THE NAB League Boys top four has again seen change after Round 14’s action, with Oakleigh toppling Eastern to bridge the gap to first place. Meanwhile, Sandringham snapped its losing streak to slot back into fourth, and Calder again won to sit percentage out of the Dragons’ spot.

GIPPSLAND POWER 2.1 | 7.3 | 8.7 | 14.10 (94)
TASMANIA DEVILS 2.4 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 6.7 (43)

GOALS:
Gippsland: J. Smith 3, C. Comben 3, B. Smith 2, H. Pepper, F. Phillips, R. Baldi, M. McGarrity, S. Flanders, T. Baldi.
Tasmania: W. Peppin, J. Menzie, J. Chaplin, M. McGuinness, O. Burrows-Cheng, S. Collins.

BEST:
Gippsland: H. Pepper, C. Comben, M. Hawkins, J. Smith, T. Baldi, B. Smith
Tasmania: J. Chaplin, J. Steele, L. Deegan, R. Mansell, L. Gadomski, M. McGuinness

Gippsland Power came away with the points against Tasmania, but not without a titanic struggle for three quarters. The sides traded blows and at one stage, Tasmania lead by as much as nine points in the second term, before Gippsland piled on 11 of the last 12 goals of the game to run out comfortable winners. The top four side had plenty of contributors with talls, Charlie Comben and Josh Smith teaming up through the ruck and up forward booting three goals apiece, whilst captain Brock Smith snuck forward twice in the last term to hit the scoreboard. Comben and Smith were among the best on the day, while Sam Flanders was busy on the inside, and twins, Riley and Trent Baldi would have headed home with the muddiest jumpers. For Tasmania, it was the work of Matt McGuinness and Jake Steele in defence that held up for three quarters, whilst Oliver Davis, Rhyan Mansell and Joseph Chaplin were all busy on the day.

EASTERN RANGES 4.2 | 6.2 | 9.5 | 11.9 (75)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 0.2 | 6.6 | 8.10 | 12.11 (83)

GOALS:
Eastern: J. Jaworski 4, B. Tennant 3, T. Leiu, J. Tilly, S. Woodward, T. Weir.
Oakleigh: C. Sharman 4, D. Williams 2, T. Graham, N. Stathopoulos, G. Varagiannis, A. Tassell, A. Lukic, T. Lovell.

BEST:
Eastern: L. Stapleton, M. Zalac, B. Tennant, W. Parker, Z. Pretty, J. Hourihan
Oakleigh: K. Schreiber, C. Sharman, T. Bianco, J. Lucas, W. Phillips, L. Westwood

In the second game of the double header, it looked to be a blowout early in the match with Eastern Ranges piling on four goals to zero in the opening term and had six on the board to Oakleigh’s one midway through the second term. The Chargers then roared into action, piling on five consecutive goals to hit the front by the main break. In a see-sawing second half, both sides looked to have a stake in the win, but it was not until Dylan Williams booted a late goal in the final term – as he had done on the eve of half-time, for Oakleigh to be home. While Williams finished with two majors, Cooper Sharman was dominant with four straight goals and 18 touches, looking ever-dangerous. Trent Bianco had a day out with 34 touches and 10 rebounds, camping off half-back and keeping the ball moving forward, while Jeromy Lucas and Will Phillips were among the big ball winners for the Chargers. For Eastern, it was a rare loss for the top-of-the-table side, but Jordan Jaworksi finished with four goals – three in the first half, while Beau Tennant booted three. Lachlan Stapleton was the standout midfielder in the absence of partner-in-crime Mitch Mellis, while Wil Parker and Zak Pretty were also productive in the midfield.

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 5.4 | 6.7 | 10.9 | 10.9 (69)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 3.2 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 9.8 (62)

GOALS:
Sandringham: F. McAsey 3, J. Bowey, K. Yorke, M. Bergman, A. Hanrahan, L. Carrigan, B. Krongold, T. Murray.
Dandenong: A. Williamson 3, H. Young 2, L. Williams 2, E. Cahill, B. Nyuon.

BEST:
Sandringham: A. Hanrahan, J. Lloyd, F. McAsey, M. Bergman, T. Milne, R. Byrnes
Dandenong: B. Schmidt, B. Nyuon, L. Goonan, L. Williams, H. Young, S. De Koning

A final-quarter Stingray attack was not enough to take down Sandringham in Sunday’s first fixture, with the Dragons edging home by seven points on home turf. It was a battle between two quality sides on losing streaks, with the Dragons snapping their three-game slide on the back of a four-goal to nil third term. Dandenong would respond with three goals of their own while keeping the home side scoreless in the last, but it proved too little, too late as the Dragons held on for victory. All Australian centre half-back Fischer McAsey showed his versatility to lead his side’s goal kicking (three), with fellow goal getter Angus Hanrahan finding plenty of the ball (35 disposals, 14 marks) to be named best afield and earn a Draft Central Player of the Week nomination. The Dragons’ depth again shone through, while the top-end likes of Miles Bergman and Ryan Byrnes enjoyed solid days out. For the Stingrays, Hayden Young made a successful NAB League return with 24 disposals and two goals, matched for majors by fellow Country representative Lachlan Williams, while the tall trio of Bailey Schmidt, Bigoa Nyuon and Sam De Koning combined for 10 marks to have an influence in the air. The win puts Sandringham back into fourth, while Dandenong continues to drop – down to eight now after a fifth consecutive loss. The return of some representative guns should bode well for them towards the back-end of the season though, with another tough assignment against Gippsland up next. Sandringham faces a trip to Tasmania for Round 15, looking to claw back towards the top.

