Queensland 14.10 (94)
Oakleigh Chargers 13.8 (86)

Queensland goals: W. Buzza 5, C. Filewood 3, D. Budarick 2, C. Wagner 2, J. Allison, J. Brown.
Oakleigh goals: J. Ridley 6, T. Phillips 2, D. Beddison, K. Latu-Green, M. Young, J. Corboy, M. Jackson.
Queensland best: W. Buzza, E. Hipwood, J. Joyce, D. Budarick, C. Filewood, D. Watson
Oakleigh best: J. Ridley, T. Phillips, F. Pearce, M. Jackson, M. Wenn, D. Beddison

Queensland continued the impressive rise of the division two sides in the TAC Cup this year, with a tight eight-point win over a depleted Oakleigh Chargers. Oakleigh was missing a host of key stars due to the Vic Metro clash and Queensland took advantage of that, kicking 10 goals to five in the first half. Oakleigh held the northerners goalless in the third quarter to reduce the margin to 13 points, but Queensland did enough in the last quarter – booting four goals to Oakleigh’s five – to ensure they remained in front. Wylie Buzza and Jordan Ridley had a shootout at each end with 11 goals between them, while Tom Phillips was the top midfielder, racking up 33 disposals, taking seven marks and kicking two goals.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Wylie Buzza (Queensland)
4 – Jordan Ridley (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Tom Phillips (Oakleigh Chargers)
2 – Dyson Budarick (Queensland)
1 – Jesse Joyce (Queensland)

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Eastern Ranges 4.16 (40)
NSW/ACT Rams 11.11 (77)

Eastern goals: A. Cotte, D. Crocker, J. Hannon, M. Prosser.
NSW/ACT goals: H. Himmelberg 3, D. Sanderson 2, T. Coenen, C. Bance, M. Flynn, S. Wilson, T. Faul, M. Wilson.
Eastern best: D. Crocker, T. Jacotine, H. Stanley, A. Fenton, A. Santamaria, R. Harvey
NSW/ACT best: C. Bance, D. Baron-Hay, H. Himmelberg, J. Kelly, R. Hebron, M. Kennedy

An inaccurate Eastern Ranges could not kick a goal until the third quarter, then could not seemingly score in the last quarter, as the NSW/ACT Rams continued their fantastic form to win by 37-points at Box Hill City Oval. Eastern Ranges kicked 0.15 in the first half, then found their kicking shoes in the third quarter, booting 4.1, before not scoring in the final quarter. Remarkably despite the opening half, NSW/ACT only led by six points at the last change for booting five goals to zero to win comfortably. There were not many stand out players, but many contributors with Charles Bance and Harrison Himmelberg among the best for NSW/ACT, while Darcy Crocker and Aaron Cotte were consistent once again.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Charles Bance (NSW/ACT Rams)
4 – Harrison Himmelberg (NSW/ACT Rams)
3 – Darcy Crocker (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Aaron Cotte (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Ryan Hebron (Queensland)

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Dandenong Stingrays 14.11 (95)
Northern Knights 11.10 (76)

Dandenong goals: M. Cox 3, L. Batten 3, Z. Roscoe 2, D. Warke 2, J. Freeman 2, P. Raso, K. Beveridge.
Northern goals: K. Malone 4, M. Ercolano 2, B. Jordan 2, C. Roberts, S. Peet, A. Capeci.
Dandenong best: B. White, H. Prior, M. Cox, L. Batten, J. Rouse, J. Freeman
Northern best: K. Malone, M. Ercolano, S. Peet, M. Blakey, L. McVeigh, B. Jordan

An amazing 52-possession, four-goal game from Northern Knights midfielder Kieran Malone was not enough to stop Dandenong Stingrays triumphing in the sides’ clash at Shepley Oval. The Stingrays trailed the Knights at quarter time by 19 points, but then hit back a six-goal to zero second quarter to take the lead by 21 points and never look back, keeping the Knights at an arms reach. Malone was a clear best on ground despite the loss with 52 disposals, six marks, three tackles and four goals in the performance of the year in the TAC Cup. Teammate Michael Ercolano did well with 27 disposals, seven marks and two goals. Brandon White topped for the Stingrays with 32 disposals and 10 marks, while Mitchell Cox (three goals) and Harrison Prior (29 hitouts, 10 tackles), were also impressive.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Kieran Malone (Northern Knights)
4 – Brandon White (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Michael Ercolano (Northern Knights)
2 – Mitchell Cox (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Harrison Prior (Northern Knights)

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Tasmania 11.7 (73)
Bendigo Pioneers 7.9 (51)

Tasmania goals: N. Dodge 5, H. Pearce 2, I. Franks, J. Hayden, L. Webb, N. Franklin.
Bendigo goals: J. Ryan 2, E. Stewart 2, R. Free, B. Edwards, J. Marciano.
Tasmania best: J. Sushames, L. Smith, N. Dodge, B. McGuinness, H. Pearce, N. Franklin
Bendigo best: I. Miller, B. Edwards, M. Hore, J. Muscatello, J. Fox

Tasmania managed to overcome the winless Bendigo Pioneers in wet and windy conditions on the Apple Isle by 22 points. The home side led from start to finish, with the margin as much as five goals at three quarter time, before the Pioneers managed to reduce it to 22 at the final siren. Nicholas Dodge was a rare standout in the game with five goals, while Jake Sushames and Liam Smith did well for Tasmania.  Bailey Edwards was the best Pioneer, ably assisted by Jayden Fox.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Nicholas Dodge (Tasmania)
4 – Jake Sushames (Tasmania)
3 – Bailey Edwards (Bendigo Pioneers)
2 – Liam Smith (Tasmania)
1 – Jayden Fox (Bendigo Pioneers)

