Round 5

“I think it's shown in the last couple of weeks when we can get it in, he can kick bags…he's nearly got the the best hands in the league, if not the best”

North Albury coach Tim Broomhead on Josh Minogue

Josh Minogue storms to the head of the Doug Strang with 11 majors against former Collingwood listed Darrean Wyatt in North's 131 point demolition of the Raiders.
He now sits 7 clear of Rovers Alex Marklew on 21, along with the Hoppers atop the ladder.

In further good news at Bunton, coach Tim Broomhead had signed on till the end of 2026 ahead of a season defining month for the Hoppers with the Rovers & Yarra, but it all starts in a massive ANZAC Day clash against a team they haven’t beaten since 2008 (28 matches) in Albury.

Sam Murray's move to the guts is proving a master stroke, showing up his former Collingwood team mate Tim Broomhead's 50 touches last week with 51 of his own this week in the Rovers 20 point win over Albury. Compounding the loss for the Tiges was a knee injury to Jay Hillary that will see him spending a stint on the sideline.

The Rovers coach will have to bring it again when they face a danger game against the Panthers.

A fast start wins the day for Lavi, kicking 5 goals to 2 in the opener but outscored from then on by Myrt.
Billy Glanville brilliant again for the Panthers, but the Saints will rue an inaccurate 2nd term, with 2.7 the major blight that could have turned the game in their favour.

A quick fix is needed by the weekend if they're any chance against a Wang outfit that no one wants to play, as both teams look to avoid an 0&5 start.

Heartbreak for the Maggies, falling 2 points short of their first win of the season after trailing Yarra by 5 goals at the half. Adding to the pain, star Dan Sharrock looks set to be sidelined for the season after doing his reconstructed knee, joining Pat Naish with a torn pec, Harry Hewitt & Brad Melville (test) with hammys.

Yarra head up river to face the Roos on Sunday where Damien Wilson will tackle his old mob for the first time.

Corowa stuck fat with Wodonga until the last break, showing signs that things might be starting to click. The Doggies finished strong though, with 7 goals to 3 and running away with it.

Roo Sam Dunstan bagged 5 for a second time this season, matched by the Doggy's Ethan Redcliffe, while Mick Driscoll went down in the first with a crook shoulder and didn't return, unlikely to feature when Wodonga head to Birallee for another big ANZAC Day clash.

“He arrived at the club with a big reputation and you can never be certain with full-forwards…It's not often a player just rocks up on your doorstep and can play”

Lockhart captain Abe Wooden on Ron Middleton

Late pickup Ronny Middleton is proving his quality after bagging another 6 to take an early lead in the goalkicking stakes, as Lockhart win big over Culcairn. With 39 scoring shots though, the end result could have been far more devastating for the Lions.

They'll need to improve drastically this week when they head to Henty, who got the better of Billabong by 34 points, while the Dees head to Rand to face their first big challenge in the Giants.

Interest in the RWW v Murray match. With the Giants ahead by a comfortable 57 points, the ump pulled up stumps 18 minutes into the final term. Fair chance it might be related to Magpie Cooper Taylor being reported for umpire abuse (did he really trip the ump?), offered a fortnight on the sidelines but challenging at the tribunal.

Without some luck, he'll miss this week's clash against Billabong & next away to Lockhart.

Osborne pull off a second consecutive 10 goal hit job of another contender in CDHBU, the major damage done in a 6 goal to zip final term with George Alexander & Myles Aalbers looking like they'll take a mountain of stopping, combining for 22 goals after R2.

In the Match of the Round, Joel Mackie will head back to his old stomping ground with the Doggies to take on a vastly different Tigers outfit than he led to a premiership last year. No surprise that he's got himself ripe to go for this one after missing the first 2 games.

Jindera led at every change, never really being challenged after quarter time as Howlong could only manage the 2 goals from that point. The Dog's Cooper Page found himself in the best again, joined by Sam Crawshaw and Ollie Browne, while Trent Castles bobbed up with another 4.

The Spiders should book their first W when they head to Burrum, who proved no match for Holbrook, while the Brookers will need to be on guard against a Power outfit keen on taking a big scalp.

