ROUND 10 saw a couple of upsets, a record low, and some tight contests, making for an entertaining round of TAC Cup football.

Oakleigh Chargers 8.10 (58) defeated by Sandringham Dragons 8.13 (61)

Sandringham Dragons have recorded a vital win over Oakleigh with a Finn Maginness goal in the last term sealing the deal for the visitors at Warrawee Park on Saturday morning. Trailing by three points at half-time and five points at the final break, the Dragons booted three of the first four goals of the final term to open up a 10-point lead. A late goal to Matt Rowell saw the Chargers draw within three, but it was not enough.

Harry Houlahan had 21 disposals (13 contested), six clearances and three inside 50s, while key defenders Will Kennedy and Corey Watts were named among the Dragons’ best for their efforts in the defensive half. They combined for 36 disposals and nine marks, while working in tandem with Jackson Voss (18 disposals and four rebounds). Liam Stocker was judged the Dragons best, racking up six clearances and five inside 50s from 20 disposals, while also slotting a goal.

For the Chargers, Jack Ross was the highest disposal winner with 22 touches, as well as four marks, seven clearances and three inside 50s. Trent Bianco was impressive with 19 disposals, three marks and four rebounds, while Rowell finished with 18 touches, seven clearances, three inside 50s and that late goal in the dying minutes. Oliver Simpson returned to the team for 15 disposals and two clearances, while Jake Gasper booted four goals.

Western Jets 10.13 (73) defeated Northern Knights 6.8 (44)

By: Brandon Hutchinson

It was a beautiful day for football down at Williamstown as the Western Jets took on the Northern Knights in their return home. From the first bounce both teams went hard, applying intense pressure on either end of the ground. Though the Jets were up by a significant margin in the first, the Knights brought it back to five points by the main break. Though it wasn’t enough to stop the Jets after they took off in the third to hold a comfortable win over the Knights.

The forward pressure from Steven Kyriazis and Josh Klaromenos was immense, kicking three goals apiece. Going hard at the ball, and impacting the contest, Jaden Rice, Jack Watkins and Josh Jenkins forced many turnovers and created repeat inside 50s. Daniel Pantalleresco, Spencer Johnson and Aaron Britten stood out for their team, having a significant impact on the play, with Connor Thar stepping up to captain his side to a victory.

The efforts in the first from Josh D’Intinosante and Justin McInerney out of the backline were immense, later moving up the ground to assist in link up play and earning the hard ball. Patrik Della Rocca worked hard alongside Harrison Grace to apply necessary pressure, and Nathan Howard stepped up to dominate the ruck with his superior leaping ability. Jack Boyd kicked two important goals to keep his team in grasp, but in the end, the whole line-up was unlucky.

Eastern Ranges 8.7 (55) defeated by Calder Cannons 11.8 (74)

Calder Cannons have run away with the win against the Eastern Ranges, courtesy of a seven goals to five second half at Box Hill on Saturday. Calder led by seven points at the main break and 13 points at the final change before booting four goals to three in a high-scoring final term to win by 19 points. It gave the Cannons some breathing space inside the top eight.

Daniel Mott was the Cannons’ best, racking up 25 disposals, 11 clearances, three inside 50s and four rebounds, while Will Jury had eight clearances to go with his 23 disposals, five inside 50s and a goal. Tye Browning was busy again with 22 disposals, 12 marks and five inside 50s, while Sam Graham also had 20 touches, two marks, three inside 50s and three rebounds. On debut, Josh Kemp was sensational up forward, clunking eight marks – three of which were contested – as well as four goals from 10 kicks.

Mitch Mellis was the top disposal winner for Eastern, collecting 27 touches, six marks, three inside 50s and two rebounds, while Adrian Kalcovski (26 disposals, three clearances and four inside 50s) and Joel Burleigh (25 disposals, five marks, six clearances and six inside 50s) were also strong through the middle. Ben Cardamone was judged Eastern’s best for his work in defence with 21 disposals, four rebounds and a goal. Kye Quirk (21 disposals, three marks and four inside 50s) and Chayce Black (20 disposals four marks and three inside 50s) were others who stood out.

