Local footy wrap: Ex-AFL man tons up, former Saint's surprise return

Herald Sun

5 days ago

With a brilliant snap on the run, Wandin's Aaron Mullett brought up his 100th goal for the season on Saturday.
The former North Melbourne and Carlton player achieved his maiden century 20 minutes into Wandin's top-of-the-ladder clash with Olinda Ferny Creek at Clegg Rd.
Mullett started the game on 98 goals and slotted his first (a set shot) at the nine-minute mark.
Then came the big moment; he evaded two opponents and finished brilliantly on his trusty left boot, sparking exultant scenes as 100 fans rushed to celebrate with him.
Mullett was ecstatic, hugging and high fiving anyone in his path. He finished with five goals for the afternoon as Wandin overpowered Olinda Ferny Creek 10.12 (72) to 6.8 (44).
SURPRISE RETURN FOR CROUCH
Noble Park's bid for a surprise Eastern league finals appearance received another Saintly push when Brad Crouch came out of retirement on Saturday.
Crouch was appointed Noble's non-playing assistant coach even before St Kilda confirmed last November that he would be retiring because of knee problems.
The 31-year-old has been working at the shoulder of Bulls senior coach Steve Hughes.
But, named in the centre, he took to Walker Park to help Noble Park defeat bottom team Mitcham 15.12 (102) to 6.9 (45) and will play a decisive hand in the late exchanges of the season.
Crouch shook off some rust in the first quarter and got busy in the second. The visitors were 40 points to the good by halftime and weren't threatened from there.
'He was excellent … super-clean with the footy, good decisions and element of class to what he was doing – feeding the ball by hand and distributing really cleanly,'' Hughes said of Crouch.
'For a bloke who hadn't played a game of footy in the best part of 12 months, it was more than I was expecting.''
He said Crouch started to join in drills about a month ago and then got involved in some match sim.
'He tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'I reckon I can play','' Hughes said. 'I didn't have to be told twice. We're so happy to have him and excited about the next few weeks.''
Crouch joined fellow ex-Saint Sam Gilbert in the Noble line-up.
Gilbert, 38, came into the team in Round 4 and has lent experience and presence to a young team.
After the loss of club champions Kyle Martin and Jackson Sketcher and a string of other players at the end of last season, little was expected of the Bulls this year.
But with five rounds to go they're fifth on the ladder.
SOUTH CROYDON UPSET
The Brendan Allen-coached South Croydon pulled off the surprise of Easter's round, up-ending Rowville by 13 points at Seebeck Oval.
Tom Sheridan kicked four goals and was best-afield, defender Matt Aldous had the better of Mav Taylor and Sam Wicks was a spark in the midfield for the Bulldogs.
REDBACKS BITE
Hampton Park extended its unbeaten run in a crunch top-of-the-table Division 2 Southern league clash against East Malvern.
The Redback prevailed by 17 points at Robert Booth Reserve despite trailing at every break. They kept the Panthers scoreless in a final quarter blitz and are now two games clear on top of the ladder.
RELEGATION FOR PIES?
Tullamarine has created a three-game gap between itself and Roxburgh Park with an eight-point win. The Demons now sit on four wins compared to one for the Magpies. Josh Cowell finished with four goals.
BARDEN BAG
The equation is 25 goals in four matches. That's what Macleod's Darcy Barden needs to break the 100-goal barrier in the home-and-away season.
The Kangas spearhead slotted another seven goals on Saturday to fuel a 76-point win over potential finals rival Northcote Park at De Winton Reserve. Barden now has 75 goals for the season.
Mackenzie Hogg was prolific and kicked two goals himself in the 18.14 (122) to 6.10 (46) triumph.
BLUES STILL ALIVE
Kilmore secured a critical win to keep its NFNL Division 3 finals hopes alive – and did Ivanhoe a solid in the process. In a week the Blues announced coach Paul Derrick was standing down, they trumped third-placed Epping by 37 points at JJ Clancy Reserve. The 11.13 (79) to 5.12 (42) win sees Kilmore sitting sixth, just 3 per cent outside the top-five, with three games remaining.
The result also saw Ivanhoe jump up to third on percentage, and within reach of a double chance, after its 74-point win over Old Eltham Collegians.
CLOKE LIFTS CALDER UNITED TO VICTORY
Former AFL champion Travis Cloke made his debut for Calder United in the North Central league and helped lift the Lions to a 56-point win over Boort.
While Cloke didn't kick a goal, Jordan Humphreys led the way with six majors in the 18.12 (12) to 9.10 (64) triumph.
