WHILE two top-tier teams ran away to comfortable wins in Round 15 of the NAB League, a couple of upsets are sure to shake up the standings heading into Wildcard Round. With Murray (ninth) and Bendigo (tenth) getting the better of higher-ranked opponents, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels almost followed suit in Sunday’s sole fixture, just falling short of Calder in an exciting end to the round.

TASMANIA DEVILS 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 4.4 (28)
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 3.3 | 6.8 | 11.10 | 13.15 (93)

GOALS
Tasmania: O. Sanders, L. Gadomski, J. Chaplin, J. Callow
Sandringham: A. Hanrahan 3, K. Yorke 2, R. Bowman 2, R. Byrnes, J. Bowey, J. Bell, B. O’Leary, J. Mifsud, M. Bergman

BEST
Tasmania: L. Viney, J. Callow, O. Davis, S. Collins, R. Mansell, M. McGuinness
Sandringham: A. Hanrahan, R. Bowman, J. Bell, R. Byrnes, D. Chirgwin, M. Bergman

Sandringham Dragons have come home from Tasmania with a comprehensive victory over the Devils, running out 65-point winners in Launceston. The Dragons looked ominous early, booting three goals to one in the first term, and had six goals from 14 scoring shots on the board by the main break to Tasmania’s two from three. Angus Hanrahan got involved in the second half with three goals to help the Dragons pile on five majors to one in the third term as they put any doubt of a Devils comeback aside, eventually comfortably getting home, 13.15 (93) to 4.4 (28). Hanrahan was a clear best on ground in the venue next to where older brother Ollie ran out for Hawthorn, with the versatile utility picking up 33 disposals, seven marks, five inside 50s, three rebounds, two tackles and converting three goals. Along with Hanrahan, Ryan Byrnes caused headaches around the stoppages on his way to 28 disposals, nine inside 50s and a goal, while Darcy Chirgwin, Jackson Voss and Jake Bowey were all busy throughout the game. Riley Bowman and Jack Bell dominated the hitouts against smaller opponents and gave their midfields first opportunity. For the losers, Liam Viney impressed in defence alongside Matt McGuinness, whilst Sam Collins and Oliver Davis pushed hard in midfield and Jackson Callow kept presenting up forward.

–

DANDENONG STINGRAYS 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.13 | 6.15 (51)
GIPPSLAND POWER 3.2 | 8.7 | 8.10 | 12.13 (85)

GOALS
Dandenong: W. Bravo 2, L. Williams 2, H. Young, B. Milford
Gippsland: H. Neocleous 3, K. Robinson 2, F. Phillips 2, M. McGarrity 2, J. Smith 2, S. Berry

BEST
Dandenong: H. Young, B. Nyuon, H. Berenger, W. Bravo, N. Heath, E. Cahill
Gippsland: S. Flanders, R. Sparkes, B. Smith, H. Neocleous, Z. Reid, R. Angwin

Gippsland Power strengthened its chances of holding onto a top three spot with an impressive 34-point win over Dandenong in enemy territory. The Power took the lead after nine minutes in the first term and never looked back, extending their 11-point quarter time lead with five goals to two in the second stanza to get well on top. After a quiet patch after the main break where Dandenong managed the sole third-quarter goal, Gippsland kicked away again to cruise to victory. An impressive five of the Power’s six goal kickers found multiples, led by Harvey Neocleous‘ three majors, but it was the Vic Country representative trio of Sam Flanders (19 disposals), Ryan Sparkes (21 disposals, 10 inside 50s), and Brock Smith (21 disposals, eight marks, nine rebound 50s) who did most of the damage in general play. For an improving Dandenong, Hayden Young showed off his prowess around the ball with a game-high 26 disposals and one goal alongside Ned Cahill (23 disposals, seven tackles, six inside 50s). Meanwhile, Bigoa Nyuon covered the late omission of Sam De Koning and an injury to Bailey Schmidt to have 14 disposals and 22 hitouts from the ruck, with Lachlan Williams (21 disposals, two goals) good on the outside. The Stingrays have at least one game in hand against every other side, and will look to climb back up the ranks in their final two fixtures. A tough assignment against ladder leaders Eastern is up next, while Gippsland travels to face Bendigo next after a bye.

–

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 4.2 | 9.3 | 16.9 | 18.13 (121)
WESTERN JETS 1.1 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 7.7 (49)

GOALS
Murray: J. Rachele 3, J. Boyer 3, W. Chandler 2, T. Panuccio 2, C. Wild, L. Ash, K. Chalcraft, N. Pendergast, C. Byrne, J. Chalcraft, N. Irvine, D. Bedendo
Western: J. Honey 3, J. Horo, A. Manton, B. Ryan, D. Grmusa

BEST
Murray: J. Boyer, D. Clarke, J. Rachele, L. Ash, J. Chalcraft, C. Byrne
Western: C. Raak, L. Conway, J. Honey, A. Manton, D. Andrews , E. Jeka

