Stanhope sweats on Semmel hearing

Stanhope played catch-up footy all day against Murchison-Toolamba in a dourly fought affair in which defences dominated.

The Lions are now sweating on a tribunal hearing after their star recruit and McNamara Medal favourite Ryan Semmel was booked on a striking charge out of the game.

He was offered a two-game suspension, but Stanhope will contest the charge.

Another blow suffered by Stanhope from the the game was a possible season-ending knee injury to another of its stars Lachy West, one of Stanhope’s best players on the day.

Ruckman Daniel Flynn, Nathan O’Reilly, Jonathan Pearson, Joshua Harris and Matthew Gill were also prominent for the losers.

Murchison-Toolamba was led in inspiring style by Jayedo Hexter, Joshua Wild and James Ivill.

They received plenty of support from Cody Vincitorio, Kallyun Sanders and James Lloyd, whose three goals were vital in the low scoring affair.

∎ Merrigum worked hard, but never got into a position to seriously challenge Nagambie.

The Lakers again had key playmakers in Nathan Fothergill, who kicked four goals, Bradley Drysdale and Bill O’Brien.

This trio received plenty of support from Blake Fothergill, Trent Laverie and Trent Gladwin.

For Merrigum Jacob Martin, Zak Parkinson and Jake Ross were standouts who received most support from Darcy Collins, Leigh Cuthbert and Rohan Hearn.

∎ A 12-goal haul by Girgarre coach Damian Cupido steered his side to a 132-point win over Tallygaroopna.

The ’Roos hit the ground running with an eight-goal first quarter and kept the visitors scoreless until the third quarter.

Ashley Hughes, Corey Wanganeen, Talbot Varcoe and Ryan Butler were busy players for the winners and Brock Peirce also ensured Cupido had the chances to boot a big tally of goals.

∎ Lancaster showed battling Rushworth no mercy in a 263-point battering as it seized a double-chance spot.

Jake Mills and Zac Cerrone were unstoppable up forward for the Wombats, bagging 18 goals between them — Mills 11 and Cerrone seven.

Cameron Simpson, Sam Vick, Charlie McLay and Coby O’Neill also were also prominent for the winners.

Kieran Malone has been a shining light in a dull season for Rushworth and was its standout again. He received most support from Joshua Newton, Toms Stevens Luke Weatherhead while veterans Brett Pateman and Patrick Rattray battled it out to the bitter end.

∎ Undera scored its fourth win for the season, with a 102-point win over Longwood.

Logan Campbell with five goals and Tristan Castle with four cashed in on the efforts of Dylan Moncur, Ethan Batey, Zac Brian and Chris Atkinson.

For Longwood Dakota Pellegrino, Caleb Ilbury, Geordie McMurtrie and Kobe Galvin fought hard against the odds.

∎ Shepparton East scrambled over the line against a determined Violet Town.

The Towners held a nine-point lead at the last change, but East was able to dig deep to clinch the win, which enabled it to hold fourth spot.

Thomas McCluskey, Shannon Campbell and Adem Barolli showed the way for East and received plenty of support from Tyler Pedretti, Adam Fichera and Jamie Spencer.

For The Towners Matthew McCarty, Oliver Ford, Riley Dowell, Sean Horsburgh, Tim Ross and Fintan Brazil were mainly responsible for keeping their side in the contest until the final minutes.

∎ Avenel trailed Dookie United all day, but pinched the premiership points in the dying minutes.

Braydon Avola, Mitch Tobin and Chayse Thomson stood tall for the Swans and got plenty of support from Kasey Duncan, Paul Arandt and Thomas Tobin.

Jye Limosani, Dylan Webster mill, Patrick McMullan, Jarrad Newman, Rhys O’Sullivan and Brad Ridings led the gallant Dookie bid to keep in the finals race.