Sandringham Dragons 10.19 (79)
Bendigo Pioneers 3.4 (22)

Sandringham goals: T.Roos (3), H.Balic (2), C.Lyons (2), C.Rich, K.Parsons, N.Peterson
Bendigo goals: R.Free (2), M.Trait
Sandringham best: H.Balic, T.Taranto, C.Lyons, L.Filipovic, A.Tashevski-Beckwith
Bendigo best: L.Tardrew, T.Cole, J.Atley, C.Jones, B.Edwards, J.Muscatello

Sandringham Dragons were the convincing winners in the first of the two games in the ‘double header’ at Warrawee Park on Saturday.

Tyler Roos started the match well booting three goals in the first half in a match that was likely to turn into a big blowout against the Pioneers. However at half-time the rain struck, resulting in a wet and slippery ball that only saw the sides kick two goals between themselves in the final half.

Lachlan Filipovic was dominant in the ruck having a 10cm height advantage over the Pioneers’ ruckman, allowing the Dragons midfield to have first use of the ball.

Although the conditions were horrible in the second half, the Dragons will be ruing their chances to gain valuable percentage in their pursuit for the top eight, kicking 19 behinds for the match.

There are no TAC Cup games this week due to a development weekend. Sandringham will meet NSW/ACT at home, while Bendigo Pioneers are at home to the Western Jets in a fortnight.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Harley Balic (Sandringham Dragons)
4 – Tom Taranto (Sandringham Dragons)
3 – Corey Lyons (Sandringham Dragons)
2 – Lachie Tardrew (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Lachlan Filipovic (Sandringham Dragons)

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Dandenong Stingrays 11.7 (83)
Murray Bushrangers 7.10 (52)

Dandenong goals: J. Freeman (3), M. Cox (2), J. Holden 2, J. Battle, T. Young, J. Di Pasquale, S. Gladman.
Murray goals: D. McDonald (2), J. Marshall, J. Schache, W. Brodie, L. Tiziani, Z. Sproule.
Dandenong best: J. Weitering, K. Mutimer, J. Di Pasquale, B. White, M. Cox, S. Pickess
Murray best: J. Marshall, J. Cousins, W. Brodie, R. Garthwaite, L. Pinnuck, L. Tiziani

Without the slightest disrespect to the other 42 players out on the field on Saturday at Shepley Oval, it was an absolute that the majority of the crowd came to see the heavyweight bout between raging spearhead Josh Schache and smooth defensive artist Jacob Weitering. The bulk of the onlookers would have disappointed to see Dandenong’s dour full back Kieran Collins – himself a likely high draft pick – man his Country teammate in the Bushrangers’ goalsquare.

There may have been disappointed onlookers robbed of that battle, but complaining in those circumstances would be akin to bemoaning a scratching of Ali v Foreman to find out that Foreman will be fighting Joe Frazier; either way it is going to be a brawl. Such as it was, the battle proved a fizzer, with the conditions and some wayward delivery from the Bushrangers’ smalls depriving the Larke medallist of much to get his teeth into, and the composed Collins a physical equal to the massive Murray man.

Weitering did manage to find himself on his mate at times, but those were few and far between, with the Rays’ centre half back contenting himself taking an obscene number of marks across the defensive 50, including an audacious one-handed contested pack mark in the last quarter.

The teeming rain made handling the ball difficult, but the Rays players adapted far better to the conditions, with their midfielders, lead by another Country star in Kurt Mutimer and Jake Di Pasquale delivering the ball lace out to the Dandenong forwards. The Rays jumped out to a 22-point lead at quarter time and from there were never headed, with Murray failing to register a major in the first half and the Rays going to half time with a commanding 43-point lead.

Schache slotted through a set shot early in the third quarter after a strong mark on the lead to spark a mini renaissance from the Bushies, with Dylan McDonald kicking two in a matter of minutes and Zach Sproule saluting from a set shot to bring the margin back to a more respectable four goals, before Dandenong steadied with a couple of quick goals to Mitchell Cox and surged away to go into the final break 45 points to the good.

What passed for the sun came out in the last quarter, and while Murray piled on the pressure, with Will Brodie at the forefront, they failed to make Dandenong pay on the scoreboard kicking 3.4 to the Rays 1.2 in the last before the siren signalled a famous 31 point victory to Dandenong.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Jacob Weitering (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Kurt Mutimer (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Jake Di Pasquale (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Jake Marshall (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Brandon White (Dandenong Stingrays)

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Oakleigh Chargers 10.19 (79)
Gippsland Power 3.4 (22)

Oakleigh goals: D.Johnstone (2), M.Jackson, A.Morgan, D.Houston, B.Crocker, L.Walker, P.Phillips
Gippsland goals: J.Rout (2), J.McMahon (2), N.Holmes, M.De Bruin, T.Hobbs, H.McKay, E.Park
Oakleigh best: B.Crocker, D.Cunningham, H.Hooper, S.McLarty, L.Walker, J.Firns
Gippsland best: B.McKay, N.Holmes, B.Ainsworth, M.De Bruin, J.Patullo, J.Rout

The second of the two games at Warrawee Park on Saturday saw the Oakleigh Chargers meet Gippsland Power. Thankfully the rain had cleared, but the ground was still wet and the temperature was struggling the get into double digits.

Harry McKay was the main target up forward for Gippsland with Jack Firns as his opponent. Both battled hard all day, in conditions that weren’t suited to the big tall players. Firns was very good, holding McKay to just one goal for the match.

