MEN’S DIV ONE
MORNINGTON celebrated a win for the ages on Saturday, saving themselves from relegation and casting Frankston Bombers into division two. Sitting comfortably last on the MPFNL division one ladder, their final match of the season was against Red Hill, and it was a must-win for the Bulldogs. They fought hard all day and went into quarter time four points up and then into the long break with a seven-point lead.
After that, it all fell apart for Mornington and relegation seemed a foregone conclusion. Red Hill came out in the third quarter and decimated the Bulldogs. They kicked 6.7 to two goals straight. Thirteen scoring shots to two. Red Hill went into three quarter time with a 22-point lead. Then something happened. The stuff of legends. Mornington peppered their goal in the final term, and things started to turn. It wasn’t pretty. In fact, in the final quarter they missed the big sticks seven times and only notched up three majors. But they also kept Red Hill, who the quarter before had packed on 41-points, scoreless.
With five minutes to go, Mornington hit the front by a point. They held off Red Hill, scoring two more minor scores in the dying minutes, to grab a three-point win at the final siren. The final tally being Mornington 11.9 to Red Hill’s 10.12.
Mornington celebrated in the clubrooms like they had just won a flag, but what they had done was secure their place in division one in 2025.
While Mornington celebrated their win, Frankston Bombers suffered a defeat at the hands of Sorrento and will be playing division two in 2025. Sorrento had the upper hand all day playing on their home turf. The Sharks had a 14-point margin at quarter time and 15-point margin at half time. They managed to stretch it out at three quarter time, but really let the Bombers have it in the final quarter. Sorrento piled on 6.5 in the last quarter to 2.1 by the Bombers, leaving Frankston 51-points down at the final siren.
Underperforming all year, Langwarrin put in another dismal performance on Saturday against ladder leaders Dromana. Langwarrin managed to put a few on the board in the first quarter and had 15 points at the first break to Dromana’s 37. But scoring became a distant memory for the Kangaroos as they failed to score in the second quarter, and only managed two minor scores in the third. In the meantime, a clinical display by Dromana, who had the support of Olympic bronze medallist Caitlin Parker in the crowd, had amassed a 104-point lead at three quarter time.
The final quarter was more of the same, although Langwarrin did manage two majors. The final score was a decimation. Dromana scored 22.12 to Langwarrin’s 4.7. Langwarrin ended up with the same points as Frankston Bombers and only avoided relegation by percentage.
It was a walk in the reserve for the Redlegs as they held sway at home over Pines. The first quarter was 30 points to eight in Mt Eliza’s favour and the second quarter saw them 25 points up at the main break. After a steady climb in the third quarter, Mt Eliza piled them on in the final with 6.6, and heading to the showers with a 72-point win.
Mt Eliza will now face Frankston YCW in next week’s qualifying final.
The Stonecats will have to improve if they want to beat Mt Eliza after a disappointing game against Rosebud.
Rosebud came out firing in the first two quarters and went into the long break with a 42 to 13 lead against the Stonecats.
Frankston YCW managed to put the brakes on Rosebud in the second half and they only managed two more minor scores for the rest of the game, but while holding them at bay, they didn’t manage to get enough score on the board to take the game. When the final siren sounded, Rosebud had a six point lead. Rosebud will now face Red Hill next week in the elimination final to see who stays in the contest for 2024 premiers.
MEN’S DIV TWO
IT was the first week of finals in division two, and while ladder leaders Edithvale-Aspendale sat it out, two matches began to shape the outcome for the year. Chelsea came up against Devon Meadows in the qualifying final to see who would take on Edi-Asp next week. The game started out as a tight tussle, with teams level at 3.3 each at the first break.
The second term was akin to an execution, with Chelsea putting on nine majors to one to take a 47-point lead into half time. Not much changed in the third quarter before Chelsea put Devon Meadows to the sword again in the final quarter with another nine-goal term. The final score was Cheslea 23.13 to Devon Meadows 6.8. A 107-point drubbing for a team that needs to improve against Somerville next week to stay in the finals.
Speaking of Somerville, they faced Pearcedale in the elimination final on Saturday and put in a solid performance.
They had the better of Pearcedale from the first bounce and led all day. The final score was Somerville 17.16 to Pearcedale’s 10.15
NEXT WEEK’S GAMES
DIVISION ONE MENS
Saturday 24 August, 2.15pm:
Mt Eliza v Frankston YCW. Qualifying Final – Baxter Park
Sunday 25 August, 2.15pm:
Red Hill v Rosebud. Elimination Final – Emil Madsen Reserve
DIVISION TWO MENS
Saturday 24 August, 2.15pm:
Edithvale-Aspendale v Chelsea. Semi-final two – RJ Rowley Reserve
Sunday 25 August, 2.15pm:
Devon Meadows v Somerville. Semi-final one – Chelsea Recreation Reserve
First published in the Mornington News – 20 August 2024
