GEELONG Falcons clinched the Coates Talent League minor premiership and automatic finals qualification, while the Wildcard Round matchups were confirmed after Round 19. Catch up on all the results, key numbers and star performances across all six of the weekend’s games in a snapshot.

GEELONG FALCONS 3.3 | 6.4 | 6.9 | 10.13 (73)
GWV REBELS 2.1 | 4.3 | 6.5 | 9.8 (62)

IN A SENTENCE:

Geelong Falcons survived a final round scare, holding off the persistent GWV Rebels outfit to win by 11 points and not only secure the minor premiership, but also a Wildcard Round bye.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Geelong won the kicks (168-156), inside 50s (51-42) and scoring shots (23-17)
GWV won the disposals (274-256) and handballs (118-88)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Geelong Falcons

Noah Tullio – 21 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal
Joe Pike – 19 disposals, 5 marks, 28 hitouts
River Stevens – 15 disposals, 7 inside 50s, 3 goals

GWV Rebels

Sam Lalor – 25 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal
Harry Lawson – 19 disposals, 13 tackles, 2 goals
Reggie Mast – 10 disposals, 4 marks, 4 goals

FINAL STANDING:
(Conference Standing)

Geelong Falcons – 1st (1st) | 11-4 | 127.1%
GWV Rebels – 11th (6th) | 5-10 | 92.1%

WILDCARD MATCHUP:
(Country Conference)

Geelong Falcons (1) – Automatic finals qualification
GWV Rebels (6) vs. Tasmania Devils (3)

BENDIGO PIONEERS 2.0 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 10.8 (68)
MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 6.3 | 7.6 | 9.12 | 14.14 (98)

IN A SENTENCE:

Murray Bushrangers burst out of the blocks with the game’s first six goals to set up a 30-point road win over Bendigo Pioneers, who fought to cut the margin back to 11 points in term three.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Murray won the kicks (173-151), inside 50s (50-41), and scoring shots (28-18)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Bendigo Pioneers

Lachlan Hogan – 21 disposals, 5 marks, 4 rebound 50s
Jobe Shanahan – 17 disposals, 6 marks, 6 goals
James Barrat – 14 disposals, 9 marks, 6 rebound 50s

Murray Bushrangers

Oliver Warburton – 24 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 rebound 50s
Jack Whitlock – 21 disposals, 9 marks, 2 goals
Matt Whitlock – 12 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 3 goals

FINAL STANDING:
(Conference Standing)

Bendigo Pioneers – 12th (7th) | 4-11 | 80.0%
Murray Bushrangers – 7th (5th) | 8-6-1 | 111.2%

WILDCARD MATCHUP:
(Country Conference)

Bendigo Pioneers (7) vs. Dandenong Stingrays (2)
Murray Bushrangers (5) vs. Gippsland Power (4)

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 1.0 | 5.4 | 8.6 | 12.7 (79)
EASTERN RANGES 6.3 | 8.7 | 12.10 | 15.12 (102)

IN A SENTENCE:

A six-goal to one opening quarter in favour of Eastern proved the difference, and some, as the Ranges beat Northern Knights by 23 points to lock in a repeat fixture in Wildcard Round.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Eastern won the kicks (193-147), marks (84-56), and scoring shots (27-19)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Northern Knights

Jesse Dattoli – 26 disposals, 3 marks, 3 goals
Taj Logan – 22 disposals, 5 marks, 7 inside 50s
Kristian Lawson – 18 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals

Eastern Ranges

Josh Smillie – 29 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal
Jak Ryan – 15 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals
Remy MacLean – 11 disposals, 11 hitouts, 4 goals

FINAL STANDING:
(Conference Standing)

Northern Knights – 9th (4th) | 5-9-1 | 100.6%
Eastern Ranges – 8th (3rd) | 7-8 | 93.7%

WILDCARD MATCHUP:
(Metro Conference)

Eastern Ranges (3) vs. Northern Knights (4)

GIPPSLAND POWER 2.2 | 4.8 | 9.9 | 11.15 (81)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 5.2 | 9.3 | 13.5 | 14.7 (91)

IN A SENTENCE:

Dandenong Stingrays reaped the rewards of superior goalkicking accuracy in their 10-point win over Gippsland Power, applying consistent scoreboard pressure from less scoring shots.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Dandenong won the handballs (157-128) and rebound 50s (34-28)
Gippsland won the tackles (46-29) and scoring shots (26-21)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Gippsland Power

Willem Duursma – 26 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal
Jesse Craven – 22 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal
Max Donohue – 22 disposals, 7 marks, 8 tackles

Dandenong Stingrays

Harvey Langford – 33 disposals, 5 marks, 4 goals
Elwood Peckett – 20 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal
Henry Hayes – 20 disposals, 11 marks, 1 goal

FINAL STANDING:
(Conference Standing)

Gippsland Power – 6th (4th) | 9-5 | 96.6%
Dandenong Stingrays – 3rd (2nd) | 10-4-1 | 123.3%

WILDCARD MATCHUP:
(Country Conference)

Gippsland Power (4) vs. Murray Bushrangers (5)
Dandenong Stingrays (2) vs. Bendigo Pioneers (7)

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 5.6 | 9.9 | 13.10 | 16.13 (109)
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 1.1 | 6.3 | 8.5 | 10.10 (70)

IN A SENTENCE:

Oakleigh Chargers shot out of the blocks with five of the game’s first six goals en route to stunning close rivals, reigning premier and former pole position holder, Sandringham Dragons by 39 points.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Oakleigh won the handballs (130-117), inside 50s (51-39), and scoring shots (29-20)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Oakleigh Chargers

Jagga Smith – 33 disposals, 8 marks, 2 goals
Louis Emmett – 22 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal
Finn O’Sullivan – 18 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 3 goals

Sandringham Dragons

Murphy Reid – 25 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal
Sam Marshall – 22 disposals, 8 marks, 5 inside 50s
Arki Butler – 13 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals

FINAL STANDING:
(Conference Standing)

Oakleigh Chargers 13th (6th) | 4-11 | 72.5%
Sandringham Dragons 4th (2nd) | 10-5 | 123.9%

WILDCARD MATCHUP:
(Metro Conference)

Oakleigh Chargers (6) vs. Calder Cannons (1)
Sandringham Dragons (2) vs. Western Jets (5)

CALDER CANNONS 4.5 | 9.7 | 13.7 | 16.9 (105)
WESTERN JETS 4.0 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 10.5 (65)

IN A SENTENCE:

Calder Cannons fired home five unanswered goals in the second quarter to set up a 40-point win over Western Jets and clinch top spot in the Metro conference.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Calder won the disposals (326-323), rebound 50s (28-23), and scoring shots (25-15)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Calder Cannons

Nash King – 34 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles
Kieran Gallagher – 23 disposals, 4 marks, 4 rebound 50s
Hussien El Achkar – 21 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 goals

Western Jets

Lucca Grego – 29 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal
Thomas Burton – 27 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s
Lachlan McArthur – 25 disposals, 7 marks, 7 rebound 50s

FINAL STANDING:
(Conference Standing)

Calder Cannons – 2nd (1st) | 11-4 | 112.6%
Western Jets – 10th (5th) | 5-10 | 95.6%

WILDCARD MATCHUP:
(Metro Conference)

Calder Cannons (1) vs. Oakleigh Chargers (6)
Western Jets (5) vs. Sandringham Dragons (2)