THE NAB League premiership race has been blown wide open, after a remarkable Wildcard Round saw four of five lower-ranked regions knock off fancied adversaries. Flag favourite Oakleigh Chargers were eliminated in one of the competition’s greatest upsets, and the bottom four sides will play finals in what promises to be a dramatic postseason.

GWV Rebels 11.8 (74) def. by Northern Knights 11.12 (78)

IN A SENTENCE: 

The Northern Knights defied their bottom-rank status on Saturday, taking full advantage of a tailwind to overcome a 19-point deficit in the final term and knock off the GWV Rebels by four points.

TEAM STATS:

GWV Rebels won the handballs (121-110), tackles (62-53), and rebound 50s (32-30)
Northern Knights won the disposals (287-284), marks (67-54), and hitouts (42-26)

KEY PLAYERS:

Hugh Bond (GWV Rebels) – 25 disposals, 10 tackles, 2 inside 50s
Aaron Cadman (GWV Rebels) – 18 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles, 2 goal
Lachlan Charleson (GWV Rebels) – 15 disposals, 4 tackles, 3 goals
Cooper Harvey (Northern Knights) – 23 disposals, 6 marks, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal
Nate Caddy (Northern Knights) – 19 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 4 behinds
Jack Rossimel (Northern Knights) – 15 disposals, 5 marks, 3 rebound 50s

UP NEXT:

Northern Knights vs. Gippsland Power | Saturday September 3, 2:00pm @ Princes Park

Geelong Falcons 4.9 (33) def. by Western Jets 10.8 (68)

IN A SENTENCE: 

Western Jets brought the heat in a feisty 35-point victory against the Geelong Falcons, upsetting the higher-ranked side by keeping them to just one goal per quarter.

TEAM STATS:

Geelong Falcons won the kicks (187-182), handballs (121-111), and hitouts (43-21)
Western Jets won the inside 50s (49-47), rebound 50s (42-37), and marks (86-66)

KEY PLAYERS:

Jhye Clark (Geelong Falcons) – 27 disposals, 8 marks, 6 tackles, 2 goals
Ted Clohesy (Geelong Falcons) – 20 disposals, 6 tackles, 4 inside 50s
Osca Riccardi (Geelong Falcons) – 17 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal
Jaelen Pavlidis (Western Jets) – 24 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s
Cameron Kizan (Western Jets) – 14 disposals, 6 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 2 goals
Jovan Petric (Western Jets) – 15 disposals, 5 marks, 4 goals

UP NEXT:

Western Jets vs. Dandenong Stingrays | Sunday September 4, 11:00am @ Mars Stadium

Sandringham Dragons 11.11 (77) def. Murray Bushrangers 10.7 (67)

IN A SENTENCE: 

Four-goal second and third terms set up Sandringham’s 10-point win over the Murray Bushrangers, in the weekend’s standalone clash in Williamstown.

TEAM STATS:

Sandringham Dragons won the disposals (292-280), handballs (129-108), and inside 50s (44-41)
Murray Bushrangers won the kicks (172-163), rebound 50s (33-29), and tackles (49-40)

KEY PLAYERS:

Will Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons) – 31 disposals, 9 inside 50s, 1 goal
Cameron Mackenzie (Sandringham Dragons) – 24 disposals, 3 tackles, 6 inside 50s
Charlie Clarke (Sandringham Dragons) – 14 disposals, 5 tackles, 4 goals
Oliver Hollands (Murray Bushrangers) – 27 disposals, 7 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s
Jedd Longmire (Murray Bushrangers) – 16 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 goals
Ryan Eyers (Murray Bushrangers) – 17 disposals, 9 marks, 2 rebound 50s

UP NEXT:

Sandringham Dragons vs. Calder Cannons | Sunday September 4, 1:30pm @ Mars Stadium

Eastern Ranges 8.15 (63) def. by Calder Cannons 10.7 (67)

IN A SENTENCE: 

A wayward third term which yielded 2.8 cost the Eastern Ranges, who went down by four points to a fighting Calder Cannons outfit.

TEAM STATS:

Eastern Ranges won the disposals (343-308), inside 50s (59-37), and scoring shots (23-17)
Calder Cannons won the marks (80-72), rebound 50s (51-25), and hitouts (29-23)

KEY PLAYERS:
Josh Bennetts (Eastern Ranges) – 23 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal
Cam Nyko (Eastern Ranges) – 21 disposals, 5 marks, 8 inside 50s
Zac Greeves (Eastern Ranges) – 13 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals
Reuben Rode (Calder Cannons) – 21 disposals, 4 marks, 9 rebound 50s
Matthew Foley (Calder Cannons) – 19 disposals, 10 rebound 50s, 1 goal
Carlos Egan (Calder Cannons) – 11 disposals, 3 tackles, 6 goals

UP NEXT:

Calder Cannons vs. Sandringham Dragons | Sunday September 4, 1:30pm @ Mars Stadium

Oakleigh Chargers 8.11 (59) def. by Bendigo Pioneers 10.11 (71)

IN A SENTENCE: 

An inspired third quarter against the wind spurred the Bendigo Pioneers to a 12-point win over the Oakleigh Chargers, making for perhaps the greatest upset in NAB League history.

TEAM STATS:

Oakleigh Chargers won the disposals (323-320), marks (94-75), and inside 50s (52-46)
Bendigo Pioneers won the tackles (62-43), rebound 50s (43-35), and scoring shots (21-19)

KEY PLAYERS:

Elijah Tsatas (Oakleigh Chargers) – 34 disposals, 8 marks, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal
Blake Drury (Oakleigh Chargers) – 31 disposals, 9 marks, 8 inside 50s
Matthew Jefferson (Oakleigh Chargers) – 7 disposals, 5 marks, 3 goals
Harvey Gallagher (Bendigo Pioneers) – 42 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 13 rebound 50s
Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers) – 23 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal
Jason Gillbee (Bendigo Pioneers) – 19 disposals, 8 marks, 1 goal

UP NEXT:

Bendigo Pioneers vs. Tasmania Devils | Saturday September 3, 11:30am @ Princes Park