Olinda bury tired Bulldogs

By Ben O’Brien,
WANDIN confirmed their status as the hardest side to catch in the YVMDFL when they went down to an impressive Olinda-Ferny Creek, 20.12 to 11.10.
The Bulldogs are struggling to escape the lower rungs of the ladder, having succumbed to both Belgrave and Olinda and must now sense that a rapid reversal of fortune is required if the side is to play finals this year.
In contrast, Olinda must now be eyeing off fifth place on the ladder, their victory on the weekend keeping them in touch.
The side currently occupying that spot, Woori Yallock, established a six goal lead over Mt Evelyn by half time, a lead they never really looked like surrendering, before running out comfortable 49 point victors. Tim Williamson kicked five goals in a best-on-ground performance, and his effort was matched at the other end of the ground with five from Sam Thiele.
In the clash between two sides at the upper end of the ladder, Silvan hosted Monbulk in a replay of the 2005 grand final, and the result (eventually) was similar – 43 points in favour of the Hawks.
The game shaped as a shootout, with the quarter time scoreboard reading 6.0 to 5.1, in the Cats’ favour, but Silvan could not maintain that intensity over the remainder of the match, with Monbulk’s depth across the ground eventually having a telling effect.
The win keeps Monbulk in touch with the undefeated Upwey-Tecoma, and sets the stage for a cracker of a match this week between Monbulk and third-placed Healesville, who had a percentage-boosting away win over Belgrave, by 17 goals.
Jye Conrau’s good form in front of goal continued, with 11, keeping him on track to kick the ton in the home/away season.
The final match in the Compass Group first division saw Upwey account for Gembrook-Cockatoo in bizarre circumstances, with the match abandoned at half-time, due to the fog that reduced visibility to 15 metres. The officials score: 10.7 to 4.8, in favour of the Tigers.
The Commodore Press Second Division saw all home sides, bar one, get over the line. South Belgrave returned to the winners’ list, with a comfortable victory over Emerald, but with percentage likely to play a role in determining the all-important fourth place on the ladder, the Saints would not have been happy to let the Bombers kick eight goals in the last quarter to add some respectability to their total. Both Alex Bakens and Aaron Moss kicked seven goals for South, while Wes Wright was best for Emerald.
Alexandra managed to reverse the result of their first meeting against local rival Thornton-Eildon, getting up by a determined 27 points. Ageless George Steiner and Scott Rowan led the way up forward with three goals apiece, in a victory vital to the Rebels’ finals’ hopes.
Yarra Junction had too much talent for the improving Yarra Glen to handle, but the Thunder were not disgraced, losing 12.9 to 19.10.
With Thornton-Eildon dropping the game to Alexandra, the gap between second and third (Junction) has now narrowed to one game, but the bad news for Eagles supporters is they take on the undefeated Warburton-Millgrove this week, who recorded a solid victory over Seville, with Muccitelli kicking nine goals – an even dozen will give him the ton this week.