News

From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

SEVERAL Melbourne-listed players were among the best performers in Sandringham's impressive 11-goal win against Port Melbourne at Port yesterday.

 
Nathan Brown and Chris Johnson were particularly prominent and must be a chance for promotion after the Demons' 49-point loss to Richmond on Friday night.

Matthew Whelan, Brad Miller, Michael Newton (three goals), Simon Buckley and Colin Garland were other Melbourne players to stand out against Port.

Sandy didn't score a goal in the first term but then rattled on six, seven and seven in the next three quarters in an awesome display of power and teamwork.

The Zebras had been a bit wobbly in recent weeks but are now firm favourites to win their fourth straight flag.

"I wouldn't say a stumble, but we had to re-focus," Sandringham coach Mark Williams said.

"Port are a good side, so we were happy to beat them by that much. We were very happy the way we finished the game.

"The really pleasing thing is we did what we really focused on during the week, that we had been playing a bit selfishly.

"We made sure we came to play this week and the focus was fantastic."

Williams was pleased with the contribution of the Melbourne players.

"Buckley, Whelan, Brown, Johnson, Garland were all fantastic . . . Newton," he said.

Of Sandy's VFL-listed players, half-forward Ezra Poyas kicked six goals for the Zebras and defender Andy Biddlecombe checked Port forward Jeremy Dukes.

Port defender John Mulhuisen managed to restrict prolific goal scorer Nick Sautner to just one goal.

WILLIAMSTOWN coach Brad Gotch was chuffed by his side's seven-point win at Werribee yesterday in a nail-biting finish.

"They have a trophy (contested between the clubs) and we have won it down here only three times in 17 years," Gotch said.

"It's always hard to win there, so we were really pleased."

Forward Paul Medhurst was back in form for the Seagulls with four goals and 12 marks and youngster Ben Reid took 10 marks.

Werribee coach Simon Atkins said that Western Bulldogs' veteran Chris Grant, returning from injury, had pulled up well.

Grant, who played key defence and also went forward a bit, played most of the game and finished with about 15 possessions.

CASEY Scorpions pulled off another upset with a 16-point win at Bendigo yesterday against the Bendigo Bombers.

"They had a high representation of Essendon players," Scorpions coach Peter Banfield said.

"To win up there is difficult but our form has been all right. I was very happy.

"Kyle Matthews (winger) was terrific for us. We knew we had to match them in the midfield.

"Matt Maguire pulled out, it was decided to give him another week.

"We will get a few players back in the next few weeks."

FRANKSTON bounced back into the fight for the eight with a 31-point away win against the Box Hill Hawks, with clever forward Justin Berry kicking three goals.

"(Coburg midfielder) Greg Tivendale was the difference last week when we lost, it was a more even contribution this week," Dolphins coach Brett Lovett said.

"The forward line held the ball in well. We are still in the hunt, we have the next two games at home and we have to make the most of that."

JOSH Houlihan booted six goals for the Northern Bullants in their 41-point win against Tasmania yesterday.

"We were pretty ordinary in the first half. Tassie were in front, they had a few out and it was at home," Bullants coach Barry Mitchell said.

Adam Hartlett, in defence, had 16 kicks, 10 marks and 10 handballs.

NORTH Ballarat had a 20-point home win against Coburg on Saturday.

Richmond ruck Troy Simmonds, returning after a long break from injury, had 11 possessions in about 60 minutes.

Kangaroo Leigh Harding returned for North Ballarat in the reserves after major knee surgery and had 12 possessions on a wing.