Round 12 had a wide array of games, ranging from close ones to absolute blowouts. It all kicked off with the Dandenong Stingrays pummeling the Murray Bushrangers by 95 points, followed by a 71 point victory to the Eastern Ranges over the North Ballarat Rebels. The Sandringham Dragons, Geelong Falcons and Northern Knights all had convincing wins over their opponents, with the Western Jets running away with a two point victory over the Dandenong Stingrays to close the round. Geelong Falcons are still well ahead on top of the ladder.

TAC Cup: Round 12

Murray Bushrangers 3.4 (22)
Dandenong Stingrays 17.15 (117)

Bushrangers goals: Brett (2), Carlile
Stingrays goals: Lonie (5), Gardiner (4), Egan (2), Rennie (2), Scott, Harmes, Joyce, Soroczynski
Bushrangers best: Howe, Clarke, Martyn, Mellington, Turner, Cousins
Stingrays best: Gawley, Lonie, White, Scott, Hammond, Rennie

The Dandenong Stingrays flexed their muscles and produced an outstanding performance to thump top four contenders, the Murray Bushrangers, by 95 points at Wangaratta on Saturday. The Stingrays raced out to a 32 point lead at the first break and were never headed, as the Bushrangers failed to score a goal until the second quarter. Forwards Jack Lonie and Nathan Gardiner dominated the Bushies backs kicking multiple goals, while the Bushies struggled without eight of their state players. The Stingrays performance was even more impressive due to the loss of stars Billy Hartung, Zak Jones, Clayton McCartney and Agape Patolo.

Votes:
5 – Jack Lonie (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Dale Gawley (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Angus Scott (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – James Hammond (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Jack Martyn (Murray Bushrangers)

North Ballarat Rebels – 6.5 (41)
Eastern Ranges- 16.16 (112)

Rebels goals: Vearing (2), Butler (2), McDonald, Palmer.
Eastern Ranges goals: Traynor (5), Petracca (4), Staples, Monkhorst, Cairns, McDougall, Kean, Roth, Evans.
Rebels best: Bennett, Webster, Palmer, Cassidy, Hendy, Hoy.
Eastern Ranges best: J. Fisher, M. Traynor, C. Petracca, D. Welsh, A. Bond, T. Cody

Whilst both sides were again without a number of players due to the Under 18 Championships, the absentees’ impact was more blatantly felt by the North Ballarat Rebels, cementing their bottom-placed position after a 71 point win to Eastern Ranges. Proving age is no hindrance, Eastern Ranges’ Christian Petracca and Matthew Traynor displayed a dazzling performance in exposing lapses in Rebels’ defensive structure, coming away with an impressive nine goals between them. While the Rebels have only two wins this season, their performance was not without glimpses of promising passages of play aided by the likes of Lachlan Cassidy, Kyle Hendy and Sam Bennett who stepped up without key players such as co-captains Matt Crouch and Dallas Willsmore. The Rebels take on the Murray Bushrangers whilst Eastern Ranges will aim to continue their success against the Sandringham Dragons.

BFGN Rising Stars Votes/Bests
5 – Christian Petracca (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Kyle Hendy (North Ballarat Rebels)
3 – Daniel Welsh (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Arthur Armstrong (North Ballarat Rebels)
1 – Kyle Staples (Eastern Ranges)

Sandringham Dragons: 17.14 (116)
Bendigo Pioneers: 11.5 (71)

Dragons goals: Landman (4), Maynard (2), Clayton (2), Le Grice, Wilkinson, Cathcart, Amon, Smith, Vickers-Willis, Gogis, Daidone, Neiwand.
Pioneers goals: Heavyside (3), Hywood (2), Spurr (2), Chisari, Byrne, Conway, McGrath.
Dragons best: Langdon, Amon, Le Grice, Marchetti, Neiwand, Vickers-Willis.
Pioneers best: Byrne, Heavyside, Mc Grath, Chisari, Mangan, Maher.

Despite the close proximity of their positions on the ladder, the Dragons were able to outperform the Pioneers side, winning by a considerable 45 points. The likes of Thomas Langdon who raked up 31 disposals and his teammates Nathan Smith and Karl Amon stepped up to the plate to get the Dragons over the line. Liam Byrne was a standout performer in the losing side, totaling 32 possessions. The man who made his mark on the game though was James Landman, booting an impressive four goals from six kicks and six marks. Next round the Dragons take on Eastern Ranges at Box Hill, whilst the Pioneers meet Dandenong at Shepley Oval.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5 – James Landman (Sandringham Dragons)
4 – Tom Langdon (Sandringham Dragons)
3 – Liam Byrne (Bendigo Pioneers)
2 – Nathan Smith (Sandringham Dragons)
1 – Sam Heavyside (Bendigo Pioneers)

Geelong Falcons 15.7 (97)
Oakleigh Chargers 6.6 (42)

Falcons goals: S. Dixon (7), Flanders (2), Spokes, Cameron, Boag, Thompson, Beardsell, Christensen.
Chargers goals: Hogan (2), De Goey, Indovino, Polidoros, Answerth.
Falcons best:?Sharp, Dixon, Beardsell, Hickey, Dixon, Davis.
Chargers best: Urban, De Goey, Toohey, Indovino, Borland, Hogan.

