Dandenong Stingrays 13.13 (91)
NSW/ACT Rams 13.15 (93)

Dandenong goals: J. Freeman 3, M. La Fontaine 2, D. Capiron 2, L. McKay 2, B. Kiely, D. Warke, Z. Roscoe, K. Mutimer.
NSW/ACT goals: M. Kennedy 3, C. Bance 2, B. Hodgson 2, A. Treacy 2, H. Himmelberg, J. Rymer, J. Cornell, M. Maguire.
Dandenong best: B. Rice, D. Capiron, H. Prior, J. Freeman, M. Cox , D. Warke
NSW/ACT best: M. Kennedy, J. Kelly, R. Hebron, T. Coenen, M. Flynn, J. Cornell

NSW/ACT caused an upset two-point victory against the highly rated Dandenong Stingrays on the weekend. While the Stingrays were missing their AIS boys in Jacob Weitering and Kieran Collins, they were still favourites going into the match. St Kilda and Carlton father-son Bailey Rice impressed in their absence, picking up 28 disposals and took 14 marks. It was a seesawing contest which saw the Rams in front at quarter time by 14 points, then a seven goal to two second term in favour of the Stingrays swung the margin to a comfortable 22 points in the home side’s favour. That again changed in the third thanks to a five goal to one third quarter to set up a cracking final term, which did not disappoint, with the Rams getting home by the barest of margins. Matthew Kennedy and Jackson Kelly were the best for the Rams while ruckman Matthew Flynn registered an impressive 33 hitouts.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Bailey Rice (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Matthew Kennedy (NSW/ACT Rams)
3 – Jackson Kelly (NSW/ACT Rams)
2 – Daniel Capiron (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Matthew Flynn (NSW/ACT Rams)

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Sandringham 3.13 (31)
Tasmania 14.6 (90)

Sandringham goals: J. Briggs, H. Mason, L. Hayres.
Tasmania goals: N. Dodge 4, J. Johnson 3, L. Smith 2, B. Batchelor 2, H. Pearce, N. Franklin, J. Bilson.
Sandringham best: C. Lyons, T. Wilkinson, R. Iudica, L. Hayres, D. Rendell, H. Balic
Tasmania best: J. Johnson, C. Brown, N. Dodge, K. Lovell, B. McGuinness, B. Quinn

Tasmania in their first TAC appearance demolished the Sandringham dragons with their ball movement and accuracy. Sandringham on the other hand were wasteful forward with 13 behinds. It was the Nick Dodge show in the first quarter slotting 3 goals to get Tasmania going. Jesse Johnson also was damaging on the scoreboard getting three goals and he was moving like a midfielder even though he’s 192 cm. Goy Lok made a late push to keep his team in the game with a quick spurt of class. Its was a story of one team that took their chances and one team that didn’t.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Nick Dodge (Tasmania)
4 – Jesse Johnson (Tasmania)
3 – Brandon Batchelor (Tasmania)
2 – Kieran Lovell (Tasmania)
1 – Goy Lok (Sandringham Dragons)

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Bendigo Pioneers 9.8 (62)
Eastern Ranges 9.11 (65)

Bendigo goals: J. Ryan (3), R. Free (3), M. Higgs, J. Atley, J. Marciano.
Eastern goals: B. Hardwick (2), J. Parsons (2), N. Aldridge (2), B. Batty, J. Lynch, D. Crocker.
Bendigo best: L. Tardrew, J. Ryan, J. Marciano , L. Schultz, T. Cole
Eastern best: A. Brolic, N. Lane, D. Crocker, B. Hardwick, B. Batty.

The Bendigo Pioneers returned home to the Epsom/Huntly Reserve as heavy underdogs against ladder leader’s Eastern Ranges on Saturday afternoon.

Lead by the in-form Lachlan Tardrew, Bendigo piled on the pressure as they took the game on from the word go. Quick goals from Joshua Ryan and Matthew Higgs helped the Pioneers to a handy 15-point quarter time lead.

Anthony Brolic was inspirational for the visitors in the second term producing exceptional kicks inside 50. However it was the inaccuracy of the Eastern Ranges’ forwards that kept the Pioneers alive. A woeful two goals, eight behinds meant Bendigo would hold on to an eight-point lead at the main break.

The winless Bendigo side showed plenty of heart in the third quarter as they powered to a 21-point lead courtesy of multiple goals to Ryan Free. However a champion team does not give in. A James Parsons goal began the late surge and from there, the Eastern Ranges talented midfield had all the answers in the final term.

For the Pioneers, it was disappointment again as they slumped to a fifth straight defeat. A miserable final term that produced just the solitary behind allowed a fast finishing Eastern Ranges race home to a thrilling three-point victory.

