CRANBOURNE sent a message to the rest of the competition after it demolished Tooradin-Dalmore by 91 points in their Anzac Day clash at Tooradin.
On a day reserved for honouring the sacrifices made by our service men and women, the Eagles saluted in style, 22.22 (154) to 9.9 (63).
It was an emotional day for the Seagulls, as president Greg Kelly remains in hospital recovering from injuries he received in a car accident.
Kelly listened to encounter via Casey Radio as his Seagulls sought to make a splash and take their first big scalp of 2016.
As the Tyabb Warbirds soared above and the Last Post echoed across Tooradin Recreation Reserve, the Seagulls bottled their raw emotion and exploded out of the blocks.
Tooradin slammed on two goals in the blink of an eye as a sloppy and scrappy Cranbourne was left with windburn.
The Seagulls played inspired football in the opening 10 minutes, until Eagles on-ball dynamo Max Gearon finally found Zak Roscoe inside 50. It woke Cranbourne from its slumber.
Moments later, Eagles forward Shaun Sparks slipped clear and slotted his first for the day, handing Cranbourne the lead.
The Eagles piled on three more to end the quarter, as hulking on-baller Shaun Marusic asserted his authority at the stoppages while the Seagulls’ turnovers became infectious.
Tooradin senior coach Lachlan Gillespie reiterated in his quarter-time address the importance of taking care of the ball — and blasted his midfielders for a lack of accountability.
Eagles soar on Anzac Day
SEE all the action from the Anzac ceremony and match in our gallery
When Cranbourne’s Luke Bee-Hugo burst clear from congestion and snapped truly in the opening minute of the second term, Gillespie’s words evaporated and the Eagles took control.
The Eagles slotted seven unanswered goals before Tooradin key forward Andrew Dean kicked his second, in an attempt to spark his side.
Unfortunately for the Seagulls, Spirit of the Anzac Medallist Ryan Davey and Eagles skipper Marc Holt had other ideas.
The industrious and unassuming Davey cruised around without company for most of the day and accumulated possessions.
Holt was well held early by wiry and staunch defender Michael Wallace, but as the Eagles midfielders put Tooradin to the sword Cranbourne’s goalkicking monolith reaped the rewards.
After Holt gathered the ball with his back to goal, muscled and turned and snapped across his body as he’s done hundreds of times throughout his career, Cranbourne never looked back.
The Eagles entered halftime with a 43-point lead and all the momentum, as the Seagulls turned the ball over and were made to pay with interest.
Tooradin struck first in the third term as rugged midfielder Michael Hobbs hit up Andrew Dean, and the forward kicked truly.
It was, however, a quarter where Cranny’s youngsters took charge and put the result beyond doubt.
Speedy wingman Dylan Cavalot set up camp on the outer wing and provided tremendous drive and vigour, and was constantly a link between defence and attack.
In attack, the emerging Roscoe took another step in his development and was an ever-present danger inside 50, in the air and at ground level.
The Eagles pushed the margin to 66 points by three-quarter time as senior coach Simon Goosey urged his side to “make a statement to the competition” in the final term, and they did so.
If not for inaccuracy in the last, the Eagles could have stretched the margin past the ton as they ran in waves and did as they pleased as the Seagulls surrendered.
Holt finished with five goals and Jarrod Murphy three. Dean kicked four for Tooradin-Dalmore
Cranbourne 5.5, 10.11, 15.17, 22.22 (154) d Tooradin-Dalmore 2.3, 4.4, 6.5, 9.9 (63).