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Gippsland Power 10.6 (66)
Calder Cannons 9.12 (66)

Gippsland goals: T. Papley 4, J. McDonald 3, N. Argento, M. De Bruin, J. Dunkley.
Calder goals: T. Young 3, D. Tarczon, L. Bramble, R. Baker, H. Kerbatieh, J. Murphy, H. Rocke.
Gippsland best: C. Ambler, B. Dessent, T. Papley, J. McDonald, W. Leslie, C. Buykx-Smith
Calder best: J. Reaper, B. Laguda, O. Magbegor, J. Flower, H. Rocke, M. Stillman

Gippsland Power and Calder Cannons played out the first draw of the season, in winter conditions at Morwell. Gippsland was the most accurate, booting 10.6 compared to Calder’s 9.12. Gippsland led by 31 points at quarter time, before a seven goal to zero second and third quarters to the Cannons put them in front by nine points. The final quarter was tight and tense, with no winner decided at the end of play. Thomas Papley booted four goals to lead all comers, while Ovie Magbegor was impressive in the ruck in the absence of Mark Kovacevic, and Bruno Laguda was a key contributor for the Cannons.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Bruno Laguda (Calder Cannons)
4 – Thomas Papley (Gippsland Power)
3 – Ovie Magbegor (Calder Cannons)
2 – Connor Ambler (Gippsland Power)
1 – Bradley Olsson (Gippsland Power)

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Western Jets 10.11 (71)
Geelong Falcons 21.5 (131)

Western goals: B. Coletta 5, J. Bertollo 3, J. Hickey, O. Junker.
Geelong goals: L. Donne 4, D. Schilder 3, P. Kelleher 3, Z. Zdybel 2, H. Kershaw 2, N. Connors, L. Wagener, J. Syddall, B. Remmos, L. Morwood, M. Patten, D. Parish.
Western best: B. Coletta, J. Hickey, D. Foley, W. Berry, L. Knight, J. Harrison
Geelong best: H. Kershaw, H. Kol, L. Donne, A. Witherden, Z. Zdybel, N. Connors

Geelong Falcons put their foot down against the Western Jets to record a huge 60-point victory on the weekend. Second tier midfielders Harry Kershaw and Harrison Kol were dominant around the ground, while Lochie Donne booted four goals from the ruck/resting forward position. Alex Witherden was also impressive for the Falcons in a match where star Darcy Parish did not have an impact. For the Jets, there weren’t many contributors, however Brandon Coletta’s five goals was a highlight.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Harry Kershaw (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Harrison Kol (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Lochie Donne (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Brandon Coletta (Western Jets)
1 – Alex Witherden (Geelong Falcons)

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Northern Territory 7.8 (50)
Murray Bushrangers 20.4 (124)

Northern Territory goals: J. Musgrove 2, D. Turner, J. Anderson, J. Jeffrey, W. Ross, M. Bricknell.
Murray goals: T. McMullan 6, Z. Sproule 5, C. Oliver 4, B. Sharp 2, D. McDonald, J. Marshall, J. Minogue.
Northern Territory best: L. McGregor, B. Parfitt, D. Barry, J. Jeffrey, D. Ferreira, M. Hagan
Murray best: T. McMullan, C. Oliver, J. Marshall, M. Waite, N. Coughlan, M. King

Murray Bushrangers bucked the trend of division two sides triumphing over TAC Cup teams this round by thrashing Northern Territory at TIO Oval by 74 points. The Bushrangers led from start to finish, opening up a five goal lead by half time and dominating after the break with a 12-goal to four second half to seal the win. Trent McMullan booted six goals, while Zachary Sproule booted five and Clayton Oliver four in the absence of Josh Schache. Jake Marshall and Murray Waite were also good in the win, while for Northern Territory, not many stood out, although Brandan Parfitt had 17 disposals, four marks and eight tackles.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Trent McMullan (Murray Bushrangers)
4 – Clayton Oliver (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Zachary Sproule (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Jake Marshall (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Murray Waite (Murray Bushrangers)

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North Ballarat Rebels 3.9 (27)
Sandringham Dragons 2.2 (14)

North Ballarat goals: T. Taurau, T. Templeton, C. Lee.
Sandringham goals: L. Filipovic, H. Hunt.
North Ballarat best: H. McCluggage, J. Symons, J. Webster, J. Hopper, A. Cleary, H. Dawborn
Sandringham best: J. Wallace, R. Hayward, R. Iudica, C. Lyons, M. Clarke, C. Larkin

North Ballarat Rebels have won in the lowest scoring game of the year, kicking three goals to two in an ultra-low scoring contest. The first quarter was an indication of the game’s nature, with the Rebels scoring 0.4 to 0.0. By half time there had been three goals kicked and Sandringham led by four points. Remarkably the Dragons did not score in the second half, while the Rebels kicked a whopping 2.5 in that time. Hugh McCluggage and Joseph Symons stood up in the absence of their talented Country players, while Jacob Hopper was kept relatively quiet by his standards. For Sandringham, Reuben Hayward and Robert Iudica were the key players in the loss.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Hugh McCluggage (North Ballarat Rebels)
4 – Reuben Hayward (Sandringham Dragons)
3 – Robert Iudica (Sandringham Dragons)
2 – Joseph Symons (North Ballarat Rebels)
1 – Josh Webster (North Ballarat Rebels)