By Tara Murray
The Essendon District Football League division 1 relegation battle took another twist on Saturday, with Roxburgh Park upsetting Hillside.
After their most disappointing result of the season the previous week, which saw the Magpies sitting bottom, they bounced back with one of their best performances of the season.
After an even first quarter, the Magpies opened up a 24-point lead at half time against the Sharks.
The Magpies kicked away in the last quarter, with five goals to one, to run away with the 11.12 (78)-6.10 (46) win.
Luke Capuano and Jay Barbera kicked two goals each for the Magpies.
The win, the Magpies third of the season, is two more than Oak Park and one more than Taylors Lakes.
Roxburgh Park this week face Taylors Lakes in a very winnable game.
The Magpies win was one of two upsets in division 1 on Saturday, with West Coburg knocking off ladder leaders Tullamarine.
The Burgers got the jump early on the Demons, leading by 24 points at the first break.
The margin stayed around that mark all game, with the Burgers winning 10.11 (71)-7.9 (51).
The loss sees the Demons slip to second, behind East Keilor who had the bye on the weekend. Third and fourth placed Craigieburn and Westmeadows had good wins respectively against Taylors Lakes and Oak Park.
In premier division, Greenvale remains in the top four, despite its fourth loss in five matches.
On Saturday, the Jets lost to Maribyrnong Park 10.12 (72)-8.12 (60).
In the women’s premier competition, Craigieburn looks set to finish with the wooden spoon.
The Eagles face third-placed Sunbury Kangaroos and second-placed Keilor in the final two rounds.
Facing Pascoe Vale in a bottom of the table clash, it was the Panthers who got the win, 2.4 (16)-1.1 (7).
In division 1, Tullamarine’s finals hopes suffered a set back, losing to Moonee Valley, 5.6 (36)-1.0 (6).
The Demons sit a game outside the top five with two rounds remaining.
