By JARROD POTTER
VAFA DIVISION 2 – ROUND 11
RETURNING to their jocular best of the first eight rounds, St John’s brushed off its minor mid-year slump to comfortably best Melbourne High School Old Boys (MHSOB).
Setting the stage for an emphatic 49-point win, the JOCs showed their back-to-back losses were a mere blip in its VAFA Division-2 campaign. Ben McGee’s charges opened the accounts with a six-goal first term as Anthony Brannan, Cameron Christiansen and Manny Jakwot helped up the tempo. Jakwot’s efforts through the centre were remission of Geelong’s emerging ruck/ruck-rover Mark Blicavs and that dual-talent path is one the former Stingray could take in a one-two combo with JOCS’ main ruckman Daniel Cattolico.
Carson Strobel (3 goals) returned from suspension to star across half-forward and through the midfield while Glenn Costas (3 goals) and Cattolico (2 goals) also forced their way into the best with stellar efforts in the midfield and ruck respectively.
After fighting back within 14 points at the main break, the visitors were left to St John’s mercy as the JOCs dictated the pace and cranked the speed to an extra level.
Ending as they started, a six-goal term showed the rest of the competition the JOCs can bounce back after gut-wrenching losses and will be a prominent part of this year’s Division-2 finals’ series.
Aaron Thornton (6 goals) had half-a-dozen to his name and leads the goal-kicking in Division 2 (53 goals) and remains on track to reach the magic milestone later this season if his good fortunes continue.
St John’s host Richmond Central on Saturday in a second-versus-sixth battle.
VAFA DIVISION 4
THERE was no fun left over for Division 4 as Masala was pumped by Mt Lilydale 6.3 (39) to 31.20 (206).
SFL DIVISION 2 – Round 11
SHOWING there’s life yet in Division 2 beyond the top two, Keysborough was undone by Murrumbeena as the home side sent the Burra packing with an eight-point defeat.
In a class back-and-forth game, neither side could claim the upper hand. Hard fought through the dying minutes, Murrumbeena managed to kick a crucial last-term goal to stave off the Burra attack and take the 13.11 (89) to 12.9 (81) triumph. Tyson King (5 goals) was exceptional up forward while Will Gayfer, Tim Bacic and Geoff Humphreys all won their positions to feature in the best.
Doveton Eagles (60-point loss) and Springvale Districts (98-point loss) were respectively brushed aside by Caulfield and ladder-leading Oakleigh District.
Keysborough heads to Hampton this week while Springvale Districts host Heatherton and Doveton Eagles fly across to Skye.
SFL DIVISION 3
LYNDALE was knocked over by Ashwood following a poor second half as Alex Kerr and Brenton Miles stood tallest. Endeavour Hills did enough to brush aside a gallant Dandenong in a 27-point win. Shane Peake (6 goals) and Chris Arnold (4 goals) were prolific for their respective sides while Neil Peake and Jake Van Hoesel were best afield for the Falcons. Hallam took it up to last year’s grand finalists Mt Waverley in a 22-point loss while Sandown had the bye.
