Thornton finish on top

By Ben O’Brien
THE Commodore Press Division Two home and away season has now been run and won – the real season starts this week.
As expected, Thornton-Eildon did what they had to do in the final round to claim top spot, on percentage, from neighbours Alexandra, finishing the season with a 13-3 record.
The Shinboners travelled to Yarra Junction and, after an even first half, blew the Eagles away in the second, with 15 goals to five to win 23.9 to 12.6. Ryan Hall kicked five goals to claim the goalkicking title with 69 goals, two ahead of Yarra Glen’s Dean Selkrig.
That result, and Yarra Glen managing to win against Seville, saw Junction finish fifth, two points adrift of Yarra Glen, in fourth.
After a lean month, the Thunder finally got back on the winners’ list, with a hard-fought 26-point win over a determined Seville. The home team had established a 21-point lead by half time, and kept the Blues at arm’s length for the rest of the day – David Watt was best afield.
Emerald finished the season on a positive note, with a big win over Powelltown. Brook Kennedy and Stanford Wanganeen each kicked six goals, while Bowen Strahan was the Demons’ best player.
In the round’s clash of local rivals, Belgrave eventually accounted for South Belgrave by 18 points, after being outscored by the Saints in the second half. With a qualifying final this week, the Magpies would have been looking for a solid hit-out and South obliged.
Bilston and McArthur (6 goals) were best for the victors, while Tim Mellett and Isaac Tua did likewise for the Saints, who finished in seventh place, 3 games outside the five.
In the Compass Group Division One, Healesville, after threatening in recent weeks, finally claimed the scalp of a side above them, in Upwey-Tecoma.
The signs weren’t good for the Tigers as early as the second quarter, and they could only manage one goal for the entire second half, while their hosts piled on an even dozen to win by 92 points.
Simon Gordon and Mark Reilly each got five goals, while BOG Luke Barclay managed to shut down Vincent Muccitelli, who could only manage three. With the two sides playing each other in an elimination final in two weeks, the win could not have come at a better time for the Bloods.
In the clash of second against third, Woori Yallock’s straight kicking saw them overcome a sluggish start to account for Monbulk by 40 points. A nine goal second term, against quality opposition, demonstrated again that they will be a force in September, with a possible grand final preview this week, when they play the ladder leaders in Silvan.
The Cats travelled to Gembrook, and, as has often been the case this year, had too much talent for the opposition to cover. Despite the 141-point margin, the Brookers were not disgraced, and have shown over the last couple of weeks that there is something to work with in 2008.
Olinda just racked up their second win of the year, largely due to straight kicking: 15.8.98 to Mount Evelyn’s 13.16.94. Little separated the sides all day, but a six-goal to three third term proved decisive in the final analysis.
Veteran Heath Thompson was best for the victors, while Matt Whitehead’s eight goals for the Rovers saw him the dominant forward on the ground.
In the final match of the round, Nick Brisbane kicked 11 goals to lead Wandin to a comprehensive win over Warburton-Millgrove, 25.18.168 to 13.13.91. Not surprisingly, those 11 goals were also enough to secure him best afield honours – he now has 53 for the year.
Division Two finals this week (Sunday): – Kilsyth (9.30 start): Belgrave v Emerald (Under 18), Alexandra v Yarra Junction (Reserves), Alexandra v Belgrave (Seniors); Warburton (10.15 start) – South Belgrave v Seville (Under 18), Thornton-Eildon v Emerald (Reserves), Yarra Glen v Yarra Junction (Seniors).