Calder United piled on eight goals in a commanding final term.
PARK ORCHARDS FLEX MUSCLE
Park Orchards piled on the pain against the struggling Norwood in the Eastern league's Division 1, booting a whopping 25 goals in a resounding 25.13 (163) to 7.4 (46) victory.
CRUCIAL WIN FOR BORONIA
Boronia claimed a decisive 11-point win over North Ringwood to move a game clear in third spot in Division 1 of the Eastern league.
Ben Robertson led the way with four goals, while Fletcher Duke kicked three.
LAKERS KEEP DOUBLE CHANCE ALIVE
Caroline Springs kept its double chance hopes alive in WFNL Division 1 with a big win over reigning premier Hoppers Crossing. The Lakers led at every break including a four goal to one opening term to get the better of the Warriors by 18 points.
DIGGERS TOP OF THE POPS
In the Riddell District top-of-the-table blockbuster, ladder-leader Diggers Rest confirmed its premiership favouritism with a rousing 23-point win over second-placed Riddell. It wasn't without a serious scare though as the Bombers came from 36 points down at three-quarter-time to almost pinch the game at Riddells Creek Reserve.
Skipper Jaidyn Caruana and coach Shaun Campbell both bagged three goals in the 15.9 (99) to 11.11 (77) triumph.
SAINTS AT THE DEATH
Watsonia doesn't win easy. The Saints snatched a heart-stopping four-point win, after the siren, on Saturday to keep their survival hopes alive.
Ethan Lowe was the hero, nailing the clutch set shot from 30m out to send the home fans into raptures at Binnak Park.
The club's first win of the year was a one-pointer.
Trailing by three points at three-quarter-time the home team snuck home 12.7 (79) to 11.9 (75) to move to within one game of the Bears, while Old Paradians secured a 13-point win over Panton Hill to all but secure Division 2 footy for 2026.
COMMANDING WIN FOR TEMPLESTOWE
Templestowe trounced Croydon 27.17 (179) to 8.1 (49) in Division 2 of the Eastern league in what was a statement win for the ladder leaders.
The goals were shared, with Daniel Barnes (4), Carl Giovannini (4), Alex Brown (3) and Matthew Mariani (3) leading the way.
DEFENSIVE BRILLIANCE
The Basin conceded just one goal against Jaidyn Stephenson's Ferntree Gully in a dominant 14.12 (96) to 1.4 (10) victory.
The Basin is now a game clear of Silvan in fifth on the Eastern league Division 3 ladder following the win.
HORVAT FULLS HIS BOOTS
Daniel Horvat kicked nine goals for the Whitehorse Pioneers in a commanding 83-point win in Division 4 of the Eastern league.
Whitehorse kicked away to a 39-point quarter-time lead and never looked back. Horvat now has 43 goals this season and has kicked 21 in the past three weeks.
NAR NAR GOON REMAIN UNBEATEN
Nar Nar Goon has moved to 14-0 in the West Gippsland league after a convincing 73-point win over the Warragul Industrials.
Dermott Yawney booted five goals in the 14.8 (92) to 2.7 (19) win on the road.
SEVEN MORE FOR WELLS
The state's leading goal-kicker Jason Wells now has 115 goals for the season after adding another seven in Longwarry's 24-point win over Buln Buln.
Wells kicked seven of the Crows' 10 goals in the Ellinbank and District league clash after his side bounced back from a goalless opening term.
BENTLEIGH DOMINATE
On the other end of a belting just two matches ago, Bentleigh handed out a destructive win of its own in the Southern league's top division when it defeated Cranbourne by 94 points.
Thomas Dowsing kicked six goals in the win, which consolidated the Demons' grasp on fourth spot.
MCGARRITY CLOSES IN ON TON
Another centurion goal-kicker is looming large in the Ellinbank and District league.
Neerim South's Mason McGarrity is just eight goals away from the coveted milestone after kicking seven majors in the Cats' commanding 64-point win over Yarragon.
Neerim South is now unbeaten from 14 games this season.
LAVINGTON TRUMP ALBURY
Lavington continued its strong run of form in the Ovens and Murray league with a crucial 14-point win over Albury in the league's stand-alone clash.
Shaun Driscoll and Tim Oosterhoff both booted three goals in the win.
The result reversed Lavington's loss to Albury earlier in the season, and the Panthers have now won eight of their past nine games.
KORUMBURRA BENA WIN A THRILLER
Korrumburra Bena toppled Koo Wee Rup by one-point in a West Gippsland league thriller.
The 7.14 (56) to 8.7 (55) win at Koo Wee Rup Recreation Reserve means the Giants join the Demons with a 3-11 record, but remain 10th on percentage.
EIGHT FOR JOHANSSON
The Moorabbin Kangaroos downed the Doveton Eagles in style in Division 4 of the Southern league.
Matthew Johansson spearheaded the 81-point win with eight majors to steer Moorabbin to its fifth win of the season.