, L. Williams 2, K. Mutimer 2, B. Rice 2, J. Stewart, T. Glen, D. Warke, J. Di Pasquale, H. Prior, B. Kiely, T. Young, M. Cox.
Western goals: B. Coletta 2, F. Campisi 2, M. Norton 2, W. Berry, O. Junker, J. Volpato, D. Venables.
Dandenong best: J. Freeman, L. Williams, M. Cox, H. Prior, T. Glen, B. White.
Western best: J. Volpato, M. Norton, W. Berry, D. Venables, B. Monk, F. Campisi.

Melbourne’s weather gods turned the sunshine on for the round eight clash at Shepley Oval between Dandenong and the Western Jets. Both sides came into the match on the back of 21-point victories; the Stingrays over Eastern Ranges, while the Jets defeated Bendigo to record their first win of the season.

As soon as the ball was bounced, Dandenong was ready. Thomas Glen, Bradley Kiely, Kurt Murtimer, James Freeman, Lachlan Williams and Mitchell Cox all kicked goals in the first term, stunning their opposition and all people in attendance. Wilson Berry finally put the away side on the board in the closing minutes, granting the Stingrays a 29-point lead at the first break.

The Jets must have received an almighty spray in the huddle as they started the second quarter with a bang. The away side swarmed forward in big numbers, allowing Norton and livewire Jackson Volpato to slot two goals home in quick succession. For the opening minutes their forward pressure was superb, however they could not maintain the intensity as excluding a goal to Brandon Coletta and a second to Mitch Norton, they were run over by the Stingrays. Despite not winning the majority of ruck contests, Dandenong’s midfielders got first hands on the ball, breaking away from stoppages with relative ease. Thomas Glen was a major benefactor to the home side’s forward line with many long wracking kicks hitting targets. Myles Poholke, Williams, Freeman, Jordan Stewart, Darcy Warke and Jake Dipasquale all kicked goals in this term to hand the Rays a 42-point lead at halftime.

Campisi opened the term with a goal for the Jets but this quarter belonged to Jimmy Freeman. Dandenong’s spearhead kicked three goals and could not put a foot wrong as the lead crept out to 66 points at the final break. The home side looked to move the ball on quickly at most opportunities and were outstanding with their vision. Even if the ball didn’t hit the key forwards on the chest it was well trapped for the crumbers to swoop. The ball was in the Stingrays forward 50 for the majority of the quarter, only allowing the Jets to break and convert successfully twice through Junker and Venables.

The last quarter was a fairly even affair. Freeman booted his sixth in the early minutes of the term before Prior, Poholke and Mutimer finished the job for the Stingrays. Coletta managed to kick a goal before Frank Campisi, who had toiled away all game, ended proceedings with his second goal. Dandenong showcased a tendency to work the ball out of defence rather than bomb it long, a tactic requiring patience and accuracy that in this instance reaped rewards as they ran out 78 point winners.

Freeman with six goals was best afield whilst the Stingrays captain Lachie Williams was a solid contributor with two goals and 20 disposals. After this week’s break Dandenong take on the Northern Knights at Shepley Oval while the Western Jets return home to face the Geelong Falcons.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Jimmy Freeman (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Lachlan Williams (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 –  Thomas Glen (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Jackson Volpato (Western Jets)
1 – Myles Poholke (Dandenong Stingrays)

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Murray Bushrangers 14.11 (95)
Sandringham Dragons 7.7 (49)

Murray goals: L. Smith 5, T. McMullan 3, J. Minogue 2, Z. Sproule, C. Oliver, M. Canfield, M. Waite.
Sandringham goals: J. Matera 3, C. Lyons, H. Mason, K. Lopo, H. Hunt.
Murray best: T. McMullan, N. Coughlan, M. Waite, L. Smith, D. Mennen, J. Cousins
Sandringham best: G. Lok, C. Lyons, H. Balic, T. Wilkinson, L. Murphy, J. Wallace

Murray Bushrangers and Sandringham Dragons’ respective seasons continued on their paths with a 46-point win to the Bushrangers. Murray had a number of goal kicking targets and contributors while Jordan Matera was the only Dragon who looked dangerous inside forward 50. While only a point separated the teams at half time (after a two-point quarter time deficit), Murray raced away to a six goal to two third quarter, to lead by 27 points at the final break. Sandringham only managed one goal in the last quarter, while Murray piled on a further four to run out comfortable winners.  Luke Smith booted five goals to be best on ground while the luckless with injury Nicholas Coughlan found plenty of the ball around the ground. For Sandringham, Goy Lock was one of the few contributors on what was otherwise a dirty second half for the Dragons.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Luke Smith (Murray Bushrangers)
4 – Nicholas Coughlan (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Murray Waite (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – James Cousins (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Goy Lock (Sandringham Dragons)

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Geelong Falcons 10.8 (68)
Eastern Ranges 16.12 (108)

Geelong goals: L. Donne 4, B. Remmos, P. Killen, W. Sexton, C. Farrell, M. Patten, H. Kershaw.
Eastern goals: B. Hardwick 10, L. Wilson 2, A. Cotte, S. Weideman, J. Collins, J. Smith.
Geelong best: W. Sexton, T. Rieniets, L. Donne, B. Remmos, C. Curnow, C. Farrell
Eastern best: B. Hardwick, A. Fenton, A. Brolic, J. Parsons, A. Cotte, K. Keppel

Eastern Ranges recorded a 40-point win over the Geelong Falcons at Simonds Stadium thanks to a massive 10 goal haul from Blake Hardwick. The 10 goals follows on from the eight earlier in the season and shows what the small man is capable of. Eastern Ranges controlled play for most of the day and never looked like losing the ascendency, with Aaron Fenton (14 tackles) and Anthony Brolic putting in impressive performances. For the losers, William Sexton was ever consistent, while Lochie Donne booted a team-high four goals.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Blake Hardwick (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Aaron Fenton (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Anthony Brolic (Eastern Ranges)
2 – William Sexton (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Lochie Donne (Geelong Falcons)

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Calder Cannons 18.13 (121)
Bendigo Pioneers 13.6 (84)

Calder goals: H. Kerbatieh 3, M. Kovacevic 2, M. Saad 2, B. Meyers 2, T. Lever 2, J. Flower 2, C. Moore 2, N. O’Kearney, T. Condon, D. Tarczon.
Bendigo goals: R. Free 3, J. Fox 2, T. Cole 2, J. Marciano 2, M. Chisari, L. Schultz, S. Simmons, J. Ryan.
Calder best: H. Kerbatieh, B. Laguda, M. Stillman, N. O’Kearney, T. Gawthrop, C. Moore
Bendigo best: L. Tardrew, B. Edwards, I. Miller, T. Cole, M. Chisari, J. Atley

Calder Cannons ensured Bendigo Pioneers winless season continued with a comfortable 37-point victory over the bottom side. Calder had 10 individual goal scorers, led by Hisham Kerbatieh with three, to lead at every change and ensure the pioneers were at an arms length at all times. For the Pioneers, they could take heart from not being blown away, with Lachlan Tardrew again standing up against the odds, racking up 31 disposals, while Thomas Cole was also solid. It was just a case of too many options to goal for the Cannons that saw them home.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Hisham Kerbatieh (Calder Cannons)
4 – Nick O’Kearney (Calder Cannons)
3 – Lachlan Tardrew (Bendigo Pioneers)
2 – Bruno Laguda (Calder Cannons)
1 – Matthew Stillman (Calder Cannons)