Jarryd McGuane – @JMcGuane
Below the undefeated West Brunswick, the battle for top four spots this early in the season is heating up. After four rounds, there are still two teams who sit at 3-1 – Prahran Assumption and Yarra Old Grammarians, while a further four teams – Bulleen, Glen Eira, Eltham and Emmaus, sit at 2-2. Round 5 should see a few teams separate themselves from the pack and put their case forward as contenders for 2017. At this early stage of the year, it’s the swooping Magpies who have presented us with the best argument.
In a low scoring dour affair at Ransford Oval, it was West Brunswick who held on for the one-point victory over MHSOB. The Unicorns were the brightest early, holding West Brunswick to a single goal in the first term and kicking 3.2 themselves to take a 14-point lead into quarter time. West Brunswick would add the only goal in the second quarter to trail by eight points at the half. After the break, again MHSOB would be goalless as the Westies two goals had them leading by six points at the final change. As the game opened up in the last, both sides combined for five goals. The Unicorns 3.2 final quarter effort was valiant but not quite enough to claim the scalp of West Brunswick’s whose 2.3 final term was just enough to claim the victory. The game was sealed by the cool and experienced head of Bill Irving who kicked the winning behind after the siren. West Brunswick shared their goals around while Coby Millar was again named their best. David Sorgiovanni kicked three for the Unicorns and was their best on the day.
Glen Eira were left to rue missed opportunities as Eltham Collegians put together back-to-back wins claiming a 30-point victory at Eltham College. The game was a stalemate in the first quarter before the Turtles took control and slammed on four goals to nil in the second to lead by 25 points at halftime. They would extend the lead with three goals to one in the third to push the lead out to 36 points at three quarter time. The Gryphons added two goals in the last quarter, but it was too little too late as the game was already put beyond doubt. Brent Gutterson was instrumental for the Turtles, kicking four goals and being awarded best on ground honours. Lachlan Pound was the Gryphons best in defeat, with Alex Erwin-Ross their only multiple-goal kicker with two.
Yarra Old Grammarians jumped back up to third on the ladder as they handed Bulleen Templestowe their second straight loss with a 13-point victory at Doncaster Reserve. Yarra Old Grammarians were slow out of the gate, allowing the Bullants to claim a seven-point lead at quarter time. That would be good as it got for Bulleen Templestowe, as they gave up five unanswered second quarter goals to trail by 26 points at the half. The Bushrangers would allow the margin to be reduced to 15 points at the final break but held strong in the last to claim a solid victory. Simon Yeo with four goals and David Wildsmith with two were Yarra Old Grammarians best players. Brodie McLaughlin maintained his good form in defeat as Oran Aziz and Scott Dekeizer kicked three goals for the Bullants.
At Bennettswood Sports Ground, Emmaus St Leos saw their winning streak go up in smoke as Prahran Assumption claimed the 58-point victory. The Two Blues would lead by 33 points at halftime after containing the Animals to one goal as they added six. Prahran Assumption would expand their lead in the third to 37 points before blowing the game out with a seven-goals-to-four final quarter. As solid team performance from the Two Blues who shared the goals around. Timothy Maya, Jack Matherson and Gerard Hogarth each kicked three goals while Prahran’s best on ground was Adam Sleight who added two goals of his own. Jon Kapiniaris maintained his strong form continue being named the Animals best in a losing side. Kapiniaris’s support up the ground assisted Daniel Hill and Jesse Gannon on their way to kicking three goals each.
Hawthorn is now on the bottom of the table on their own as Old Paradians claimed their first win of the year, defeating the Hawks by 36 points at Rathmines Road Reserve. It was a contested affair as the small ground forced the majority of the plays to be fought in the clinches. The Raiders could not blow Hawthorn away at any stage of the game but they consistently extended their lead at each break. It was the second and final quarter, in which Hawthorn were held goalless that was the difference. Will Gilmore and Christopher Kandilakis were in fine form for Old Paradians with Matthew Biviano and Marcus Nolan doing most of the damage up forward kicking three goals each. In defeat, Aaron Downie battled hard and was the Hawks best.
Round 5 of Division 2 opens with the winless Hawthorn hosting the unbeaten West Brunswick at Rathmines Road Reserve. Emmaus St Leos remain at Bennettswood Sports Ground as they host the red hot Eltham Collegians in a matchup of the 2-2 sides. Old Paradians hope to extend their winning ways as they welcome Yarra Old Grammarians to Parade College. It has been a poor week for Bulleen Templestowe and Glen Eira, and they’ll both look to arrest their losing ways as they face off at Ted Ajani Reserve. The final game of the round has Prahran Assumption hosting the ice cold MSHOB, who are on a three game slide on the back of two consecutive one-point heartbreaks, at Toorak Park.
