Dogs one step closer

■ North Heidelberg have taken another enormous leap towards solidifying a top five spot in the NFNL Division 1 competition, following a 28-point triumph over Hurstbridge at Shelley Street Reserve.

The Bulldogs were hungry for the ball throughout the first half, and it showed through their many scoring opportunities inside 50. Hurstbridge were able to meet the intensity of the game until the Bulldogs scraped away in the final stages for a 17.8 (110) to 12.10 (82) victory.

North Heidelberg now jump into fourth spot and with Montmorency and Greensborough being the only current top five sides they still need to face; it puts them in a great position to secure a first finals berth since 2019.

Hurstbridge meanwhile drops back out of the top five but are still well and truly in the finals hunt.

Hamish Murphy and Liam Hunt were the marquee players for the Bulldogs across the ground, with their entries up forward setting the tone for the team’s attack.

While Cooper Bugeja and Brodie White helped retain possession and apply needed pressure that saw them among the Bulldogs best, accompanying a five-goal game from Majak Daw.

Hurstbridge were helped by the likes of William Cookson, Blake Fitzgerald and Jake Richards, who were all dangerous around the ball, opening up the rest of their side to operate well.

Their main target was found in Joel Naylor, who booted five goals on the day to lift his side every time when they needed a consistent response in scoring.

After a trade off in goals to start the match, Hurstbridge took hold of an early lead thanks to majors from Naylor and Harry O’Brien.

Daw started his goal kicking campaign for the Bulldogs with a major from set distance, while Kieren Jacksic quickly followed with one of his own to tie scores up.

The start of the second term matched how the previous one ended, with Daw kicking true after another big leap, claiming his third of the day to snatch the lead back.

Kicking against the heavy wind conditions played a factor in Hurstbridge’s attack up the ground, resulting in a goalless quarter as their execution of kicks fell back into the opposition hands.

Jhye Baddeley-Kelly found the big sticks for North Heidelberg, breaking their scoring drought as Brock Chircop would also rise up with a major to help Jason Heatley’s men establish a com-

Goulburn Murray

Junior Football

manding 23-point lead at the main break. After a talk from Joel Cordwell and a switch of sides, Hurstbridge quickly stormed back into the scoring column with goals by Jacob Smith and Mitchell Hymus reducing the lead to 11-points.

However, the Bulldogs quickly adjusted back into their brand of football that led to a chain of goals from Baddeley-Kelly, Billy Hogan and Chircop that pushed the lead back out to 30-points.

The quick movement of the ball and the dominance from midfield started to overwhelm the Hurstbridge backline but they would eventually find relief from Caelan Anderson after his goal in set shot fashion.

However, the momentum of the game was quickly shifted back to the Bulldogs , after a goal from Cooper Bugeja bended with the wind and a soccer goal from Brodie White again pushed the lead out to 35 points.

With the scoreboard against them, Joel Cordwell’s men stormed the opening of the final term with a plethora of goals from Bailey Jordan, Liam Middleton and Naylor to reduce the deficit down to 17-points.

A goal from Mitchell Dillon would settle the nerves of Bulldogs fans before White added a second major to again put North Heidelberg in the hot seat to run away with the game.

But the fight from Hurstbridge was still there and did not shy away thanks to Jordan and Naylor converting on their majors that kept the margin to within three goals.

Minutes before the final siren, Daw would once again step up in the forward line thanks to the midfield’s quick clearances. He would capitalise by kicking two thumping goals that put the final nail in the coffin of a 28-point victory.

Outer East

Junior Football

Julian Janev was able to provide plenty of run in the middle for the Saints and presented an option for Watsonia’s transition play off half back.

Kicking with the wind in the first quarter, it took less than a minute for the Saints to produce a shot on goal. Charbel Khoury kicked the first major of the match and from the outset, the visiting side looked cleaner with their possession, whereas St Mary’s looked more sporadic with ball in hand resulting in turnovers.

Adrian Alfonsi unloaded a bomb from inside the square as he wheeled around on his right foot and Watsonia suddenly had two on the trot in this important contest.

William Dean responded with a classy snap for the hosts, as they looked to settle into the match.

Helping them do so was Green who was busy from the get-go, floating between full back and centre half back. He was crucial in racking up contested marks in defence but also positioning himself smartly, creating turnovers from the opposition.

But Lucente still found a way to produce two majors to help Watsonia take a 17-point lead into the first change.

A nice goal from Joshua Carelli on a tight angle looked to create a spark for the Burra in the beginning of the second term.

That spark grew courtesy of Nicholas Brennan who produced the goal of the day. After pilling a mark on the flank, he followed up by grabbing the ball and kicking across his body from 40 meters out, kicking the hosts third of the match.

A major soon after from Rory Hanlon suddenly put Fabian Carelli’s men in front 15 minutes into the quarter.

