Hawthorn's Luke Lowden, the player who has been on an AFL list longer than any other player to have not played an AFL match, was best on ground in Box Hill’s 52-point thrashing of the Coburg Tigers at Coburg City Oval on Saturday.
Lowden, who was chosen with pick No. 63 in the 2008 AFL draft, has shown strong development in the VFL, but this season looms as a make-or-break year. The 23-year-old did his chances no harm with a dominant performance in the ruck and up forward with two goals.
While other young developing ruckmen Sam Grimley and Jonathon Ceglar have been given senior opportunities at Hawthorn, Lowden is still awaiting the chance of running out with the reigning premier.
Alex Woodward, returning from injury, was also dominant to add to Hawthorn’s depth of young midfielders.
James Sicily is rapidly developing as a young forward and kicked three goals, while Tim O’Brien also kicked two goals for the Hawks in the 17.19 (121) to 10.9 (69) win.
COLLINGWOOD withstood a final quarter surge from Essendon to post an impressive 25-point win at Windy Hill.
The Pies burst to a 25-point lead at the first change and held their dominance throughout the match until the Bombers began a late charge. Tom Bellchambers’ final quarter goal got them within 15 points.
Bellchambers was impressive as he gets closer to an AFL recall against the Western Bulldogs next week.
Pies VFL coach Dale Tapping was also impressed by the dominant display in the ruck from Ben Hudson.
"I thought Ben Hudson was unbelievable. He sort of relished playing in the ruck without getting rotated," he said.
Travis Colyer was also among the Bombers best.
RICHMOND VFL coach Tim Clarke says the draw with Frankston on Friday at Frankston Park was "frustrating" given it led by 39 points at half-time and 28 points at three-quarter time.
Three last quarter goals to Dolphins spearhead Michael Lourey helped get the Dolphins back into the match and a Tim Harper dribbler at the 31-minute mark levelled the match, despite a couple of steadying goals from Ty Vickery in between.
"It’s frustrating for us because we should have won and won comfortably, but we ended up in a draw," Clarke said.
"We cost ourselves in the end…we couldn’t convert, we couldn’t make the most of our opportunities."
Clarke said the Tigers must set themselves now for next Sunday’s clash against Geelong at Punt Road Oval in order to get their season back on track.
"We need to get back on to two-and-a-half wins out of five games, then we will be going OK,” he said.
It was Frankston’s first points of the season after four close and honourable losses, including one after the siren to the Northern Blues.
Ben Cavarra and Shane Hockey were influential, particularly in the final term, while Jackson Coleman was lively in the third term with two goals.
Also on Friday, Footscray thrashed Bendigo by 166 points in Bendigo with Western Bulldogs youngster Clay Smith setting the tone on his return from a knee injury with 39 disposals and three goals.