The imperious Wandin side previously undefeated in the Outer East Premier Division has suffered a shock loss to local rivals Mt Evelyn in Round 10.
Mt Evelyn only had two wins on the board for the season prior to their upset victory on Saturday after a short trip up Clegg Road.
The scores were locked at 9 apiece at the first break, with Wandin holding slim 5 and 9 points leads at the following changes in a low-scoring affair.
A more disciplined Mt Evelyn coped with the conditions better than their ladder-leading counterparts, despite Wandin getting out to a 3-goal lead twice in the second half as Mt Evelyn worked hard to stay in the contest and in the end deserved their victory.
Inaccuracy in the poor conditions might’ve cost the Dogs in the end, kicking 7.14, 56 to the Rovers’ 8.10, 58.
Thomas Hinds, Patty Bruzzese, John Ladner, Damien Furey, Harrison van Duuren and Cody Hirst were the top Dogs on the day. C Hirst and Jordan Jaworski kicked 2 goals each, with one apiece for Todd Garner, Bruzzese and Van Duuren.
The Rovers were led from the front by Callum Urquhart, Daimon Kift, Ashley Gibbons, Max Kleverkamp, Noah Beamish and Matthew Gibbons. Their goalkickers were Kift with 3, Matthew Gibbons with 2 and Michael Gibbons, William Gordon and Jed Thompson all with 1.
It wasn’t the only close result on the day either, with Mt Evelyn’s A-Grade netballers clinching a 1-point win while the B Grade netballers had to settle for a draw.
The loss leaves Wandin second for the first time this season, behind Narra Warren on percentage. It sets up a must-watch match against the Magpies away from home for the Dogs next week.
