LYNDALE broke the shackles in the third term to come away 21-point winners after a spirited tussle with Endeavour Hills in their SFNL Division 3 clash at Barry Simon Reserve on Saturday.
Only three points separated the teams at halftime, but with tireless ruckman Dan Wilson giving the Pumas first use of the ball, the visitors pulled away.
“Dan turned the game our way I thought,” said Lyndale coach Brad Bruni after the game.
“He gave an armchair ride to our on-ballers and was effective around the ground as well.”
Bruni also praised the efforts of defenders Alex Kerr and Adrian Mattiuzzo.
“They shut down two of their key forwards and that made a big difference,” he said.
Brett Tosh was another standout on a wing, while on-baller Bert McGaw played his best game for the year, according to Bruni.
In-form forward Trevor Kumetaitis was also on song again with five goals for the winners. Creative midfielder Shaun Richards, reliable wingman Nathan Strom and the ever-dangerous Matthew Cram were constantly under notice for the Falcons.
Ashwood struck back with a vengeance to rout Dandenong by 111 points in a one-sided contest at Greaves Reserve. It wasn’t until the third quarter that the Redlegs steered through their first goal, so dominant were the visitors early. Jake Chapman and Brett Figas were on fire for the Magpies, as was veteran Dale Carroll, who finished with six goals. Patrick D’Arcy, Tanyol Enver and Josh Cole did best for the Redlegs.
Mount Waverley has emerged as premiership favourite following its 10-goal drubbing of the highly-fancied Doveton Eagles at Mayfield Reserve. The Mountain Lions trailed by four points at halftime, but with evergreen Jarrod Wilkin leading the way, the hosts slammed home 10 goals to one in a third-quarter blitz that shut the gate on the Eagles.
Peter Giannopoulos, Ian Taylor and Chris Jeffries (four goals) were among the many clear winners for the Mountain Lions, while the Eagles were well served by Jarrod O’Neill, Enayte Samadi, Kaine Bundy and Darren Ramsdale, who booted four goals.
Fledgling senior club Lyndhurst posted its second win of the season when it eclipsed Carrum Patterson Lakes by 21 points at Roy Dore Reserve. The Lions didn’t help their cause with some costly inaccuracy, going in at halftime with 2-11 on the board to the Lightning’s 7-4 from fewer shots. In the end, the more accurate visitors prevailed 15-6-96 to 10-15-75, with David Ford, Hamish Browning and Brad Ferri leading the way for the winners. Nathan Powell proved handy up forward with four goals.
Justin Olaman, David Brennan (four goals) and Paul Mauracher were the pick of the Lions.
A seven-goal second quarter set up Hallam’s 31-point win over South Yarra at Hallam Reserve.
Little separated the two teams for the rest of the game but the Hawks’ dominance with the strong breeze in that vital second term was the difference in the end. The hosts’ superior accuracy was also instrumental in their 13-6-84 to 7-11-53 victory. Midfielder Manny Peresso continues to impress for Hallam and was again among their best, along with Matt Neve, Dylan Grayson and Jayden Bubb.
Anthony Pane, Tom MacDonald, Jamie Ardern and Dean Mendes were among the leading contributors for the Lions.
Moorabbin tightened the screws in the second half to emerge victorious by 52 points over Sandown at Edinburgh Reserve. The plucky Cobras were within eight points at the long break, but with Chris Baum, Zdenek Hostalek (3 goals) and Aaron Bodin showing the way, the Kangaroos hopped away for a comfortable victory. For the Cobras, it was an encouraging effort, with impressive displays from the consistent Jake D’Atri, Ricky Logan, Matt Dickson and Michael Edwards.
It’s a rivalry that goes back a long way and when Oakleigh District and Clayton locked horns in Division 1 at the District’s Princes Highway Oval, the old timers relished the renewal of acquaintances.
“It’s a big day because we’re playing THEM,” summed it up for one District stalwart, while a Clayton veteran reminded them that they were on Clayton territory but on the wrong side of the tracks, alluding to the fact that the clubs are only kilometres apart, separated by the railway line.
But it was all in good fun and for the players, it was just another match to win and when the final siren sounded, Oakleigh District had scrambled home by 10 points to avenge their 2010 grand final defeat at the hands of their local rival, and for those with longer memories, another grand final defeat in the last ever Federal League grand final in 1981.
“There was a bit of talk during the week about the rivalry, but we were only worrying about what we had to do to win,” said Clayton coach Nick Scanlon.
“The rivalry is really only for the old stalwarts as the players of both clubs are pretty new to it all.”
Scanlon conceded that the better team won this time around.
“They played the conditions better than we did and deserved to win,” he said.
“They used the wind very well in the first quarter and when our turn came we couldn’t match their effort.
“And they played intelligent football against the wind in the last quarter.”
The Oaks had plenty of winners, including Luke Casey and the Carroll boys, Pat and Ryan, while Dave Velardo was handy up forward with four goals.
Andy Ray was easily the Clays’ best, with impressive efforts also from Jack Bourke and Trent Papworth, whether on a wing or when moved to full-back. Ray and coach Scanlon bagged three goals apiece for the visitors.
Bentleigh held off a fast-finishing St Kilda City by a goal after the Demons had held sway for most of the day at Bentleigh Reserve. With the wind playing a key role, the hosts were held scoreless in the final term but had enough in reserve to come away with the points. Scott Lawry again led by example for the winners, with solid support from Justin Hall and Jackson Meredith, while the in-form Paddy Nicholls weighed in with three handy goals. The Saints were well served by Vinh Dang, Josh O’Donnell, Ricky Thomson and Sam Lewin.
Their close finals tussles of recent years were all but forgotten when St Pauls posted its first win of the season with a 109-point demolition of East Brighton.