The Falcons managed to get a 55-point win over the Chargers on Saturday at Simonds Stadium continuing their winning streak and further consolidating first place on the ladder. The Dixon boys performed exceptionally again this week, both instrumental in the win for the Falcons. Scott Dixon booted a game-high seven goals as well as taking eight marks, definitely leaving his mark on the game. The impact and influence of Nicholas Dixon and Billy Beardsell was also important in the Falcons’ victory. An unlikely hero in Luke Davis, had a whopping 49 hit-outs for the Falcons, something that can certainly not be ignored. This week the Falcons meet third-placed Gippsland Power at Box Hill on Sunday, and the Chargers meet the Northern Knights at Warrawee Park on Saturday.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5 – Scott Dixon (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Billy Beardsell (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Nicholas Dixon (Geelong Falcons)
2 – ?Billy Hogan (Oakleigh Chargers)
1 – ?Luke Davis (Geelong Falcons)

Northern Knights 13.18 (96)
Calder Cannons 6.9 (45)

Knights goals:? Kalanj (3), Haynes (2), Bowkett (2), Hunt, Turner, Castagna, Curnow, Tardio, Bromley.
Cannons goals: Wright (3), Christensen, O’Brien, Cauchi.
Knights best: Turner, Potter, Kalanj, Bromley, Soccio, McCabe.
Cannons best: James, Merlo, Owen, Wright, Blair, Prestia.

At Preston on Sunday the Northern Knights ran out 51-point victors over the Calder Cannons, successfully warding off a second-quarter comeback by the visitors. For the Knights, Josh Turner was superb playing off the half-forward flank, whilst Jake Kalanj was equally as effective with three goals. For the Cannons, Peter Wright starred with three goals and an amazing 10 tackles. Although the likes of Cauchi and Prestia who have shone in past weeks, were quieter this week and didn’t have much impact on the game. A standout feature for both sides was the brilliant marking in the defensive half. This week the Northern Knights face off against the Oakleigh Chargers, whilst the Cannons host the Western Jets.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5-? Joshua Turner (Northern Knights)
4- Jake Kalanj (Northern Knights)
3-? Liam Hunt (Northern Knights)
2-? Peter Wright (Calder Cannons)
1-? Matthew Merlo (Calder Cannons)

Western Jets 11.11 (77)
Gippsland Power 10.15 (75)

Jets goals: Norton (3), Manivong (2), Sullivan, Singleton, Ferrari, O”Leary, Iaccarino, Viojo.
Power goals:?Cunico (2), Morris (2), Saunders, Nash, Scott, Wallace, Carr, Russell.
Jets best: Iaccarino, Robinson, O’Leary, Myers, Ellis, Orr.
Power best: Nash, Walker, Muir, Morris, Heppell, Pattison.

The Western Jets were able to take a two-point win over the Gippsland Power in a highly contested game at Preston on Sunday. The lead changed many times over the game, with only one point in it at three-quarter time. Players from both teams stood out throughout the match when it counted, specifically David Iaccarino who was all over the ball throughout the match. For Gippsland, Tom Muir was this player, raking up a massive 33 disposals. Both teams sit firmly in the top eight, with Gippsland meeting the top-placed Geelong at Box Hill and the Jets facing the Cannons on Saturday.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:
5 – David Iaccarino (Western Jets)
4 – ?Tom Muir (Gippsland Power)
3 – Jason Robinson (Western Jets)
2 – Edward Morris (Gippsland Power)
1 – Mark Orr (Western Jets)

TAC Cup: Round 13
Calder Cannons vs. Western Jets (11:30am, Saturday 13th July at Highgate Recreation Reserve)
Oakleigh Chargers vs. Northern Knights (11:30am, Saturday 13th July at Warrawee Park)
Dandenong Stingrays vs. Bendigo Pioneers (1:00pm, Saturday 13th July at Shepley Oval)
North Ballarat Rebels vs. Murray Bushrangers (2:00pm, Saturday 13th July at Highgate Recreation Reserve)
Sandringham Dragons vs. Eastern Ranges (11:00am, Sunday 14th July at Box Hill City Oval)
Gippsland Power vs. Geelong Falcons (1:30pm, Sunday 14th July at Box Hill City Oval)