Round 13

"I think the fact no one remonstrated…it looks like it was a really bad accident and I hope he's OK”

Saints coach Craig Miller on North’s Julian Hayes

The Headlines

Hopper VC Julian Hayes has been forced into concussion protocols, KO'd before the half in an innocuous incident involving Myrtleford's Lachy Murphy-Dale seeing the Saints leading goalkicker sent straight to the tribunal.
Saint Nick Ferguson also accepted 1 match for a dangerous tackle on Hopper Keith Tallent, down from 2 with the early guilty. 

Elsewhere, the Raiders have given former junior Chad Owens the job of turning the battlers around from 2025.
The Chad is a back-to-back premiership coach in the QAFL, with stints at Coburg VFL, Northern Bullants & most recently the GV’s Mansfield.

Around the Grounds

Albury had little trouble with Corowa, opening up a 29 point buffer at the first break and only building from there.
Mat Walker did the damage up forward with 7 sausages, but the Tiges need him to find that form against the better teams - 14 of his season's 20 in beat ups of the Roos & Raiders.

Across at Bunton, North stood tall after a brilliant first half tussle with the Saints.
It had all the hallmarks to be another tight thriller, a 2 point lead to the hosts at the main break, before the Hoppers showed their superiority with 5 goals to 1 in both the third and fourth quarters to run away 51 point winners.
North have snatched 2nd spot on the ladder, and are a fair shake to remain at the round's completion.

Match of the Round

The Wang Darby

The winner here is likely counted as Yarra’s primary contender.

Form: Rovers (3-2) - Wang (5-0).

The Pies struggled to find their feet after dropping their first 4 matches, but have now won 5 on the trot. The Rovers on the other hand, started like a house on fire, but have dropped a couple of recent - granted to other contenders in Wodonga & Yarra.

Last Time: R1 ‘24 - Rovers by 12 points

Tip: Pies by 13 points

"It could have easily gone the other way…credit to the club on how many talented youngsters they keep on producing"

Myles Aalbers on the Osborne rejuvenation

The Headline

Osborne put to bed any talk of going after Adam Schneider to coach by locking in Myles Aalbers again, and why the hell not?
With a well documented turnover of the Tiges ‘23 premiership team, old mate Myles said “Hold my beer”.
He now has the yellow & black primed for another tilt at glory, sitting atop the ladder with an 8-1 record.

Around the Grounds

Murray took it right up to Holbrook as their list continues to gel, but unable to maintain the rage in the final term.
Make no mistake though, they’re out to cause havoc on the makeup of the top 6, if not sneaking in themselves.

Henty continued Howlong’s woes this season, bursting out of the gates with a 6 goal to 2 opener.
Things levelled out through the midgame, but another stern performance in the final term saw the Swampies home with the 4 points.

Meanwhile, Billabong proved little match for Osborne, succumbing to an 85 point onslaught after a competitive opener. The only sour note for the Tiges, spearhead George Alexander wearing a corked thigh & set to miss this week.

Goalkickers

🏉 Henty’s Shannon Terlich wound back the clock with a 9 goal, best-on display in the Swampies 27 point win over the Spiders.

🏉 Osborne’s Alexander (41), Jindera’s Trent Castles (40) & Holbrook’s Luke Gestier (33) hang on to the top 3 spots on the goalkicking table with 2 apiece.

🏉 Brooker Cody Hewat proved the difference in a tussle with the Maggies, his 5 guiding Holbrook to a 24 point win.

The Good - The Giants stepping up with a 5 goal to 1 final term, grinding out the W after going blow for blow with fellow contenders Jindera. Time to back it up though.

The Bad - The Saints goalkicking. Second game in a row it’s cost them dearly. Now anchored winless to the bottom, relying on an upset without a return match against the Lions.

The Ugly - The Power’s fadeout. Managed just 2 goals in the second half.
Might have prematurely given them a pass after their first month, but their average output against the other top 6 teams (so far) not yet hitting 55 points causes a rethink.

Match of the Round

Holbrook v RWW

An 8 point play here, winner takes pole in the fight for a top 2 finish.

Form: Holbrook (5-0) - RWW (3-2).

The Brookers dealt Osborne their only loss to date in R5, where Giants dropped the ball against Billabong that same week & had the misfortune of facing the Tiges on the rebound a week later.

Last Time: ‘23 Prelim - Brookers by 25 points

Tip: Giants by 1 point

"Ladder positions probably indicate that we need to win to play finals but that is not our primary focus at the moment"

Feeble tones from Barny co-coach Richie Blunden ahead of a do-or-die clash

The Headline

There’s just .3% separating Beechworth & Chiltern at the top of the table after the Swans let an opportunity slip against Rutherglen.
Granted their forward structure required a reshuffle in the absence of leading goalkicker Mark Doolan, plus Ethan Boxall, Jake Cooper & Luke Daly, but the 3 goal win saw them give up top spot narrowly.
Chiltern must capitalise at home to DMB this week, before monster Rounds 13 & 14 where the top 4 play off in likely the most important fortnight of footy to date this season.

