TOP THREE WELL ON TOP
By Louie Bulzomi
Werrimull, Gol Gol and Bambill further underlined their premiership credentials after massive victories over Euston, Cardross and Nangiloc respectively.
The Magpies were impressive in belting the Bombers by 96 points, 25.12 (162) to 9.12 (66), at Aero Oval.
Phil Connell and Joseph Denaro were up and about early for Euston, but Werrimull took control with goals to Mark Duscher and Ash Bates. The Bombers showed great signs but only Brendan Johnson managed to goal as the Magpies skipped away to a 29-point lead, mainly through Graeme Mentiplay and Mark Thornton’s hard work.
M.Duscher and Adam Thomson flexed their muscles in the second, kicking five goals between them and taking quality one-handed marks as Werrimull applied the blowtorch. Injury concerns to Connell and Zane Hammet hampered Euston’s structure, but Ian Mennie, Daniel Curran and Cameron Browne stood tall.
Any hopes of a Bomber fightback were short-lived in the third, with the Magpies booting 10.1 to 3.1 as the Duschers, Thomson and Jamie Russell all chimed in.
Werrimull slowed down in the last as Daniel Farnsworth, Andre Nooy and Bryce Denaro helped Euston add scoreboard respectability. M.Duscher finished with a mountainous 13 goals.
At Carramar Drive, the Lions couldn’t recover from an atrocious start, going down to the Hawks by 74 points, 21.12 (138) to 9.10 (64).
Both sides brought high intensity to the table in the early going, but it was Gol Gol’s polish and Sonny Lindsey’s four goals that stood out. Tim Vandenberg and Clint Burdett continued their recent sublime form, while Tom Wallace, Chris Prevedello and Jayden Boehm were everywhere for Cardross.
The Lions straightened up in the second via goals to Boehm, Damien Spicer and Jack Stanley. But they couldn’t keep up with the Hawks’ run, carry and disposal efficiency, exemplified by Burdett, Vandenberg, Darren Brown and Tony Albert.
The intensity lifted in the third as both sides struggled to break free. Darren “Plugger” McCarthy kicked two goals in his return game for Cardross to keep them in it; however Lindsey and David Gray provided answers for Gol Gol.
After Lindsey brought up his 100th season goal early in the final term, the Hawks went into overdrive and pummelled the Lions into submission, kicking 8.4 to 2.2.
Bambill extinguished recent disappointing losses with a resounding 123-point thumping of Nangiloc, 22.26 (158) to 5.5 (35), at Mildura Senior College.
The Saints signalled their intent immediately, with Demon Scott Golding feeling the full brunt of it. They went on an almighty rampage with Luke Stanbrook slotting seven goals, Ryan McClelland winning every ruck contest and Luke Hubble showing Brian Lake-like qualities down back.
Golding recovered as he, Ben Crosbie, Troy Francis, Luke Weaver, Hayden Falconer and Cameron Peters tried to give Nangiloc some life in the second. But through David Hall’s injection into the ruck, Steve Sellens’ blistering pace on the wing, and Justin Merrett and Simon Dean’s clearance work, the Saints remained ferocious.
Only poor accuracy prevented Bambill’s lead from nearing 150+ points at three-quarter time. Hubble and Andrew Gibson kept the backline solid, Sellens and Merrett continued their dominance, and Hall and Michael Hickey monstered Nangiloc’s defence.
The last term was more even as the Demons more than doubled their score thanks to Gary Weaver and Jared Turvey. For the Saints, L.Stanbrook ended with 11 goals in a brilliant forward display.
Next week, Euston host Bambill, Werrimull and Cardross head to Lake Cullulleraine, and Nangiloc host Gol Gol.
Last Modified on 23/07/2012 18:50