Bulldogs muzzle top six in finals’ fight

By Ken Moore
BUNYIP is now firmly entrenched inside the top six and finals bound after a hard-fought 23-point victory over Longwarry on Sunday.
In a low-scoring game, four goals by powerhouse forward Ryan Brown coupled with tremendous drive from Stuart Edwards, Ryan McMillan and Robbie Lee played a big part in the Bulldogs victory.
Former captain Andrew Hobday played a fine game in defence and Stephen Henwood, with two vital goals, hinted he has a bright future.
For the Crows, Ken Towt, across half-back, seldom put a foot wrong, Matt Campbell, Brodie Rundell and Beau Ridgeway were busy midfield and Scott Hamilton did well and often outpointed Ryan Brown in one-on-one contests.
Ruckman Luke Tymensen did plenty of good tap work and had a bustling presence around the packs.
Cagey Garfield recruit Beau Runnalls was by far the most dangerous forward on the ground before he left the field late in the second quarter with a leg injury, which was a major blow for the Crows.
Longwarry went into the game undermanned, missing the Ablett trio of Royce, Alfie and Ray, along with captain Tye Holland and pacy wingman Danny Wells, which severely dented their chances of victory.
One-point gloom for Bankers
ELLINBANK is still stranded on the bottom of the ladder after it suffered a heart-breaking one-point loss to Kooweerup.
The Bankers looked set to record their first win of the season, but their hopes turned to despair when they watched a shot on goal by muscular Demon and Pines recruit Will Casey sail through the big sticks from 30 metres out with only 20 seconds to go.
This was the last meaningful possession of the game.
For Kooweerup, Daniel Mullen won plenty of hard-ball gets through the middle, Ben Miller was a focal target up forward and James Alexander was a steadying influence at both ends of the ground.
After Matt Cameron injured his knee early in the first quarter, Catani recruit Ryan Kitchen was thrown into the ruck on a regular basis and did well.
For the Bankers, midfielders Steve Ballingall, Ash Wallace and Josh Peterson put in sustained efforts and fed off the packs all game, while ruckman Ricky Johnson had a dip over all four quarters.
Solid win for Lang Lang
LANG Lang recorded a comfortable 30-point victory over Neerim Neerim South.
After an even first half, the Tigers found their rhythm in the third quarter and piled on five goals to turn a two-point lead into match-winning 29-point advantage at the last change.
Chris McCurdy showed he was learning the rucking trade quickly with another fine performance and there was a lot to like about another youngster Aaron Creasey, who was prominent across the half-forward flank and rounded off a good game with three goals.
Coach Clint Evans steered through four goals from the forward pocket and Rhys Nisbet and Corey Dowson kept the defence tight.
Daniel Barwick and Jake Dwyer offered plenty of impetus through the midfield.
For Neerim Neerim South its dynamo, Chris Urie was in the thick of the action all game, 16-year-old Jack Fallon bagged four goals and is a player to keep an eye on.
Tough midfielder Tyssen Morrow and never-say-die half-back Cameron Hinkley went hard at the ball all match and in the last line of defence Daniel Sheehan affected many timely spoils.
Dusties flog Saints
WARRAGUL Industrials trounced Nyora by 183 points.
The game was virtually all over by quarter time when the Dusties led by 43 points and held the Saints scoreless.
Warragul had a plethora of good players, led by Nick Visser, Dom and Chris Larosa, who all did as they liked through the middle.
Mick Santo (nine goals) gave his opponents the slip often, as did Danny Brewster, who steered through six majors.
Sixteen-year-old half-back Sean Lewis looks a top prospect and is enjoying his first taste of senior football over the past two weeks.
Nyora went into the game with a depleted line-up due to injury and suffered more injuries to Corey Wilson and Brad Francis during the game and finished with only 17 fit players.
Wingman Adam Tagliaferro covered plenty of ground for the Saints and in defence Daniel Barton, Darryl Clunes and Brad Frances tried hard to repel the continuing wave of attacks.
Matt Hutchinson (two goals) did well from limited opportunities and was the best of the Saint forwards.
Pies pile it on
POOWONG crushed Buln Buln by 50 points.
The Magpies flew out of the blocks with eight first-quarter goals and cruised to their best victory of the season.
Barry Wyatt, Beau Anthony and Matt Grant were never too far away from the action and powered the Poowong midfield all match.
Ben Hancock and Trevor Hooker presented well across the forward line and ruckman Connor Cunningham impressed and had a terrific tussle with his counterpart Craig Kennedy, who was also a valuable contributor for the Lyrebirds.
Buln Buln had an over reliance on midfielders Che Jenkins, Mitch Nobelius and wingman Jamie Taylor, but for a good deal of the match had too many bystanders.