The tenth round of the TAC Cup produced many interesting and close games as the Northern Knights defeated the Sandringham Dragons by eight points in the opening match. If that match wasn’t close enough, the Rebels knocked off the Pioneers by a goal and the Falcons managed to hold on by three points against a determined Western Jets outfit. Unfortunately the Gippsland Power didn’t get the memo, ruthlessly belting the Calder Cannons with Josh Scott booting another seven goals. In the Sunday game, Eastern Ranges came from behind to knock off the Dandenong Stingrays at Shepley Oval in what wrapped up a close round ten.

TAC Cup: round ten

Sandringham Dragons 11.8 (74)
Northern Knights 13.4 (82)

Dragons goals: Cathcart (2), Langdon (2), Smith (2), Hurst, Landman, Cumming, McGowan, Grange
Knights goals: Hunt (2), Bontempelli (2), Bowkett (2), Bromley (2), Porter, McDonald, Haynes, Doherty, Grimes
Dragons best: Grace, Landman, Whitehead, Munro, Macleod, Maynard
Knights best: Haynes, Turner, Hunt, Switkowski, Soccio, Porter

Northern Knights have secured a crucial victory over fellow top eight side the Sandringham Dragons, defeating them by eight points at Warrawee Park. Matthew Haynes turned it on as did his partner in crime Joshua Turner in a tight contest throughout the match. Liam Hunt was also impressive for the Knights booting two goals as did a host of other Knights while Callum Cathcart, Tom Langdon and Nathan Smith all were multiple goal scorers for the Dragons. Hayden Whitehead was crucial in defense while Taylor Grace was the most influential midfielder for the Dragons in the loss. Sandringham now face a tough road trip to play Gippsland while the Northern Knights host the Dandenong Stingrays at Preston.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Matthew Haynes (Northern Knights)
4- Joshua Turner (Northern Knights)
3- Hayden Whitehead (Sandringham Dragons)
2- Taylor Grace (Sandringham Dragons)
1- Liam Hunt (Northern Knights)

North Ballarat Rebels 11.11 (77)
Bendigo Pioneers 10.11 (71)

Rebels goals: Willsmore (3), Hooper (2), Butler (2), Cassidy, Herbert, Bell, Mackay
Pioneers goals: Harvey (2), Connelly, Helman, Mangan, Miller, Chisari, Hywood, Evans
Rebels best: Webster, Crouch, Weightman, Herbert, Bennett, Butler
Pioneers best: Miller, L. Barrett, Chisari, Byrne, Payne, Mangan

In a battle of the cellar dwellars, the North Ballarat Rebels earned a hard fought victory over the Bendigo Pioneers, reversing the result from earlier in the season. Dallas Willsmore was strong up forward booting three goals while Louis Herbert and Matt Crouch were busy as always. In his first game back from a month out, Matt Crouch collected 33 disposals and was his usual self while for the Pioneers, Isaiah Miller and Jacob Chisari were always giving it their all. Next week the Rebels travel to Craigieburn to face the Falcons while the Pioneers host the Murray Bushrangers.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Dallas Willsmore (North Ballarat Rebels)
4- Isaiah Miller (Bendigo Pioneers)
3- Louis Herbert (North Ballarat Rebels)
2- Jacob Chisari (Bendigo Pioneers)
1- Matt Crouch (North Ballarat Rebels)

Western Jets 9.10 (64)
Geelong Falcons  10.7 (67)

Jets goals: Payne (3), Iaccarino (2), Norton, Hickey, Greiser, Viojo, McKenzie
Falcons goals: Boag (3), Beardsell (2), Donne, Thompson, Crawley, Bourke, Bright
Jets best: Ferrari, Iaccarino, Menadue, Sicily, Viojo, McKenzie
Falcons best: Taylor, Cameron, Bourke, Sharp, Hickey, Davis

The Geelong Falcons survived an almighty scare from the Western Jets, defeating the young side by three points and avoiding a second consecutive defeat. The Falcons maintain top spot on the back of some fantastic work from Lewis Taylor, Nic Bourke and Jacob Sharp while David Iaccarino and James Sicily were impressive for the losers. Matthew Boag again stamped his credentials as a worthy pickup booting three goals while Brenton Payne booted three majors for the Jets. The Falcons face the lowly North Ballarat Rebels this week while the Western Jets face Eastern Ranges at Box Hill City Oval.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Lewis Taylor (Geelong Falcons)
4- Nicholas Bourke (Geelong Falcons)
3- David Iaccarino (Western Jets)
2- Jacob Sharp (Geelong Falcons)
1- James Sicily (Western Jets)

Calder Cannons 11.11 (77)
Gippsland Power 16.18 (114)

Cannons goals: Wright (3), Prestia (2), Christensen (2), James, Cooke, Cauchi, Bonello
Power goals: Scott (7), Carr (2), Saunders (2), Rees, Cunico, Russell, Paredes, Pattison
Cannons best: Goodyear, James, Wright, Christensen, Kovacevic, Prestia
Power best: Carr, Scott, Mustoe, Nash, Muir, Morris