In the Bushrangers’ clear best performance for the year, Murray completely dominated its game with Western Jets up in Wangaratta, putting the top four hopefuls to the sword in a massive 72-point win. The 12-goal win arguably could have been more, with the game done and dusted by the final break with the margin out to 81 points and as much as 87 early in the final term, though to the Jets’ credit they kept fighting and booted four of the last five goals of the game to cut the final deficit to 72. Jimmy Boyer booted three goals from 26 disposals and seven marks, while Cam Wild (29 disposals, one goal), Jye Chalcraft (26 disposals, one goal) and Dylan Clarke (24 disposals, one goal) all hit the scoreboard as well. Charlie Byrne was impressive in defence for the winners, while up forward, Under 16s mid-forward Josh Rachele was super with three goals from 21 touches and setting up multiple scoring opportunities for his teammates. For Western, Cody Raak (24 disposals, 11 rebounds) stood up in the absence of key teammates to continue his good form, whilst overagers Daly Andrews (24 disposals) and Will Kennedy (19 disposals, 52 hitouts) worked hard throughout the midfield, and Josh Honey (16 disposals, 3.2) was the most damaging forward for the Jets in an otherwise disappointing performance.

–

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 2.3 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 7.8 (50)
BENDIGO PIONEERS 3.1 | 6.4 | 9.7 | 13.9 (87)

GOALS
Northern: N. Cox 4, C. Barbera, J. D’Intinosante, L. McMahon
Bendigo: J. Evans 2, J. Ginnivan, C. Smith, A. Gundry, W. Wallace, E. Roberts, J. Hickman, J. Rodi, B. Worme, J. Treacy, R. Wilson, K. Atwell

BEST
Northern: J. Davies, J. Potter, N. Cox, S. Brazier, S. Philp, R. Gardner
Bendigo: J. Rodi, J. Ginnivan, R. Ironside, J. Hickman, K. Attwell, A. Gundry

Bendigo Pioneers delivered arguably the upset of the round, trumping the Northern Knights by 37 points at Preston City Oval in Saturday’s final fixture. The travelling side edged ahead early on after a tight start and really threatened to take the game away from Northern with three goals to nil in the first twenty minutes of the second term, but late goals to Josh D’Intinosante and Nikolas Cox kept the Knights in with a sniff. The Pioneers delivered an ideal response, again starting well after the main break and grabbing a definitive four-goal buffer heading into the last turn, before adding four goals to two in the final quarter to run away with an impressive win. An impressive tally of 11 individual goal kickers was led by two from Jack Evans, who thoroughly enjoyed celebrating each, with Jack Ginnivan (22 disposals, seven marks, one goal) another to impress in the forward half. Further afield, Jeremy Rodi and Jack Hickman provided great burst from the stoppages, with solid service coming from Aaron Gundry in the ruck. Despite the disappointing loss there were a few standouts for Northern too, with mobile bottom-age utility Cox booting four goals, while Jackson Davies (24 disposals, 10 marks) was again terrific down back and Sunny Brazier (24 disposals, seven tackles) joined Sam Philp (22 disposals) in doing a heap of dirty-work amongst the mud pit of Preston City Oval’s centre square. While the Knights can enjoy a week off before facing Western in their final fixture, Bendigo is set to do battle with GWV in Round 16.

–

GWV REBELS 3.3 | 5.6 | 7.11 | 8.13 (61)
CALDER CANNONS 2.1 | 4.3 | 6.7 | 9.11 (65)

GOALS
GWV: N. Caris 2, M. Lloyd 2, H. Sharp 2, I. Grant, M. Martin
Calder: M. Fletcher 3, N. Gentile 3, H. Andronaco, S. Paea, J. O’Sullivan

BEST
GWV: I. Grant, J. Rantall, J. Hill, C. Craig-Peters, J. Dwyer, H. Sharp
Calder: S. Ramsay, J. Cardillo, F. Gentile, J. Eyre, J. Hotchkin, H. Andronaco

The GWV Rebels fell agonisingly short of what would have been a deserving upset win on home turf, fading out late to go down by four points to an inexperienced Calder Cannons side in Sunday’s only game. Despite building a steady buffer in each term and leading at every change, the Rebels just failed to hang on in the last as Calder found a second wind to boot 3.4 to their 1.2 and snatch victory. Sam Ramsay continued his outstanding form of late to collect 33 disposals and lay 12 tackles as arguably the best player afield, with only GWV ball magnet Jay Rantall (35 disposals, eight marks) topping his disposal haul. Ned Gentile was another to stand up with 21 disposals and three goals, with bottom-ager Jackson Cardillo (18 disposals) and 16-year-olds Flynn Gentile (21 disposals, six tackles) and Harrison Andronaco (17 disposals, 1.2) giving a promising glimpse into the future. For the Rebels, Izaac Grant had his best game of the year with 20 disposals and a goal, with Jed Hill handy off half-back, Cooper Craig-Peters (27 disposals, 10 tackles) busy through midfield and Mitch Martin (21 disposals, one goal) adding his usual class. GWV now faces a couple of all-country fixtures to see out its regular season, while the Cannons are booked to clash with Eastern in Round 17 after a bye.