Cougars on top, Westmeadows slips up

Essendon
Westmeadows Leigh Owen marks in front of Lucas Nardella. Picture Shawn Smits.

By Tara Murray

East Keilor has one hand on the minor premiership after beating Tullamarine in the top of the table Essendon District Football League division 1 clash.

With the teams entering the match equal on points, the winner would move one game clear with two rounds remaining.

Despite missing several stars, it was the Cougars that came out on top, winning 12.4 (76)-9.14 (68).

The Cougars had to do it the hard way, coming from 29 points down at three quarter time.

If not for some poor kicking by the Demons in the third quarter, the margin at the last break could have been a lot larger.

In the first three quarters, the Demons had 21 to seven scoring shots.

The Cougars kicked seven goals in the final quarter to run over the top of the Demons.

Jye King kicked four goals in the win for the Cougars, while Ryan Pretty and Brad Allen kicked two goals each for the Demons.

While the win moves the Cougars to one game clear on top of the ladder, the Demons have slipped to third behind Craigieburn.

The Eagles, who sit on the same points as the Demons, had an easy win against bottom side Oak Park.

The Eagles started well and had a match winning lead by half time. The margin was out to 91 points at the last break.

Things slowed in the final quarter once the game was over, with the Eagles winning 18.14 (122)-4.9 (33).

Eagles’ Nathan Perrone was named best on ground.

Hillside kept the finals door ajar with victory against Westmeadows.

A win by the Tigers would have sealed their finals berth, but while unlikely they would fall out of the four, there is still a mathematical chance.

Trailing for the first half, the Sharks hit the lead in the third quarter with a five goal to three quarter.

Essendon
Westmeadows’ Abdul Humid Saad. Picture Shawn Smits.

PHOTO GALLERY: Westmeadows vs Hillside

They were able to continue that in the final quarter, winning 11.17 (83)-9.7 (61).

Jackson Volpato and Michael Gillard were named best for their respective teams.

The Sharks sit two games and percentage outside the top four, with two rounds remaining.

West Coburg sits percentage behind Hillside.

The Burgers beat Taylors Lakes, 12.8 (80)-8.17 (65) in the other game.

In premier division, Greenvale smashed Airport West, 19.8 (122)-5.7 (37).

Laurence King kicked five goals for the Jets, with Nicholas Maric named best on ground.

The Jets sit fourth percentage ahead of Strathmore.