North Ballarat Rebels 15.11 (101)
Calder Cannons 11.9 (75)

North Ballarat goals: M. Johnston 2, J. Wheelahan 2, J. Cowan 2, Y. Eades 2, H. McCluggage 2, J. Symons, J. Hopper, J. Korewha, J. Webster, L. Meek.
Calder goals: H. Kerbatieh 5, K. Brown 2, C. Moore 2, L. Bramble, M. Lewis.
North Ballarat best: Y. Eades, H. McCluggage, L. Meek, D. Tucker, M. Johnston, J. Hopper
Calder best: T. Condon, T. Wallis, H. Kerbatieh, K. Brown, T. Burnside, H. Blythe

North Ballarat Rebels locked away a top two spot with a comfortable 26-point win over Calder Cannons. After opening up a four-goal lead at quarter time thanks to a five goals to one first quarter, the Cannons hit back in the second to reduce the margin to seven points at half-time. After half-time it was a tight affair, but the Rebels managed to get the job done, illustrating their wealth of goal scoring options. Huge McCluggage continued his good form, while Yestin Eades and Matthew Johnston were impressive up forward. For the Cannons, Hisham Kerbatieh continued to put his hand up to be drafted, booting five of his team’s 11 goals, while Tom Wallis found plenty of the football.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Hugh McCluggage (North Ballarat Rebels)
4 – Tom Wallis (Calder Cannons)
3 – Hisham Kerbatieh (Calder Cannons)
2 – Matthew Johnston (North Ballarat Rebels)
1 – Yestin Eades (North Ballarat Rebels)

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Bendigo Pioneers 7.8 (50)
Northern Knights 19.19 (133)

Bendigo goals: R. Free 2, J. Fox 2, C. McCarthy , B. Edwards , J. Atley.
Northern goals: M. Ercolano 5, M. Tilmouth-Turner 3, M. Mattingly 2, B. Fiorini 2, J. Gresham 2, D. Macpherson, D. Reinbold, K. Malone, P. Lipinski, S. Peet.
Bendigo best: C. Jones, K. Mutch, K. Farrell, L. O’Brien, J. Harvey, L. Tardrew
Northern best: J. Gresham, M. Mattingly, B. Fiorini, D. Macpherson, M. Ercolano, T. Leonardis

Northern Knights enjoyed a late season win to jump above Queensland on the TAC Cup ladder in just their third victory for the year. It was a good one, however, with the Knights triumphant over the bottom-placed Pioneers by 83 points. All the big guns for the Knights were on song, with Jade Gresham having another day out with 42 disposals, nine marks, two tackles and two goals, while Brayden Fiorini (42 disposals, 10 marks, two goals) also managed to have the ball on a string. For the Pioneers, Cooper Jones and Kobe Mutch were named in the best.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Jade Gresham (Northern Knights)
4 – Brayden Fiorini (Northern Knights)
3 – Michael Mattingly (Northern Knights)
2 – Michael Ercolano (Northern Knights)
1 – Tyrone Leonardis (Northern Knights)

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Gippsland Power 18.11 (119)
Sandringham Dragons 10.8 (68)

Gippsland goals: A. Young 4, T. Hillier 2, J. Patullo 2, M. De Bruin 2, L. Robinson 2, C. Ambler, K. Renooy, J. McMahon, B. McKay, D. Grech, T. Hobbs.
Sandringham goals: J. Matera 4, G. Lok, H. Johnson, N. Peterson, A. Tashevski-Beckwith, G. Borthwick, N. Pavlou.
Gippsland best: M. De Bruin, J. Patullo, C. Buykx-Smith, D. Grech, A. Young, J. McMahon
Sandringham best: A. McGrath, G. Lok, J. Matera, L. Filipovic, L. Hiscock, C. Lyons

Gippsland Power effectively ended Sandringham’s finals dream with a 51-point victory over the Dragons. Four goals from Jordan Matera would not be enough for the Dragons, as the Power, led by Matthew De Bruin and Joshua Patullo, secured a top seven spot. Christian Buykx-Smith was ever-consistent in defence, while the Power, missing inside midfielder Nash Holmes got the job done comfortably. With a match to play, the Power can prepare themselves for an elimination final in a fortnight.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Matthew De Bruin (Gippsland Power)
4 – Joshua Patullo (Gippsland Power)
3 – Christian Buykx-Smith (Gippsland Power)
2 – Jordan Matera (Sandringham Dragons)
1 – Andrew McGrath (Sandringham Dragons)

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Oakleigh Chargers 11.6 (72)
Geelong Falcons 15.12 (102)

Oakleigh goals: P.Kerr 4, T.Wooller 3, T.O’Sullivan, H.Thompson, V.Adduci, B.Crocker
Geelong goals: L.Wagener 3, B.Blair 3, D.Parish 2, C.Curnow 2, B.Remmos, H.Kershaw, R.Mathieson, W.Sexton, H.Kol
Oakleigh best: P.Kerr, M.Jackson, J.Firns, T.Phillips, T.Wooller, B.Crocker
Geelong best: D.Parish, B.Blair, L.Wagener, B.Remmos, H.Kershaw, B.McNamara

The final game at Warrawee Park for 2015 brought about an important clash to shape the final spots in the top eight. A warm afternoon greeted Geelong with hardly a cloud in the sky, making it a fantastic day of football. At half-time, only one point separated the two sides with Geelong leading by a point.