Gippsland Power travelled up the highway to face the Calder Cannons at Highgate Rec Reserve in perfect conditions for footy, and the Power got out to a quick start with Josh Scott kicking his first goal of many that afternoon. In a tough physical game, the Power were challenged at different times by the Cannons, but they prevailed through good ball use and tackling pressure. The Power used a big second half to help close out the gallant Calder side, who had to deal with one of the premier forwards in the TAC Cup in Josh Scott, who finished with seven majors for the afternoon, Alex Carr also showed his skills with a classy 31 possession game. The Power now head back to Morwell on Saturday to face the Sandringham Dragons, with the Cannons coming up against the Oakleigh Chargers at home.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Alex Carr (Gippsland Power)
4- Josh Scott (Gippsland Power)
3- Peter Wright (Calder Cannons)
2- Tom Muir (Gippsland Power)
1- Bohdi Walker (Gippsland Power)

Oakleigh Chargers 9.17 (71)
Murray Bushrangers 13.14 (92)

Chargers goals: Hogan (3), Gladman (2), Urban (2), Toohey, Indovino
Bushrangers goals: Squire (5), Brett (3), Wilson (2), Peni, Dalbosco, Cousins
Chargers best: Hogan, Toohey, Smith, Gladman, Gowers, Urban
Bushrangers best: Squire, Cousins, Wilson, Howe, Brett, Mellington

The Murray Bushrangers have jumped into the top four on the back of a 21 point victory over the Oakleigh Chargers. The Chargers continue to miss many of their players through APS schooling while the Bushrangers have lost a number of players to NSW/ACT and Vic Country. Billy Hogan played his best game of the year, booting three goals and picking up 33 disposals but it was Bryden Squire whose 26 disposals, 12 marks and five goals got his side over the line. James Toohey was again crucial across the field while Nathan Smith and Ryley Norris were busy for their respective sides. Oakleigh face Calder at Highgate next Sunday while the Murray Bushrangers meet the Bendigo Pioneers at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- Bryden Squire (Murray Bushrangers)
4- Billy Hogan (Oakleigh Chargers)
3- James Toohey (Oakleigh Chargers)
2- Nathan Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
1- Ryley Norris (Murray Bushrangers)

Dandenong Stingrays 8.9 (57)
Eastern Ranges 9.13 (67)

Stingrays goals: Rennie (2), Joynce (2), Harnett, Fischer, Soroczynski, Lonie
Eastern Ranges goals: Petracca (4), Traynor (2), Staples, McStay, Warren
Stingrays best: Foote, Lonie, Harmes, Wilson, Soroczynski, Gawley
Eastern Ranges best: Belo, McStay, Fisher, Evans, Hannon, O’Sullivan

The Eastern Ranges managed to topple the Dandenong Stingrays on Sunday, despite a scrappy and inaccurate performance by both teams. Dandenong were able to get an early jump with Eastern Ranges struggling to convert for most of the  first quarter. Lack of communication between Eastern Ranges players was also evident. However Eastern Ranges made a speedy recovery in the second quarter to tighten the scores, despite more missed opportunities in front of goal. Both teams struggled to make the most of inside fifty opportunties, and were inaccurate when they did. Standout players for Dandenong included Blake Mullane with great intensity in patches, Kyle Gray in defence, Jack Lonie with a great boundary goal and Stingrays captain Nathan Foote. Eastern players such as Christian Petracca with a miraculous boundary snap after evading tackles and James Belo who nearly produced a great run-out-the-centre goal which was touched on the line. Nick Evans and Luke Hannon were also solid contributors in patches throughout the game. Overall, both teams struggled in their forward halves, with Eastern Ranges overcoming Dandenong narrowly seemingly only based on brief passages of play and more time spent in the forward half. Eastern Ranges now face the Western Jets at Box Hill next week while the Dandenong Stingrays travel to Preston to face the Northern Knights.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5- James Belo (Eastern Ranges)
4- Nathan Foote (Dandenong Stingrays)
3- Daniel McStay (Eastern Ranges)
2- Jack Lonie (Dandenong Stingrays)
1- Nicholas Evans (Eastern Ranges)

TAC Cup: round 11

Eastern Ranges vs. Western Jets (11:00am, Saturday 29th June at Box Hill City Oval)
Bendigo Pioneers vs. Murray Bushrangers (12:00pm, Saturday 29th June at Queen Elizabeth Oval)
Gippsland Power vs. Sandringham Dragons (1:00pm, Saturday 29th June at Morwell Football Ground)
Northern Knights vs. Dandenong Stingrays (2:00pm, Saturday 29th June at Preston City Oval)
Geelong Falcons vs. North Ballarat Rebels (12:00pm, Sunday 30th June at Highgate Recreation Reserve)
Calder Cannons vs. Oakleigh Chargers (2:30pm, Sunday 30th June at Highgate Recreation Reserve)