FALCONS FIRE EARLY WARNING IN OPENING ROUND
Wyndhamvale has sent an early message to its rivals in the Division 2 Senior Men’s competition with a comfortable opening round win over finals hopefuls the Suns.
Played under lights at Goddard Street Reserve the match pitted two of last year’s finals participants head-to-head, but at the end of the night it was the Falcons who proved their premiership credentials with a 12.14 (86) to 6.3 (39) victory over the home side.
Holding Suns to a single behind in the opening stanza Wyndhamvale went ahead early and established a 29-point buffer at the first change.
The hosts reduced the margin to 25 points with three goals in the second quarter, but the Falcons then stretched its lead back out with three goals of their own in the third.
From their it was smooth sailing for the visitors as Lewis Stanton finished the match with six majors in his first game as a Falcon, while Jack Tessari was named best on ground.
Suns recruit Matthew Wright was the top performer for the home team while Dean Cachia kicked three goals.
After a busy offseason North Footscray started their 2024 campaign with a win defeating Braybrook by 16 points at Hansen Reserve.
In a high scoring first quarter the Devils piled on seven goals to open up an 18-point lead and then held the Brookers goalless in the second to extend their advantage to 35 points at the half.
The hosts looked to have put the game to bed in the third with a four goal to one term, however Braybrook had other ideas and produced their best quarter of football in the last.
Their seven final quarter goals made a dent in the deficit, but the result was never in doubt for the Devils who held on to triumph 14.13 (97) to 12.9 (81).
Samuel Gunesekera was brilliant for North Footscray, while Sam Serafin kicked four goals as did Stephen Mihelakos-James to be Braybrook’s best.
West Foostcray got their season underway with a first-up victory over Laverton.
After trailing at quarter time at Skinner Reserve the Roosters took a six-point lead into the main break courtesy of some strong play from Jaycob Doyle and Samuel Hall.
A six goal third term put the home side 26 points up ahead of the last and before finishing well to come away 16.12 (108) to 11.5 (71) winners.
Thomas Stelluto tallied a game-high five goals for the Roosters while recruits from both sides also contributed in attack with Giovanni Raffele (West Footscray) and James Sadler (Laverton) each kicked four goals.
Sunshine Heights claimed an opening round win over Western Rams in a high scoring encounter at Ainsworth Reserve.
Elliot Rosado and Jacob Poa starred for the Dragons while the home team finished the day with five multiple goal kickers, the best of them Wilson Hylton who bagged five.
For the Rams Jarryd Underwood continued his goal kicking form from last season finishing with four majors, while Tyler Lewis carried over his strong form from 2024 with a best on ground showing for the visitors.
Meanwhile, Albanvale was too good for a rebuilding Tarneit with the Cobras recording a 28.26 (194) to 3.1 (19) win.
After an encouraging start to the game for Tarneit the visitors piled on 16 goals to none in the second half to make light work of the Titans at Wootten Road Reserve.
Reece Field with six goals and Kade Bellingham and recruit Maccauley Lonergan (both five majors) did the damage for Albanvale, while Connor Le Noury and Jayden Smithers battled hard for the home team.