The goals kept coming for the Burra, Jeremiah Antypas slotted through his first of the afternoon with a thumping kick from outside 50 to widen the margin, before slotting an easier shot moments later.

Tane Cotter’s second made it seven consecutive majors for St Mary’s who looked incredibly strong over their opponents and despite a late Daniel Annetta goal for the visitors, the Burra were in total control with a 17-point half time advantage.

It wouldn’t be long before Watsonia attempted a comeback. The dangerous Janev kicked the Saints’ sixth of the game, before later setting up Kobe Van Zwienen who boomed through a major from 55 metres out to give Watsonia two on the trot.

James Lucente quickly got involved again as the goals started to fall.

Despite Mitchell Green’s best efforts in the defensive half for the hosts, his side trailed onepoint at the final break.

With the wind in their backs, the Burra were quick to re-create their brilliant second quarter efforts.

They produced nine of the last 11 majors of the game, kicking five goals in the first 10 minutes of the term to extinguish any chance of a fightback from the Saints.

Nicholas Dean was able to add to his tally of the afternoon with a quick goal from a great contested mark 45 metres out to give St Mary’s the lead with the wind at their backs.

It was a statement making two terms from the Burra, who kicked 16 goals with the wind in their backs compared to eight from the Saints.

- Hamish Phillips/NFNL

Creek 1.2 (8). Wesburn 4.5 (29) d Upwey-Tecoma 2.3 (15). Seville 17.13 (115) d Woori Yallock 0.0 (0). Healesville 7.1 (43) d Gembrook-Cockatoo 4.2 (26). Yarra Glen 6.13 (49) d Mt Evelyn 1.5 (11). Belgrave: Bye.

Under 13 Mixed Yarra. Olinda-Ferny Creek 7.8 (50) d Monbulk 2.5 (17). Mt Evelyn 17.13 (115) d Emerald 0.0 (0). Healesville 3.6 (24) d Upwey-Tecoma 2.2 (14). Woori Yallock: Bye.

Under 14 Girls. Emerald 13.8 (86) d Seville-Yarra Glen 0.0 (0). Upwey-Tecoma 1.2 (8) drew with Belgrave 0.8 (8). Mt Evelyn Maroon 3.2 (20) d Healesville 2.1 (13). Wesburn 5.8 (38) d Olinda-Ferny Creek 0.0 (0). Mt Evelyn White: Bye.

Under 15 Boys Ranges. UpweyTecoma 7.18 (60) d Emerald 5.3 (33). Wandin 13.7 (85) d Mt Evelyn 1.0 (6). Healesville 6.5 (41) d Yarra Glen 5.7 (37).

Under 15 Boys Yarra. Healesville 12.5 (77) d Monbulk 9.5 (59). Olinda-Ferny Creek 8.3 (51) d Gembrook-Cockatoo 3.7 (25). Wandin 6.10 (46) d Woori Yallock 5.5 (35). Mt Evelyn 10.14 (74) d Emerald 7.6 (48). Upwey-Tecoma 16.8 (104) d Wesburn 3.1 (19).

Under 16 Girls. Monbulk 5.10 (40) d Wesburn 1.1 (7). Mt Evelyn 10.9 (69) d Yarra Glen 0.3 (3). Healesville 3.2 (20) d Belgrave 2.4 (16).

Under 17 Boys. Mt Evelyn 9.5 (59) d Olinda-Ferny Creek 4.6 (30). Woori Yallock 17.13 (115) d Wandin-Yarra Glen 2.2 (14). Monbulk 10.5 (65) d Seville 6.9 (45). Healesville 18.19 (127) d Gembrook-Cockatoo 5.3 (33). Upwey-Tecoma: Bye.

Outer East

Junior Netball

■ 17 And Under Premier Division. Seville 52 d Olinda-Ferny Creek 5. Berwick 35 d Mt Evelyn 9. Narre Warren 59 d Wandin 11. Pakenham, 41 d Beaconsfield 26. ROC: Bye.

17 and Under Blue. Alexandra 14 d Broadford 10. July 15: Warburton-Millgrove v Powelltown. Yarra Junction: Bye.

17 and Under White. Pakenham 26 d Beaconsfield 17. Narre Warren 32 d ROC 20. Berwick: Bye.

15 and Under Blue. Beaconsfield 25 d Pakenham 13. Narre Warren 24 d ROC 18. Berwick: Bye.

15 and Under White. Beaconsfield 27 d Pakenham 11. Narre Warren 34 d ROC 25. Berwick 25 d Hampton Park 14.

13 and Under Blue. Pakenham 12 d Beaconsfield 3. ROC 32 d Narre Warren 21. Berwick: Bye.

13 and Under White. Pakenham 25 d Beaconsfield 9. ROC 33 d Narre Warren 17. Hampton Park 11 d Berwick 8.