At the other end of the ground, it was Harry’s twin brother Ben who stole the show with his defensive efforts and his ability to read the ball drop well, resulting in multiple marks in defence in front of the Chargers forwards.

Gippsland trailed at all the breaks, but it was Nash Holmes and Ben Ainsworth who led their final quarter comeback hitting the front and giving Gippsland every chance to take home the four points.

Oakleigh themselves had plenty of chances in front of goal early kicking 3.8 in the first quarter which nearly cost themselves the match. With a minute to go and trailing by three points, Oakleigh moved the ball inside 50 to find Ben Crocker on a slight angle from 40m out. Crocker went back and converted the set shot to the delight of his teammates. Fittingly in a similar fashion to his final 10-second goal to get Vic Metro over the line against South Australia, the siren blew as the ball was bounce back in the centre of the ground.

With a development weekend this week, both sides have a week off. The following week Oakleigh are at home to Calder, while Gippsland travel to Murray.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Ben Crocker (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Ben McKay (Gippsland Power)
3 – David Cunningham (Oakliegh Chargers)
2 – Nash Holmes (Gippsland Power)
1 – Ben Ainsworth (Gippsland Power)

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Northern Knights 4.7 (31)
Eastern Ranges 6.7 (43)

Northern goals: M. Hill (2), T. Leonardis, J. Gresham
Eastern goals: B. Hardwick (4), J. Smith, A. Beddoes
Northern best: B. Fiorini, T. Leonardis, L. Murphy, B. Jordan, J. Gresham, M. Perry
Eastern best: R. Clarke, A. Brolic, T. Hollins, D. Clarke, B. Hardwick, J. Gallucci

The Eastern Ranges have kept pace with the top four through a hard fought 12-point win against a plucky Northern Knights outfit.

The Ranges took advantage of the stretched Knights defence and made their opportunities count early on, with Blake Hardwick providing a focal point for their attacks, kicking two of his four goals in the first quarter to keep his side in touch.

On the other hand, the Knights lacked that focal point and composed finishing, as Bailey Jordan was thrown down back and a number of their midfielders, including Vic Metro reps Jade Gresham and Brayden Fiorini, were rotated through the half forward line.

The second half proved to be a stoppage fest as the rain continued to pour down at the Knights’ fortress, turning the centre square into a mud pool. Ultimately, the conditions turned the game in the Ranges’ favour, as the slender two-goal lead they held since half time was enough to keep their opponents at bay.

Despite their territorial domination and credible attack on the footy in the second half, the Knights could not manage to find enough clean ball and space to do enough scoreboard damage. Both sides will be sore and sorry after such a contested game in trying conditions, but maintaining their top four aspirations will soften most of those blows for the Ranges.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Ryan Clarke (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Blake Hardwick (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Tyrone Leonardis (Northern Knights)
2 – Brayden Fiorini (Northern Knights)
1 – Anthony Brolic (Eastern Ranges)

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North Ballarat Rebels 4.9 (33)
Geelong Falcons 11.7 (73)

North Ballarat goals: N. Hausler , J. Cowan , T. Templeton , E. Frank.
Geelong goals: B. Blair (3), Z. Zdybel (3), L. McCartney, M. Augerinos, S. Holroyd, R. Mathieson, D. Parish.
North Ballarat best: M. Johnston, J. Berry, J. Symons, J. Webster, B. Lusby, Y. Eades.
Geelong best: R. Mathieson, P. Dowling, H. Kol, Z. Zdybel, L. McCartney, S. Darcy.

Geelong Falcons have bounced back into premiership contention by upsetting the top-of-the-table Rebels at Eureka Stadium by 40 points. In the first clash between these sides at Simonds Stadium, the Falcons scraped home by less than a goal, but this time they did it comfortably. After trailing at quarter time, the Falcons booted nine goals to one across the next three quarters, holding the usually free flowing Rebels goalless in the second and fourth quarters. Rhys Mathieson returned from Vic Country duties to star with 30 disposals, two marks, four tackles and a goal, while Zachary Zdybel and Sean Darcy were the impressive big men on the day. For the Rebels, Matthew Johnston and Jarrod Berry were the top players in the win.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Rhys Mathieson (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Zachary Zdybel (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Matthew Johnston (North Ballarat Rebels)
2 – Sean Darcy (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Jarrod Berry (North Ballarat Rebels)

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Western Jets 0.2 (2)
Calder Cannons 10.14 (74)

Western goals: Nil.
Calder goals: K. Brown 4, T. Condon 2, H. Kerbatieh 2, J. Flower, J. Reaper.
Western best: J. Hickey, L. Knight, W. Berry, J. Volpato, B. Romensky, D. Foley
Calder best: B. Laguda, H. Kerbatieh, T. Wallis, K. Brown, O. Magbegor, T. Condon

Calder Cannons welcomed the return of its Vic Metro stars, with a huge 72-point victory over the Western Jets. More impressively, the Cannons held the Jets goalless in the game, while having 24 scoring shots themselves. Karl Brown was the top scorer with four goals, while Tom Condon and Hisham Kerbatieh booted two each. Bruno Laguda has been a consistent performer this year for Calder and this match was no different, collecting 25 disposals and laying three tackles. Kerbatieh, Brown and Condon were also dynamic around the forward line, while for the Jets, Jaycob Hickey was one of the few to hold his head high in the one-sided contest.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Bruno Laguda (Calder Cannons)
4 – Hisham Kerbatieh (Calder Cannons)
3 – Karl Brown (Calder Cannons)
2 – Tom Condon (Calder Cannons)
1 – Jaycob Hickey (Western Jets)