By RUSSELL BENNETT
YARRA VALLEY MOUNTAIN DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
GEMBROOK Cockatoo has broken through for its first win this YVMDFL Division-2 season – a hard-fought 14-point triumph at home over Powelltown, 10.12 (72) to 9.4 (58).
The Brookers started strongly – booting four majors in the first term – and led at every change, with skipper Ricky Causer leading the way with three goals in a best-on-ground performance.
Player-coach Craig Clarke returned to the Brookers’ lineup after missing a week, but the imposing ruckman didn’t skip a beat – slotting two goals.
Ricky Delphine (two goals), meanwhile, continued his super-consistent start to the season with another commanding individual performance.
Gembrook led by 16 points at quarter time and 19 at the main break, and maintained its advantage in the second half. Sam Martin, Eamon Tomlin, Luke Frazzetto and Chris Vernal also played key roles for the home side, while the Walker boys – Jason, Jonnie and Bobby – were Powelltown’s best.
Emerald, meanwhile, has continued its all-conquering start to the season with a 76-point thrashing of Alexandra, 18.11 (119) to 6.7 (43).
The Bombers quickly made one of the longest road trips in the competition seem like a non-factor as they jumped out to a 13-point lead at the first change. They then increased that to a 31-point margin at the half and stormed away to a massive win – giving up just two goals to the Rebels over the final two quarters.
Justin Davis continued his sensational goal-kicking form with another half-a-dozen to take his season tally to 23, while Emerald favourite son Caillin Porter, versatile big man Jarrad Donders, John MacKay (four goals), and stalwart Ryan Simpson were also outstanding.
The Bombers are currently undefeated on top of the Division-2 ladder and next face Thornton Eildon at Chandler Reserve. The seventh-placed Brookers, meanwhile, will make the dreaded Alexandra trek.