BENDIGO PIONEERS 3.3 | 4.5 | 7.8 | 10.12 (72)
CALDER CANNONS 3.1 | 7.6 | 11.9 | 13.14 (92)

GOALS:
Bendigo: W. Wallace 2, J. Ginnivan 2, M. Lias, J. Treacy, B. Worme, J. Rodi, A. Gundry, N. Walsh.
Calder: J. Sutton 3, H. Minton-Connell 2, N. Gentile 2, H. Jones 2, J. Cardillo, S. Ramsay, M. Fletcher, C. Edwardes.

BEST:
Bendigo: J. Rodi, R. Ironside, N. Walsh, S. Conforti, J. Treacy, A. Gundry
Calder: J. Sutton, S. Ramsay, H. Minton-Connell, N. Gentile, C. Brown, C. Edwardes

Half of the Calder Cannons’ goal kickers found multiples in their 20-point win over Bendigo Pioneers in what was an end-to-end affair. After giving up a quarter time buffer, the Cannons came out firing with 8.8 to Bendigo’s 4.5 during the second and third terms to set up their fifth win in six games. Busy forward Jake Sutton led the way in front of the big sticks with a game-high three goals, while Harrison Minton-Connell (34 disposals), Ned Gentile, and Harrison Jones each booted two. Sam Ramsay (28 disposals, nine marks) and Curtis Brown (20 disposals, six rebound 50s) continued their consistent seasons, while Metro representatives Daniel Mott and Brodie Newman enjoyed steady returns to Cannons colours. Ben Worme and Noah Walsh led the disposal count for Bendigo with 20 apiece, but it was Jeremy Rodi‘s 19 touches and one goal which proved most damaging. James Schischka (18 disposals, three marks) combined well with Worme off half-back, while talls Josh Treacy and Aaron Gundry impressed around the ground. The Pioneers look likely to rely on a big Wildcard Round to enter the finals hunt after the loss, while Calder is right in the mix at 8-5 to sit sixth as it stands. The Cannons travel again to face GWV next time out, while Bendigo will face Northern in its Round 15 fixture.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 2.4 | 3.5 | 6.8 | 10.12 (72)
NORTHERN KNIGHTS 7.2 | 10.6 | 11.9 | 15.9 (99)

GOALS:
Murray: L. Ash 2, J. Rachele 2, J. Boyer, W. Chandler, C. Byrne, J. Chalcraft, C. Wilson, Z. Maher.
Northern: J. D’Intinosante 6, L. McMahon 3, C. Barbera 2, D. Wilmot, S. Brazier, R. Sturgess, A. O’Sullivan.

BEST:
Murray: L. Ash, C. Wilson, D. Clarke, J. Rachele, W. Chandler, J. Hillary
Northern: J. D’Intinosante, J. Davies, S. Philp, S. Brazier, R. Sturgess, N. Kitchell

The battle for eighth place went the way of the Northern Knights on Sunday, as the visitors held firm for a 27-point win over Murray in Wangaratta. It was the Knights’ fourth consecutive victory, built on the back of a gallant 10-goal to three first half. While the Bushrangers had the better of the second half, they could only manage to get back to within just under five goals after trailing by as much as 43 points before the main break. The star of the day was arguably Northern’s Josh D’Intinosante, who is thriving in a more forward-oriented role to make it 10 goals in his last two games after bagging 6.1 from 18 disposals. Bottom-agers Liam McMahon and Cooper Barbera were the Knights’ other multiple goal kickers, with skipper Jackson Davies fantastic in defence, and the pair of Sunny Brazier and Ryan Sturgess showing their versatility in multiple roles. For the Bushrangers, Lachlan Ash gave a reminder of his importance to the side with a leading hand and two goals, with Under 16 Division 1 MVP Josh Rachele also booting two on debut. Cameron Wilson and Dylan Clarke were others to stand up in the loss, with the Bushrangers now six points adrift of eighth and set to face Western next week. Meanwhile, Northern now jump into seventh and will host Bendigo at Preston City Oval in Round 15.

GEELONG FALCONS 0.2 | 2.4 | 4.11 | 6.11 (47)
GWV REBELS 4.2 | 6.5 | 8.6 | 12.10 (82)

GOALS:
Geelong: C. Sprague 3, J. Sarcevic, C. Karpala, K. Rayner.
GWV: N. Caris 4, M. Martin 2, M. Jorgensen 2, J. Rantall 2, F. Marris, M. Herbert.

BEST:
Geelong: C. Fleeton, C. Sprague, A. Hildebrandt, C. Ham, N. Gribble, O. Barrow
GWV: C. Craig-Peters, J. Dwyer, M. Martin, J. Rantall, M. Burgess, R. Polkinghorne

GWV got the better of the Geelong Falcons in a bottom two clash, seeing the Rebels surge 10 points clear of their weekend opponents in twelfth spot. The Falcons assumed the responsibility of hosting at GMHBA Stadium with the Cats playing their home game in Melbourne, but finding the goals proved a less than familiar task. After GWV broke out to a four-goal head start in the first term and an eventual 25-point half time lead, Geelong missed a host of chances to claw back into the game with 2.7 in the third quarter not enough to bridge the gap. It meant GWV would coast away to victory – its fourth for the year. As has been the case, Geelong’s bottom-agers continued to show promise as the Falcons look towards next year, with Noah Gribble, Cameron Fleeton, and Archie Hilderbrandt all impressive. Co-captain Jesse Clark also chimed in with his usual role, while Charlie Sprague was the shining light up forward with three goals. For the winning Rebels, Country representative trio Mitch Martin, Jay Rantall (both two goals), and Liam Herbert were terrific, but Cooper Craig-Peters was recognised as their side’s best while Nick Caris booted a game-high four goals. Next week sees the Rebels return to MARS Stadium in a bout against Calder, while the Falcons will have a week off the refresh and regroup.