Geelong came out of the blocks at a fast pace after the break, kicking eight goals to two in the third quarter (including five in a row) to take a comfortable lead of 41 points at three quarter time. Oakleigh key position defender Jack Firns was tasked with the job of Charlie Curnow. Curnow kicked two goals, however Firns had the better of him for majority of the afternoon.

Will Sexton showed pace down the wing on occasions, impressing with his speed. Although Oakleigh outscored Geelong in the final quarter, it was too much of a margin to recover from losing by 30 points.

Darcy Parish impressed with 38 disposals (eight clearances) and two goals in a best on ground effort. Parish was silky smooth with his kicking and was very classy by with his handballs and kicks. Falcons’ defender Tom Doedee was assigned the job of holding Ben Crocker for the day. Doedee did a really good job keeping Crocker to just one goal for the match. Bottom ager Patrick Kerr was the Chargers’ best player kicking four goals. At 192cm, Kerr is a player to watch for next years draft as a key position forward.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Darcy Parish (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Patrick Kerr (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Brett Blair (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Logan Wargener (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Baden Remmos (Geelong Falcons)

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Western Jets 8.3 (51)
Dandenong Stingrays 20.16 (136)

Western goals: M. Norton 2, F. Campisi 2, J. Harrison, J. Cotter, J. Hickey, O. Junker.
Dandenong goals: S. Gladman 2, K. Collins 2, J. Di Pasquale 2, L. Hulett 2, J. Freeman 2, J. Kelly 2, J. Holden 2, Z. Roscoe 2, J. Battle, L. Batten, L. Davies-Uniacke, J. Lovett.
Western best: F. Campisi, J. Volpato, B. Monk, O. Junker, J. Hickey, M. Norton
Dandenong best: J. Kelly, K. Collins, M. Cox, T. Jok, J. Holden, S. Gladman

Dandenong Stingrays secured a top two spot when they smashed the lowly Western Jets by 85 points last weekend. The Stingrays had to fight off the Jets after a competitive start, in which both teams combined for nine first-quarter goals and an eight-point advantage to the away side. Dandenong extended that league to 17 points by half-time, before unleashing in the second half, booting 12 goals to two in a one-sided half. The Stingrays had 12 individual goal kickers, including eight multiple goal kickers, in the win. Dour defender Kieran Collins even booted two goals in the victory while lesser lights Jake Kelly and Thomas Jok starred for the winners.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Jake Kelly (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Kieran Collins (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Thomas Jok (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Jake Di Pasquale (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Bailey Rice (Dandenong Stingrays)

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Murray Bushrangers 12.8 (80)

Eastern Ranges 19.15 (129)

Murray goals: J. Schache 4, C. Oliver 2, L. Tiziani 2, L. Pinnuck , J. Cousins , H. Payne , E. Boxall

Eastern goals: L. Jeffs 3, J. Gilbert 3, R. Clarke 3, J. Garner 2, D. Crocker 2, J. Cyster 2, M. Stavrou , B. Batty , C. Brown , T. North

Murray best: C. Oliver, J. Schache, M. Waite, L. Tiziani, D. Mennen, D. McDonald

Eastern best:  R. Clarke, B. Batty, D. Crocker, D. Clarke, B. Mitchener, J. Maibaum

A powerful second half display from Eastern Ranges saw them move to within two points of third spot and a coveted double chance in the TAC Cup finals. The first half was a real arm-wrestle, with both teams trading goals as Murray edged a three point half time lead. Murray was the stronger team to start the second half, racing out to a 24 point lead after 10 minutes of the third quarter however the joy was shortlived as Eastern piled on the goals late in the quarter to go into the final change with a ten point lead. Clayton Oliver kicked the first goal of the final quarter to have the Bushies within a goal but Eastern put their foot down and kicked seven unanswered goals to blow the margin out to 48 points.

Ryan Clarke had a superb game for Eastern, compiling 45 touches in the midfield while Liam Jeffs continued his promising return from injury by booting three goals. Potential number one pick Josh Schache was the best for the Bushrangers, kicking four goals and being their only real avenue to goals.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5- Ryan Clarke (Eastern Ranges)

4- Bryce Batty (Eastern Ranges)

3- Josh Schache (Murray Bushrangers)

2- Beau Mitchener (Eastern Ranges)

1-Clayton Oliver (Murray Bushrangers)