Easter Sunday's VFL action is complete with three games taking place across the state.
The first match of the day took place at RSEA Park with St Kilda affiliate Sandringham facing Gold Coast.
Unlike last night’s AFL clash, it was the Suns prevailing 50-67 in wet conditions to run over the top in the last quarter as the Zebras led at every break.
For Gold Coast, AFL-listed players Connor Blakely (27 disposals), Brodie McLaughlin (three goals, 23 disposals), Charlie Constable (35 disposals) and Alex Davies (27 disposals) made a big impact in the win.
Key forward Mabior Chol also presented strongly with two goals while Jeremy Sharp also chipped in with a major and 23 touches of his own.
For the Zebras, Tom Highmore picked up plenty of footy with 21 touches and 12 marks, while Cooper Sharman (20 disposals) and Tom Campbell (13 disposals, 28 hitouts) were strong.
Ultimately though, St Kilda’s injury crisis at AFL level has robbed Sandringham of some depth in the state league as they sit 14th on the ladder.
At Port Melbourne, we saw the Northern Bullants face off against Essendon with the Bombers winning 88-65.
In a tight affair with the margin never exceeding three goals until the dying stages, Essendon’s class got them over the line.
The likes of Will Snelling (two goals, 25 disposals) and Ben Hobbs (one goal, 27 disposals) continued to push their cases for recalls, while Patrick Voss had an almost game with 1.4 in front of the big sticks after kicking nine goals across the season’s opening fortnight.
Sunday’s final game took place at Casey Fields with the Demons comfortably taking care of Frankston 109-49.
AFL-listed Demons Luke Dunstan (one goal 26 disposals), Bailey Laurie (one goal, 35 disposals) and Josh Schache (three goals, 16 disposals) performed well for the winners and have done their hopes of breaking into the seniors no harm.
For the Dolphins, tall Kai Owens (26 disposals) performed well after his brother Mitch put in a dominating display for St Kilda in their AFL clash on Saturday against Gold Coast.
The last VFL game of Easter weekend takes place on Monday morning at the MCG with Geelong and Box Hill meeting in a curtain raiser to the afternoon’s AFL clash between the Cats and Hawks.