"It's not often you see grown men cry but the win just meant so much after three years of pain”

Wahgunyah coach Chris Wallis

After more than 1000 days & 40 matches, Wahgunyah finds themselves on the winners list with a 9 point, salt of the earth type win over DMB.
Former AFL player Harley Bennell bobbed across from the West in a surprise selection, kicking 6 goals to help end the Lions drought.

The Bombers have themselves to blame, failing to convert their +6 scoring shots, and things will get a lot tougher this week when they host the Bushies, who dismantled Wodonga Saints by 140 points.

Tallangatta scraped through with a 1 pointer over Rutherglen. James Breen bagged another 5 to lead the goalkickers on 20, but Brownlow Medallist Swanny stole the show with a last term snag to put the game just out of reach of the Cats.

The Hoppers are now on the road to Eskdale, where they'll look to keep their unbeaten start alive against an undermanned Mitta.

KSC head down to Barkly Park after making light work of Mitta to the tune of 134 points. Dayle Martin & Nathan Vogel were in complete control in the middle, while Connor Newnham was clinical in execution with 8.

The Mountain Men have been without Jarrod Hodgkin (concussion protocols from R1), brother & coach Luke looking at an extended break with an elbow injury sustained against Wahgunyah & Jett Smith yet to take the field having picked up an ankle injury in the pre-season.

Chiltern took the game away from Barny in the first quarter, nearly outscoring the Tiges 4 quarter output in that term alone. BB imports Jeremy Luff & Ronnie Boulton did their piece, and Mitch Hemming continued on his merry way, in the best for the 3rd week running.

The Swans look to keep their unbeaten streak alive when they take on Thurgoona, while the Tiges will bounce back against the Saints.

Yack are on the board with their first win in a gutsy effort over Thurgoona. With scores tied at half time and a slender 1 goal lead at the final change, the 4th saw another tug of war where the Roos extended the final margin to 8 points.

They'll make it 2 from 2 when they welcome Wahgunyah.

What a finish!

Having come from 17 points down at the last break, Bomber Luke Murray found himself in the position all kids dream of, kicking to win the game.

With scored locked up very late in the piece, Murray was opposed by 2 Blues in a ruck contest around Doon’s 50 arch, earning him a free with the siren sounding as he went back off the mark. Any score would have got the result, but his aim was true, helping Bonnie Doon escape with a 6 point win over a shattered Greta.

The Bombers shouldn't have let it get to that point though, as they had an additional 6 scoring shots, but will happily bank the points as they head off to Milawa this week.

Milawa's defence held solid to restrict Tarra to 40 points and secure a 100+ win, despite losing the leadership of Ricky Petts for the season & Josh Owen also out injured, but Braydon Kearns found a chop out in the returning Josh Roman.

Bright kept Whorouly scoreless while putting 21.14 (140) on the board. The usual suspects in Declan Bren (6) & Cooper Thomason (5) doing the damage up forward with a solid supply all day.

The Lions face another tough day at the office when they take on a rampaging Goorambat, while Bright head to Whitfield.

Goorambat signalled their finals intent with another big win over North Wang. After an even contest in the first half, the Bats ran rampant from there on, slotting 14.11 whilst restricting the Hawks to 2.4.
Duane Haebich hit the board with 7, while Jamie Dunne found himself in the best with 3.

North head to Greta, where the Blues will be looking to bounce back with a vengeance.

King Valley flip the script and take away the points in a tight one, defeating Mohyu by under a kick. Ben Bray & Conner Shanley know how to take care of their spots in the middle, constantly hitting up co-coach Tony Ciancio who finished with 6 majors.

Mohyu will be looking to regroup when the host Benalla off the bye.

"They threw everything at us and kicked the last goal of the match and if we had to play another five minutes, we may have been in trouble”

Cudgewa co-coach Dayne Carey

Bullioh took it right up to Cudgewa with the same scoring shots but different outputs, as the Doggies fell by under a goal in stark contrast to their grandfinal humiliation. Blues co-coach Dayne Carey puts it down to zero praccie matches, but reckons things will definitely be closer this season.

Boom recruits Cam McNeill & Guy Telford (5 goal) had days out, while Grady Nigsh held Ash Murray goalless.

Tumba sit atop after finding their sights in the 3rd, having kick 4.11 until the half, but shaping with 10.3 from that point to run away from Corryong with a 46 point win.
Riverina veteran Dan Hitchens provided the main target up forward with 7 while Fynn Debono & Joe Holt were in the best.