Both the Seniors and Reserves recording big victories over Glen Eira/Old McKinnon away at Packer Park on Saturday, while the Senior Women and U19s also got up making it 4 from 4 for the second consecutive week.
In a potential danger game considering Glen Eira had defeated 4th-placed Parkdale the previous week, the Rovers Seniors got the job done to the tune of 86 points and now must defeat bottom-placed Oakleigh to secure a top-two finish and the all-important double chance.
The large number of Hampton Rovers supporters at a sunny Packer Park on Saturday saw a different Rovers team. Carnovale out of the side for the first time in a few seasons, a new look backline and a couple of other regulars missing. Hugo Garrow came back in, and his run and leap caused Gryphons a heap of problems. Chris Perkins played his best game for the season in a dominant performance in the middle earning the best on ground award for the day and Lui Coughlin slotted easily into his mid role and picked up possessions at will.
The scoreboard tells the story. A strong breeze was favouring the southern end and the Rovers took full advantage of it in the second quarter to basically end the game with a 7.3 onslaught while not allowing the opposition to score. For the fourth time in the second half of the season, the Rovers backs have been dominant and kept the opposition to two goals or less to half time, match winning performances.
On Saturday, Joel Melnjak had a roving role across the backline, Hugo Lay at CHB was in total control, Aussie Parker was too quick for the Gryphons forwards and while playing deep on the backline gave great drive from defence, Crispy was his miserly self and gave none of his opponents any room at the ball. Jacob Gray has slotted well into his role at half back and with his strong marking and good skills by foot gave his opponent little chance. Cam Carmeni in his second game looked more composed and his neat use of the ball was valuable.
Tredders spending less time in the ruck gave our forwards many chances while still taking a number of strong marks and also kicked 3 goals. Will Crawford must have been taking lessons from Tredders during the week and rather than being frustrated by the body work of his opponent, used his size and strength to take a number of marks and also pop through 4 goals. With Hugo Garrow in the other pocket the opposition just didn’t have the height to deal with the tall timber of the Rovers and that was a telling factor in the game.
The Rovers mids were on song all day and while clearances in the last quarter were 17 to 6 in our favour and inside 50s were 20 to 4 in our favour, you’d have to ask why didn’t we score more freely? Big Tom Ellinghaus is becoming more dominant each week as he uses his size to advantage. Jamie Delaney, Lachy Costello and Huggy were all too quick for their opponents and earned many clearances from the centre and around the ground, Max Coughlin played another of his calm, cool and collected games in the midfield to great effect. James Prosser and Lachy Cairns added a bit of class and skill around the contest.
The work rate of Tredders in the last quarter was a highlight – he took a telling mark in the backline to then sprint the length of the ground to mark less than a minute later when hit lace out by Dillon Melnjak with one of his accurate passes. A goal resulted. Then the last goal of the day Delaney picked up the loose ball, passed to Crawf who unselfishly passed it off the Hugo Garrow who didn’t miss the set shot. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the run and carry of Perko all day. I particularly like his many baulks to the left which seemed to have the opposition bamboozled as he waltzed past them.
Glen Eira 1.4 1.4 3.8 3.10 28
HR 3.3 10.10 12.13 16.18 114
Best: Perkins, O’Driscoll, Parker, Coughlin, Crisp, Prosser, Melnjaks (both), Garrow, Crawford – read the whole team!
Goals: Will Crawford 4, Liam O’Driscoll 3, Chris Perkins 3, Hugo Garrow 2, Lachy Cairns 2, Hugo Lay 1 (from CHB) Dillon Melnjak 1
SENIOR RESERVES
Another blistering performance by the Ressies in a huge win over Glen Eira. Andrew Woolston and Nick Jackson both in the goals and the contest for leading goalkicker is hotting up. Wooly is at the moment 6 ahead, will Nick Jackson be able to bridge the gap with one game to go? The ressies are currently sitting fourth on the ladder with one game to go. It looks like that they will be playing Old Carey in the first semi in two weeks time, who the Rovers defeated by 70 points last time they played.
Glen Eira 0.1 0.1 2.2 2.2 14
HR 5.4 13.8 16.8 19.15 129
Best: Dan Field, Joel Bowditch, Tom Goldsmith, Andrew Woolston, Ryan Leslie, Nick Jackson
Goals: Andrew Woolston 6, Nick Jackson 4, Ryan Leslie 3, Nick Jewel 1, Ben Crothers 1, Johnny Wilson 1, Jarrod Dartnell 1, Oscar Donald 1, Dan McCoy 1
SENIOR WOMEN – PRELIMINARY FINAL
The Rovers Women blew the game open in the opening quarter with a 3.3 to 0.1 scoreline at ETU Stadium. With two evenly matched teams it was always going to be hard for Whitefriars to come back from 3 goals down. They didn’t give in and did fight it out to the end but the relentless of Mandy Naylor and Bella Cameron down back and the accurate kicking of Maegan gave the opposition little room to move.
The win sends the Rovers Women into the Grand Final against Glen Eira/Old Mackinnon who have been the dominant side in the 2024 season. To be played this Sunday 9:20am at Elsternwick Park.
Whitefriars 0.1 1.3 2.3 3.7 25
HR 3.2 3.3 5.4 6.5 41
Best: Maegan Miller, Kiera Geddes, Isabella Cameron, Cherry Cameron, Olive Tuppen, Mandy Naylor
Goals: Maegan Miller 4, Alana Graham 1
UNDER 19s
It was a critical game for the Rovers U19s as a win would guarantee them second place on the Div 1 ladder and the double chance. That’s exactly what happened.
Good to see the Carrigan brothers both in the best and Charles Kilburn back to his goal kicking best. Next Saturday, the boys are in the second semi final against St Bernards where our record so far in 2024 is a win at home by 5 points and a loss away by 17 points. To be played at Elsternwick Park on Saturday, 2:10pm start.
Fitzroy 1.0 4.2 5.4 6.5 41
HR 5.8 6.11 10.14 11.14 80
Best: Mason Carrigan, Kai Carrigan, Zac Zeisling, Lachy Celantano, Charles Kilburn
Goals: Charles Kilburn 5, Dan Hall 2, Kai Carrigan 1, Jake Grima 1, Mason Carrigan 1, Charles McSwain 1
