DRAGONS WIN AFTER SIREN, SUNS REBOUND
A Jackson Viola behind after the fulltime siren has helped Sunshine Heights to a thrilling one-point win over Braybrook in Division 2 on the weekend.
Scores were tied at 90-90 before Violaā€™s set shot miss with the final kick of the game handed the visiting Dragons a 14.6 (90) to 13.13 (91) win in the Round 7 encounter at Pennell Reserve.
Braybrook were on top for most of the day thanks to the play of Jayden Danaher and Stephen Mihelakos-James (four goals), with the hosts leading by a game-high 32 points at the 19-minute mark of the third term.
However, Sunshine Heights would storm home kicking six of the gameā€™s last seven goals.
Four straight goals in as many minutes in the fourth quarter, the last courtesy of Tito Nyawela, put the Dragons ahead at the 17-minute mark of the final term before a Braybrook behind levelled the scores.
Viola would be the hero though, his attempt at a fourth goal of the afternoon just missed to the right, but was enough to get his side over the line.
With the result both teams are now 3-4 on the season with Braybrook sitting sixth on the ladder and Sunshine Heights one place behind them.
Albanvale survived a late scare against Western Rams to record a hard-fought 12.10 (82) to 11.9 (75) victory at home.
The Cobras led by 29 points at quarter time, but the Rams slowly closed the gap, cutting the margin to just seven points at the end of third term at Robert Bruce Reserve.
Back-to-back Rams goals and then a couple of behinds put the visitors ahead by a point in the final quarter, but their lead wouldnā€™t last long as Reece Field provided a response for Albanvale with his fourth goal and the gameā€™s final major seeing the Cobras home.
Joshua Green and Jacob Maschewski were Albanvaleā€™s best in their fifth win of the season.
Tyler Lewis (five goals) and Joshua Cassar were again the best performers for the Rams as they fell short of a second win with their second straight loss by less than two goals.
Wyndhamvale has again made light work of a finals contender downing West Footscray 19.16 (130) to 10.7 (67).
The Falcons held an 18-point advantage at the first change before stretching their lead over the next two quarters with Saad Ali, Cameron Morrison and Lewis Stanton all firing.
The Roosters won the fourth quarter with a five-goal final term their best quarter of the game, with Thomas Stelluto finishing with three majors.
Wyndhamvale’s Lewis Stanton passed 50 goals for the season after booting 10, his second double figure haul of the campaign.
North Footscray shored up second place on the ladder with a 50-point victory over Laverton.
The Magpies led by three points at quarter time, but the Devils gained the ascendancy in the second and never surrendered the lead from that point on.
The home team finished off the game by adding 11 goals to three over the final three quarters to triumph 13.16 (94) to 6.8 (44), Jarrod Johns and Jarrod Spry playing key hands along with Barny Sianos who kicked a season-high four goals.
Jordan Lynch and Corey Vandermeer were Lavertonā€™s best.
Meanwhile, Suns rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 23.17 (155) to 3.9 (27) win over neighbours Tarneit at Goddard Street Reserve.
The Suns extended their lead at every change as some unlikely goal kickers were the main contributors in attack with Mitch Laan and Joel Sagona finishing with five and four goals respectively.
Tarneit were best served by Callum Hillier and Kade Goricanec.