Around the Grounds

Outside the expected hidings of DMB & Wahgunyah by Mitta & Barny respectively, Wodonga barely put up a whimper against Yack.
The Roos seemed relatively tame with a 4 goal opener, despite keeping the Saints goalless, but the floodgates opened thereafter with a crushing W.

Thurgoona reminded the top 4 to keep an eye over their shoulders, keeping pace with KSC in their 18 point loss for the majority of the game.
Fixing up their third quarter lapse (where they conceded 5.4 to 1.2) will see them cause many a headache in the run home & finals alike.

Goalkickers

🏉 Barny’s Jack Chesser & Sam Johnson combined for 16 majors - Chesser’s 9 shooting him to second on the table, just 5 behind the suspended Hopper James Breen.

🏉 Some of the TDFL boys must be deeply entrenched in the T20 World Cup, with Mitta’s Lincoln Reed, Yack’s Nick Donaghey & Judah Hood, Beechworth’s Brad Fendyk & Thurgoona’s Luke Gerecke all rolling the arm over for a spell - 6 majors each.

🏉 The Swan’s had to find another target up forward, luckily coach Brad Hibberson bobbed up with 3 to lead his side home.

The Good - Thurgoona matching it with KSC. We know the top 4 clashes will be elite, but the finals series looks a gem if the Doggies are competing too.

The Bad - Tallangatta seem lost without their focal point, only managing 4 goals against Beechworth. Should have been completely annihilated, if not for the Bushies inaccuracy.

The Ugly - 2.5 (17) for a 168 point loss. Yup, played Yack who are fighting it out for top 3, but the Saints being outscored by both Wahgunyah & DMB for the round’s lowest total is ordinary.

Match of the Round

Barny v Thurgoona

A Doggies win here sets them 2 games clear in the 5, while the Tiges can make it a battle of percentage for the final spot.

Form: Barny (2-3) - Thurgoona (3-2)

Form might be deceptive as Barny have come up against KSC, Yack & Beechworth for their 3 losses in the last 5 weeks, but Thurgoona slaughtered their last contender in Tallangatta by 81 points in R8.

Last Time: R18 ‘23 - Dogs by 17 points

Tip: Dogs by 29 points

“Lachie Kennett…Frazer Dent…James McClounan – if one doesn’t get you, somebody else will"

Greta coach Chris Dube on his sides star power

The Headline

How costly will his fortnight’s suspension prove for Bright’s Cooper Thomason in the goalkicking stakes?

Jumped by Bat Duane Haebich in the first week of his layoff, now Great’s Frazer Judd has turned a 6 goal deficit into a 9 goal lead, which’ll be difficult to reel in.

The Mountain Men will just be happy to see their spearhead return this week for their biggest clash yet.

Around the Grounds

King Valley kept North Wang at bay…for now.
The Roos avoided disaster, receiving a wake up call in the second term having conceded 4 goals to zip against Tarra, but steadied the ship from there to pile on the next 9 unanswered for a 54 point win.

Bright must have been given a similar rev up at the main break, reversing a 4 point deficit to take a 29 point lead into the final change before running out convincing winners over Goorambat.

Greta were never in doubt v Moyhu, nor Milawa against Benalla - but North Wang took until the second half to blow things open against Whorouly.

Goalkickers

🏉 Blue Frazer Judd snagged 11 against the Hoppers, pushing him 6 clear atop the league’s goalkickers on 61.

🏉 Dees Braydon Kearns (8), Jared Lea (7) & Brady Bartlett (6) proved far too much for the Panthers, combining for 21 majors.

🏉 Bright’s Mikka Paulson stepped up in the absence Thomason to bag 6.

The Good - North Wang doing what they must to stay in touch with the top 6. Have the percentage to jump King Valley already, & should receive another boost against Benalla this week while the Roos take another bye.

The Bad - Goorambat after half time. Showed they could match it with Bright, leading by 4 points at the main break, but managed just 3 goals to the Mountain Men’s 11 from that point.

The Ugly - 14, 13, 14, 17. Milawa’s quarter-by-quarter shots on against Benalla.

Match of the Round

Bright v Bonnie Doon

The Grand Final rematch - Both in the hunt again, retribution or domination on the line.

Form: Bright (4-1) - Bonnie Doon (5-0)

Bright returned lethargic from their R7 bye, scraping a 1 point win over the Hawks, but couldn’t find a way the following week against the surging Greta. Meanwhile, the Bombers look untouchable - but they’ve had the double bye, so will they return match fit?

Last Time: ‘23 Granny - Bombers by 18 points

Tip: Bombers by 32 points