Sport
19 May, 2026
Navarre secures 65-point victory
A seven-goal haul from the returning Aaron Slorach has allowed Navarre to return themselves to the winners’ list with a 65-point victory against a fightful Campbells Creek.
After missing the Grasshoppers’ previous three matches, Slorach made an immediate impact on a talented forward line that overcame some first half inaccuracy to keep themselves ahead despite a Magpies surge in the second half.
The visitors threatened to put the game to bed early at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve, with Harry Schroder, Jack Mentha and Angus Bade making an immediate impact.
However, a combination of Campbells Creek’s persistent on-ball pressure and an uncharacteristic lack of clinicalness led to the visitors booting an undesirable 4.6 in the first quarter, limiting their quarter time lead to 28 points.
Led by Jack Larkin, James Haber and co-captains Dylan and Mitchell Stevens, Campbells Creek began to showcase their midfield improvements in the second quarter, holding their own around the contest against a talented Navarre outfit.
While the Magpies remained goalless in the first half, their attacking momentum noticeably limited the Grasshoppers’ adventures forward.
When the visitors did get the ball inside 50, they remained wasteful with their scoring opportunities, with four of their five scoring shots in the second term resulting in minor scores.
Unsatisfied with the six-goal half time margin, Navarre began to tighten the screws following the break with a 39-point third quarter.
The Magpies were able to regularly hit the scoreboard in the second half with goals from Dylan Stevens, Larkin and James Martinovic, but Navarre proved too much for them to handle, as the visitors sealed a hard-fought win.
Alongside Slorach’s bag of seven, the ever-reliable Sam Rickard kicked three goals to bring his season tally to 14, while the explosive Mentha added a pair.
Bade was an easy selection for Navarre’s best players, named alongside Shannon Treloar, Schroder, Rickard, Aaron and Bradley Slorach.
While they were unable to harness the magic of their streak-snapping victory over Avoca the week prior into a historic upset, the Magpies will be pleased with their performance, led by Dylan Stevens’ three goals.
Dylan Stevens was joined by Larkin, Haber, Daniel Klimeck, Ryan Dzioba and Mitchell Stevens as Campbells Creek’s best players.