Dandenong Stingrays 15.16 (106) defeated GWV Rebels 7.5 (47)

Dandenong Stingrays dominant start to the season continued on the weekend with another big win, this time over GWV Rebels by 59 points. The game was over at half-time when the Stingrays had piled on 12 goals to three to lead by 59 points. The Rebels made a better fist of it in the second half, booting four goals to three, including the only two goals of the final term to break even in the second half.

Bailey Schmidt and Stephen Cumming did all the damage in the first half, booting four goals apiece and looking like they were going to tear the game to shreds. In typical Stingrays fashion, Ned Cahill was the only player to notch up more than 20 touches, with 22 disposals, three marks, six clearances and five inside 50s. Matthew Cottrell (19 disposals, five clearances and six inside 50s) and Finlay Bayne (18 disposals, two clearances and four inside 50s) were other midfielders who stood out on the day for the winners. Schmidt finished with 32 hitouts and five marks (three contested), while Cumming took six marks (two contested) from 10 disposals and 16 hitouts.

For the Rebels, Charlie Wilson was sensational up forward, slotting four goals from 16 disposals and eight marks (three contested), while Jed Hill looked impressive playing as an inside midfielder for three quarters, racking up 24 disposals (19 contested), nine clearances, four inside 50s and three rebounds. Elliot Lamb was good again with 21 disposals, five inside 50s and five clearances, while Ben Dodd was impressive on debut with 16 disposals, two marks, four clearances and five inside 50s.

Gippsland Power 7.8 (50) defeated Bendigo Pioneers 10.10 (70)

Bendigo Pioneers have caused one of the upsets of the season, with the cellar dwellers toppling top four side Gippsland Power at Windy Hill. The Power looked good early, booting five of the first six goals of the game and looking in control. But the Pioneers fought back, booting seven of the next eight goals to storm to a 15-point lead in the final term, Josh Smith kicked truly to cut the deficit to nine points midway through the final term, but AFL Academy member Brodie Kemp put the game to bed with two goals in as many minutes to help Bendigo to a 20-point win.

Noah Wheeler was sensational for the winners, racking up 29 disposals, four marks, nine clearances, two rebounds and booting a goal, while Flynn Perez was impressive on the outside with 21 disposals, eight marks, eight inside 50s and three rebounds. Jeremy Rodi had 23 touches, three marks and two clearances, while Jackson Williams was solid with 19 disposals and five rebounds. Kemp returned to the side with good effect, racking up 17 disposals, five marks and four inside 50s as well as the two crucial goals, while Jacob Atley had 17 touches, two marks and four inside 50s.

For Gippsland, Tyrone Hayes had his best game of his TAC Cup career, with the overager racking up a team-high 28 disposals, six marks, two clearances, four inside 50s and six rebounds. Bailey Beck (24 disposals, six marks and three inside 50s) and Bailey Patterson (24 disposals, three marks and five inside 50s) were good in transition, while Boadie Motton (23 disposals, five marks, four clearances and four rebounds) was good in defence. Riley Baldi and Noah Gown were also strong around the ground.

Geelong Falcons 0.10 (10) defeated by Murray Bushrangers 15.17 (107)

Murray Bushrangers have defensively cut the Geelong Falcons to shreds during a 97-point demolition job at Avalon Airport Oval. The Bushrangers remarkably held the Falcons goalless in the game, with the home side booting 10 behinds to the Bushrangers’ 32 scoring shots, which included 15 goals. A six-goal second term was the most prolific for the visitors, but they also finished strongly, capping off the performance with a four-goal final term.

Ely Smith was huge for the Bushrangers in a clear best on ground performance. Smith collected 37 disposals (75 per cent efficiency), seven marks, seven clearances, four inside 50s and booted a goal, being one of the key midfielders on the ground. Down forward, Hudson Garoni was a man mountain once again, slotting six goals from 12 marks and a remarkable five contested grabs and 19 disposals. Jye Chalcraft (19 disposals and five clearances) and Dylan Clarke (25 disposals and five inside 50s), Jimmy Boyer (29 disposals and four marks) and Riley Bice (26 disposals and 10 marks) were others who stood out.

For Geelong, Brayden Ham was the best on a disappointing day for the Falcons. Ham collected 25 disposals, six marks, two inside 50s and seven rebounds. Baxter Mensch had another high-disposal game with 26 disposals, six marks, two inside 50s and four rebounds, while Finlay Parish took seven marks (three contested) from 15 disposals.