For Bendigo, it’s a battle of the winless teams as they face the Western Jets at Burbank Oval from 1.30pm on Saturday May 9, while the Eastern Rangers take part in a mouth-watering clash against the Dandenong Stingrays from Box Hill City Oval at 11am.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5- Lachlan Tardrew (Bendigo Pioneers)
4- Anthony Brolic (Eastern Ranges)
3- Nelson Lane (Eastern Ranges)
2- Joshua Ryan (Bendigo Pioneers)
1- Bryce Batty (Eastern Ranges)

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Calder Cannons 6.9 (45)
Murray Bushrangers 10.11 (71)

Calder goals: S. Stewart 2, J. Flower, M. Kovacevic, M. Lewis, T. Condon.
Murray goals: L. Smith 3, T. McMullan 3, H. Tanner, B. Smith, J. Minogue, J. Schache.
Calder best: N. O’Kearney, H. Kerbatieh, T. Gawthrop, M. Stillman, J. Reaper, B. Laguda
Murray best: D. Mennen, M. Waite, N. Coughlan, T. McMullan, L. Smith, J. Minogue

Murray Bushrangers recorded another important win on the weekend, this time against the Calder Cannons away. The Bushrangers jumped out of the blocks early to kick 4.4 to 0.0 in the first quarter, before the Cannons bounced back with a four goal to one term to trail by five points. Another four goal to zero term to the Bushrangers saw them increase the lead to 31 points, but this time there would be no comeback from Calder, and despite a two goal to one final term, the margin still remained a comfortable 26 points. Nick O’Kearney starred for Calder in his best game for the year, but he had little help as the Bushrangers were led by over-agers David Mennen and Nicholas Coughlan as well as a host of game followers.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Nick O’Kearney (Calder Cannons)
4 – David Mennen (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Nicholas Coughlan (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Luke Smith (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Trent McMullan (Murray Bushrangers)

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Oakleigh Chargers 7.10 (52)
North Ballarat Rebels 12.8 (80)

Oakleigh Goals: J Ridley 2, B Crocker 2, T Philips, J Corboy, C Young
North Ballarat Goals: E Frank 3, T Templeton 2, Y Eades 2, J Webster, N Hausler, T Taurau, S Mcclure, M Johnston
Oakleigh Best: M Jackson, C Moritz, S Parsons, T Philips, P Stathopoulos
North Ballarat Best: Y Eades, C Byrne, T Templeton, J Webster, E Frank

An intense game from the get go for the Chargers and the Rebels. Oakleigh were wasteful were as the Rebels were hitting the scoreboard hard. Matt Jackson looked damaging all game and Yestin Eades has shown why he is in the AIS academy with his dominating display. Oakleigh kept trying to mount a comeback but the Rebels just never let up at all. Some bottom age prospects in Connor Byrne and Christian Moritz who will be ones to watch next year with their kicking being amongst the best ive ever seen.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Matthew Jackson (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Yestin Eades (North Ballarat Rebels)
3 – Connor Byrnes (North Ballarat Rebels)
2 – Tom Templeton (North Ballarat Rebels)
1 – Ezekiel Frank (North Ballarat Rebels)

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Gippsland Power 22.22 (154)
Western Jets 7.7 (49)

Gippsland goals: S. Skinner 4, T. Papley 3, N. Holmes 3, T. Hobbs 2, H. McKay 2, B. Ainsworth 2, T. Beck 2, K. Renooy 2, J. McMahon, D. Costigan.
Western goals: M. Norton, J. Murdoch, B. Coletta, J. Beilby, M. Palma, J. Dundon, J. Cotter.
Gippsland best: T. Beck, S. Skinner, N. Holmes, T. Papley, B. Ainsworth, A. Ferreira
Western best: B. Coletta, O. Junker, L. Carter, J. Dundon, D. Foley, W. Berry

Gippsland Power enjoyed a huge percentage boost on the weekend, with a massive 105-point win over the winless Western Jets. The Power had 10 individual goal scorers, with Sam Skinner leading the way with four goals. Todd Beck, Skinner, Nash Holmes and Thomas Papley were impressive around the ground as was ben Ainsworth up forward. Many Power players were lining up in the bests, but it was nearly impossible to say the same for Western, with star midfielder Jackson Volpato well held, there was not much cheer for the side that sits bottom out of the Victorian sides.

BFGN Rising Stars Medal:

5 – Todd Beck (Gippsland Power)
4 – Sam Skinner (Gippsland Power)
3 – Nash Holmes (Gippsland Power)
2 – Ben Ainsworth (Gippsland Power)
1 – Thomas Papley (Gippsland Power)

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Northern Knights 9.14 (68)
Geelong Falcons 13.11 (89)

Northern goals: K. Malone 3, B. Jordan 2, J. Gresham, M. Ercolano, J. Stewart, C. McKay.
Geelong goals: B. Blair 6, C. Curnow 3, L. Wagener, K. Higgins, C. Farrell, H. Kershaw.
Northern best: J. Gresham, M. Ercolano, T. Leonardis, B. Fiorini, M. Mattingly, K. Malone
Geelong best: W. Sexton, H. Kol, R. Mathieson, J. Quinn, B. Blair, M. Patten

The Geelong Falcons have comfortably defeated the Northern Knights by 21 points at Preston Oval.

Inaccurate kicking kept the Knights in the game in the first half but after being level at half-time the Falcons ran over the top of the Knights. Rhys Mathieson lifted in the second half, winning a number of crucial contests and free kicks to help get the Falcons over the line and finished with 29 disposals.

Poor inside 50 entries for both teams restricted scoreboard impact, but the Falcons forward line gelled better to kick a winning score. Brett Blair presented strongly all day for Geelong and ended the match with a big bag of 6 goals.

For the Knights Jade Gresham tried hard with 28 disposals, 6 tackles and a goal. Brayden Fiorini also ran hard to finish with 31 disposals and 15 marks for the Knights.

BFGN Rising Star Medal:

5 – Rhys Mathieson (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Brett Blair (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Jade Gresham (Northern Knights)
2 – Brayden Fiorini (Northern Knights)
1 – Michael Mattingly (Northern Knights)