CATANI had an important percentage-boosting 124-point demolition of Buln Buln on Saturday.
The Lyrebirds were competitive in the first half and only trailed by 30 points at half-time, but had no answer to a nine-goal-third-term goal rampage by the Blues.
Ruckman-cum forward Phil Smith wreaked havoc amongst the Lyrebird defence with 11 goals, nine coming in a one-sided second half.
Classy Blues’ midfielder Antonio Benevenuto sharked plenty of the ball and used it constructively, half-back Fiatupu Too Too had a strong physical presence and often turned defence into attack with some surging runs forward.
Justin Evans, Kaine Wedlock and Andy Stockx also tallied up the possessions in and around the midfield.
The third-placed Catani stands nine per cent and four points behind second placed Cora Lynn and should the Cobras lose to Nilma in the final round this week and the Blues touch up Longwarry, then Catani still has a fair chance to snaffle second spot on the ladder.
Ever consistent Buln Buln ruckman Craig Kennedy was outstanding again, ruck-rover Mitch Nobelius fed off the packs all game and utility Grant McDonald played with his usual gusto.
The most salient sign to emerge from a Buln Buln perspective was the fine performance of young half-backs, Trent Baker and Dylan Hall, who both played in the thirds earlier in the day and look two players to keep a watch on.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Goon grinder
NAR Nar Goon went to Neerim Neerim South, switched on and piled on eight goals to one in the first quarter to have the game in its keeping before quarter time.
After leading by 49 points at the first change the Goon was in a merciless mood and went on win by 117 points.
Midfield dynamo Matt Wade cropped up more than 40 possessions and lent great support to coach Clint Williams, wingman Matt Stocco and Dean Kelly, the latter whose second efforts won plenty of admiration from inside the Goon camp.
Matt Slattery did well at the stoppages, ruckman Nick Mulcahy did some nice things a kick behind play and in defence Tom Hallinan was hard at the ball and did not waste any of his disposals.
Ben Scanlon steered through five goals and was the best of the Goon forwards, while small forward Josh Hodson played his best game since returning to the side after missing three months of football earlier this season.
Neerim was on the proverbial ropes early and simply never recovered.
Cam Hinkley and Chris Urie both picked up big numbers and at the defensive end Danny Sheehan and Sean Ladds held firm in the firing line.
Tysson Morrow made an impact kicking four goals and wingman Darren Ratten persevered all game.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Bulldogs bite
BUNYIP had its first win in seven weeks when it downed Nyora by 43 points.
The Bulldogs sealed victory in the first quarter when they kicked six goals and raced to a 26-point lead at the first change, but was made to scrap hard from then on.
The most pleasing sign for Bunyip was the form of its younger brigade.
Sam Davies held down centre half-back and three of his under-18 team-mates, midfielders Robbie Miglas, Jake Buckingham and Brad Wolfe, all made their debut and played with a confidence that belied their inexperience.
On-ballers Michael Whyte and Josh Taylor went in search of the ball all game and Robbie Dierickx (four goals) was the most productive forward on the park.
Nyora’s competitiveness was due to ruckman Daniel Morrison, who took 15 marks and many contested, while plucky rover Corey Wilson, half-back Brad Francis and wingman Aiden Cumberland and Adam Tagliaferro kept pumping the ball into the Saints’ 50-metre attacking arc all afternoon.
Half-back Brodie Yapp repelled many attacks and gave Saint supporters something to cheer about when he took the mark of the day in the third quarter.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Merciless Gulls
WARRAGUL Industrials crushed a listless Kooweerup by 96 points.
The Dusties looked to be in a genuine contest when only a point separated the two sides at quarter time, but thereafter the home side ran rampant, starting with seven unanswered second-quarter goals to take a 46-point stranglehold on the match points.
Jason Kennedy, Dom and Chris Larosa provided the Dusties engine room with plenty and the Demons found Danny Brewster a hard man to stop at centre half-forward.
Youngster Mitchell Dickason kicked four goals and his effort suggested he has a bright future and Nick Visser showed plenty of dash in the last of defence.
For Kooweerup, Dan Mullen and Jason Williams eked out many midfield possessions and the Demons were indebted to defenders Craig Dyker and Ben Miller for keeping the end margin to less than 100 points.
In the absence of Ryan Kitchin, Matt Cameron shouldered the brunt of the ruck work and did well, despite coming into the side under an injury cloud.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Bombers’ goal blitz
NILMA strolled home by 68 points against Ellinbank.
The Bombers put on devastating display in the first half notching 17 goals to reinforce why it has been installed as flag favourites.
Classy speedster Kael Bergles left his opponents chasing shadows with eight goals, seven of which came before the main break.
Ben Martin chimed in with seven goals and tall Seaford recruit James Quanchi was a brick wall in defence.
Improving youngster Rhett O’Hara engineered many telling forward moves and Sale midfield recruit Phil Harris wielded his influence in the second half.
Ellinbank salvaged respect with seven second-half goals to prevent the premiership favourites from chalking up yet another triple-figure point’s victory.
Small forward Coby Jolley troubled the Bombers’ defence with seven majors and a number of strong marks and opportunist goals, coach Jeremy Reid threw his body into many contests at centre half-back.
Kristian Bingham, Tom Johnson and Toby Wallace latched onto plenty of the ball midfield and Neil Parke and Adrian Burns used their experience well in defence.
The end margin represented a 117-point improvement on the flogging the Bankers received in round five.
