In a big day of Saturday football, winners today were Collingwood, Williamstown, Port Melbourne, Sandringham and Box Hill Hawks.
Let's look at the Saturday games:
Magpies’ home ground record intact
Collingwood kept Victoria Park as their fortress in 2014, claiming their second home of the season with a 44-point win against Coburg.
Collingwood burst from the blocks with Pat Karnezis kicking two of three unanswered Magpie goals to start the game, to help the home side hold a 21-point quarter time lead.
It was a first half dominated by the Magpies, with Sam Dwyer making his return from injury with ease, and fellow former VFL listed player Kyle Martin among the best with three goals.
The Lions fought back in the third term to win the quarter, with Lech Featherstone (three goals) and Dan Younan (three) helping the visitors win the term.
The 47-point half time deficit was always going to be difficult to bridge in the second half, and despite an even final term, the Magpies prevailed.
Dwyer, Martin, Jono Marsh and Ben Moloney were the best for Collingwood, with Nathan Thomas, Andrew Sturgess and Nick Linton the best for Coburg.
Port remains undefeated
Port Melbourne overcame a powerful first quarter performance from Majak Daw to keep their 2014 undefeated status, with a 13-point win over Werribee.
Trailing by 15 points at quarter time, after three first term goals by Daw, Port went on a seven goal unanswered run in the second term, to swing the game in their favour to hold a 22-point lead at half time.
The likes of Toby Pinwill (26 disposals), Shane Valenti, John Baird and James Magner led the charge in the middle for Port, with Julian Rowe (four goals), Josh Scipione (three) and Adrian Bonaddio (two) doing the finishing work up forward.
Trailing by 24 points at three quarter time, Werribee made one final charge with early goals to Tom Gribble and Daw reducing the margin back to 11 points, but Port were able to steady late for the win.
For Werribee Daw was by far their best across the afternoon with five goals, while Jarred Moore, Scott Sherlock and former Geelong Falcon and cricketer Merrick Buchanan were among their best.
Seagulls back on track
Williamstown claimed their second AFL standalone scalp in a row, defeating Richmond by 70 points at Burbank Oval.
After defeating Footscray in Round 2, the Seagulls made the most of their unexpected home ground advantage against the Tigers – with the game moved during the week from Punt Road – restricting their opponents to just eight goals for the afternoon.
Williamstown had 11 individual goal kickers for their 19 majors, with Willie Wheeler and Jake Owen both with three, and Leigh Masters, Scott Clouston, Mitch Banner and Michael Gibbons all with two. The game marked the first for Kane Lambert, easing back into senior football after preseason injury delayed his start for his new club Williamstown.
Nick Meese was a key in the ruck for the home side, and helped feed the likes of Ben Jolley and Wheeler who were their best.
Liam McBean was the only multiple goal kicker for Richmond with three, while Todd Banfield, Jake Batchelor, Ben Lennon and Luke Conca were their best.
Sandringham keeps Roosters winless
Sandringham continued North Ballarat’s winless start to the season, with a 35-point away win.
An even first term saw North Ballarat in front by four points at quarter time, after kicking the last two of the term.
However an eight goal to one second term set up the win for the Zebras, with the visitors enjoying their biggest lead of the game at half time, 40 points.
The game produced a possible glimpse of the future with American rookies Jacob Holmes (St Kilda/Sandringham) and Eric Wallace (North Melbourne/North Ballarat) going head to head in the ruck at different stages of the day,
In the second half North Ballarat could only get as close as 19 points, as Sandringham continued to find the answers on the scoreboard. Maverick Weller continued his good VFL form with 33 disposals and three goals, Shane Savage 27 and captain Adam Cockie 24 let the midfield. Trent Denis Lane kicked four – with three second half goals - with Yllber Zijai kicking two.
For the Roosters, James Keeble kicked three goals, Nathan Horbury and Michael Searl two while Trent Dumont, Nick Rippon and Luke Kiel were their best.
Hawks remain on top
Box Hill Hawks have run away with the game in the final term to defeat Geelong in the Grand Final replay by 27 points.
Box Hill opened the game with four unanswered goals to state their intentions early – James Sicily damaging with two goals - with Geelong not registering their first score until the 18 minute mark.
Geelong settled to claim the final two goals of the term, then opened the second term full of run with three in a row to get within a point of the Hawks, with Brian Lake giving away a number of free kicks that resulted in majors for the home side.
When Josh Walker kicked his second of the game at the 24 minute mark of the second term, Geelong hit the front for the first time in the match, and were able to hold a five point lead at half time.
The Cats got on top in the third, but only held a one point lead at three quarter time, largely due to an inaccurate 3.6 term for the Hawks.
Box Hill set up their victory early in the final term, with four unanswered goals to race out to a 29-point lead, with Sam Grimley adding his fourth in a game where he and Jonathon Ceglar dominated the ruck contests.
The Cats however were not finished with, kicking three in a row to get the deficit back to just 12 points nearing time on, but the Hawks settled to claim their third win of the season.
On Friday:
Inaccurate Bombers Good Friday winners
Essendon held off a determined Bendigo side to produce an inaccurate 28-point win on Good Friday.
Bendigo claimed their third first term lead of the season, but unlike previous weeks, held on the lead by 12 points at half time, producing a defensive and hard tackling game that had an inaccurate Essendon side under pressure.
A scoreless third term proved the difference for Bendigo, as Essendon finally balanced their poor conversion with five majors. The visitors hit the lead for the first time in the game at the 11-minute mark of the term after Josh Mellington kicked his second goal, and they were not headed again.
Sam Tagliabue and the return of Tom Bellchambers provided a headache for the Gold in the ruck, with Jeremy Lambden and Jordan Hargreaves having to work hard against their taller opponents. Alistair Kefford continued his good form from the previous week with four goals, with the Bombers' best including dominant midfielders Kurt Aylett and Daniel Coghlan, plus Ariel Steinberg in defence.
For Bendigo, Steve Stroobants led the way over four quarters with three goals, with Matt Farrelly and Jack Sheahan strong in defence for the Gold, along with Liam Byrne and Alik Magin.
- CLICK HERE for all the Rd 3 final scores, plus best and goals
- CLICK HERE for the updated ladder for Rd 3
Sunday games:
Frankston vs Casey Scorpions (Casey Radio)
Footscray vs Northern Blues
Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 22/04/2014 09:40