Oakleigh Amateurs womens team grabbed nail biting 3 point win over ladder leaders Old Camberwell at Scammell Reserve on Saturday in their Development Division 2 fifth round clash. The Oaks started well, with plenty of the football but couldn’t get past a solid Camberwell defence and, as is often the case, the visitors first foray forward resulted in a goal and Camberwell went to the first change with a 5 point advantage. The Krushers continued to press in the second term and managed 2 goals but the visitors responded with 3 goals and the difference was 8 points at the long break, a bit of inaccuracy in front of goal wasn’t helping the Krushers cause either.

After the break the Oaks lifted and their intensity brought them a goal and to within 5 points at the last change. In a torrid final quarter the Krushers held the Wellers scoreless and gradually pulled back the deficit and a goal with three minutes to go put the Oaks in front and they held on grimly to the bell for a hard fought and exciting win. Casey Morris kicked 2 goals for Oakleigh with Stephanie Wood, Shannen Bethune and Crystal Van among the best players.

The men travelled to Ferndale Park in Glen Iris to do battle with St.Mary’s Salesian looking for a win that would put them into the four and the hosts were hoping to turn around a minor form slump that had seen them drop from top spot to fourth. Oakleigh began well but inaccuracy in front of goal reared its ugly head again and the Krushers went to the first break with a 3 point lead. St.Mary’s mounted a resurgence in the second term booting 4-5 to 1-4 to go into the main change with a 16 point advantage. After the break, the Oaks were under the pump as SMS took control with a 5 goal third term to the Oaks 3-3 and a 26 point deficit faced Oakleigh as they went into the last change. The Oaks rallied in the last but couldn’t close the gap and finally succumbed by 20 points. Aaron Cloke  and Jaryd Wines led the Krushers goalkicking with 3 each as Trevor Bromley added 2. Pat Ioannidis, Luke Pappon and Tim Michael were in the Oaks best.

The reserves didn’t fare too well in the early game where only 1 goal and 12 behinds were scored in the opening term and Oakleigh didn’t kick the goal going to the break 6 points down. It got worse from there as the hosts took control booting 6 goals in the second term to the Krushers 2 and went to half-time with a 35 point lead. Another 6 goals to 1 in the third had SMS in total control and they coasted through an even last quarter to win by 67 points. Josh Abela booted 4 goals for Oakleigh with Ben Hogan, Jim Hunt and Mark Bennett among the best players.

The U/19s played host to Latrobe Uni at Scammell in their Section 5 round 8 clash. The Oaks jumped from the blocks banging on 4-7 before a couple of late goals brought Latrobe to within 19 points at the first break. The Krushers responded in the second with 7-5 to 1 goal and, despite the inaccuracy, took a 10 goal lead into the long break. A 1-6 to 1-3 third term was probably more to do with Oakleigh over confidence than a Latrobe resurgence and the Krushers put the issue beyond doubt in the final quarter slamming on 7 goals to 2 to run away with a 95 point win. Dylan Goodwill led the goal kicking for Oakleigh with 5, Izaiah Elisaia, Chris Galanos added 3 each and Tom Gillard and Ed Standish kicked 2 each. Justin McCarthy, Lachlan Park and Corey Moore were some of the Oaks best.

Final Scores:

Seniors: Oakleigh 11.13.79 lt St Marys Salesian 15.9.99
Goals: Aaron Cloke 3, Jaryd Wines 3, Trevor Bromley 2, Hayden Everett, Leroy Moeller, Josh Revere
Best: Pat Ioannidis, Luke Pappon, Tim Michael, Jon Rutter, Hayden Everett, Aaron Cloke

Reserves: Oakleigh 7.10.52 lt St Marys Salesian 17.17.119
Goals: Josh Abela 4, Chris Grant, Ash Kitts, Ryan Mitchell
Best: Ben Hogan, James Hunt, Josh Abela, Mark Bennett, Chris Grant, Brodie Weymouth

U19s: Oakleigh 19.21.135 def La Trobe 6.4.40
Goals: Dylan Goodwill 5, Izaiah Elisaia 3, Chris Galanos 3, Tom Gillard 2, Ed Standish 2, Jett Murphy
Best: Justin McCarthy, Dylan Goodwill, Lachlan Park, Corey Moore, Ryan Powell, Will Harris

Womens: Oakleigh 4.7.31 def Old Camberwell 4.4.28
Goals: Casey Morris 2, Cassie Bethune, Stephanie Wood
Best: Stephanie Wood, Shannen Bethune, Crystal Van, Madeline Bregazzi, Kara White, Casey Morris