Although the Vampires are starting again with a youth policy, the Doggies were indeed impressive and controlled every line. If not for the ‘old brigade’ of Mark ‘Jewie’ Jamieson and Barry Hope the pain may have been greater for the visitors. Gritty little on-baller Marcus Lavender and the resourceful Miles Harding also did well for the red-and-whites but the day belonged to the Doggies. Callum Cathcart was at his brilliant best for the winners, while Nick Shannon’s impressive display was rewarded with four goals. Matt Herbstreit and Keiran Knox were among the many other standouts for St Pauls, whose confidence will be boosted by Saturday’s victory.
Cheltenham showed glimpses of what may be to come when it outscored reigning premier Dingley in the second half at Souter Oval.
Although the Rosellas eventually succumbed by 26 points, there were some promising signs for new Cheltenham coach Des Ryan.
“We were a bit ordinary in the first half but much better after halftime,” he said afterwards.
“We beat them in the contests and outplayed them in the second half, which was encouraging.”
Ryan knows that improvement for the Rosellas will not happen overnight.
“It will take a while for us to put all the right processes in place and for us to develop the right combination,” he said.
“We will keep turning players over until we have the mix that works.”
Despite the blustery conditions, the Dingoes showed their skills — skills that Ryan wants his team to emulate.
“They are a very good team and we want to build our game until we’re up there with them,” he added.
But in the end, the Dingoes were too accomplished, with young forward Kane Davidson, Stu Cleeve, Jack Ades and James Ball among their best.
Dingley coach Shane Morwood agreed with Ryan.
“They were much better than us after halftime, when we really dropped off,” he said.
“But it was a pretty ugly game and to be honest, I am pleased we got the four points.”
Daniel Vaughan, Jack and Max Worrell, Jack Barclay and Chris Graham were among those to show out for the Rosellas.
Any notions that last year’s runner-up Mordialloc may have lost some traction were dispelled at Ben Kavanagh Reserve when the Bloods sent the highly-rated East Malvern packing to the tune of 56 points. The defining aspect of the Bloods’ victory was the restriction of the Panthers to just two goals for the day.
“Our defensive structures and our pressure around the ball really worked for us today,” said Bloods coach Jason Chapple after the game.
“We have given up only five goals in eight quarters of footy, so that is pleasing for a coach,” he added.
But Chapple was quick to put things in perspective. “While I’m excited about the way we played today, you have to remember that East was coming off a game only five days earlier and they missed some easy shots early.” But it was indeed a solid, all-round performance by the Bloods, with Josh Jewell sensational in defence all day. Justin Summons was again prominent for the hosts, while Alistair Pike was lively with four goals. The Barnhorn brothers, Luke and Michael, won special praise from Chapple, while usual suspects, Beau Turner, Todd Bastion and James Morris also impressed. The Panthers were too disappointed to name any ‘best players’.
A goal from a 50m penalty enabled Skye to pinch a five-point win over Caulfield in a free-flowing game at Carrum Downs Reserve. With most of the scoring at one end, the Bears were unable to maximise the use of the strong breeze in the final quarter when they booted 2-5 to the Bombers’ solitary, but decisive, single major.
“It was a very disappointing loss for us as it would have set our season up,” said Caulfield coach Steven Kidd after the game.
“We made some crucial errors that cost us in the end.”
But Kidd was happy with his team’s ball movement for most of the day and the form of some of his younger charges.
“We had three first-gamers in today and they all did well,” he said.
The consistent Tom Heagney was again among the Bears’ major contributors, with Tom Stait and young half-forward Sean Gunning also prominent.
Port Melbourne Colts again underlined its potential as flag material when it dispensed with the improving Highett by 25 points at Turner Road. After an even first half, with Nathan Spinks and former Pascoe Vale midfielder Justin Taylor leading the way, the Colts skipped away in the third term to grab the game by the throat.
Lewis Mildenhall was also in everything for the winners, as was Mitch Clarke, who bagged four goals. Stalwart Pat Singh, energetic on-baller Mark Kidner and the industrious Yianni Pasialis did best for the Doggies.
Murrumbeena crashed through for its first win of the season with a solid 28-point win over Black Rock at Murrumbeena Park. The Lions grabbed the initiative in the third term after the scores were deadlocked at the long interval. With Chris Evans, Mitch Walder and Anthony Ekberg-Weiss leading the charge, the hosts steered home six goals to three to take control. Walder finished the day with five goals, while Ekberg-Weiss snared four. Dean Spanos and Jarrod Walker also shone for the winners, with Brenton Henry, Jay Williams and Tim Hunter (3 goals) doing well for the Jets.
A dominant third quarter propelled Keysborough to a 16-point win over Heatherton at Keysborough. With goals at a premium in the first half, the Burras slammed home seven goals to two in the championship quarter to take control.
Daniel Morland was yet again among Keysborough’s best and it is anyone’s guess where the Burras would be without him. Will Gayfer was another key contributor for the winners and finished with four goals, while Jake Dunn and Cameron Dalton also impressed. Hardworking midfielder Matt Goodman helped keep the Tunners in with a chance, while Kahill Saliba and Andrew Morris were always busy. Matt Van Shajick was ever dangerous up forward and finished with four goals.
Chelsea Heights recovered from some early inaccuracy to prevail by 23 points over Hampton in blustery conditions at Beazley Reserve. The Heighters squandered early opportunities with 1-8 in the first term before making amends in the third quarter.
With big Phil Smith on target and Mike Danckert in everything, the hosts steered through seven goals to convert their three-point halftime deficit into a commanding 30-point lead at the last change. Bryce Atherton continued his good form with another classy display for the winners, while Luke Behin was again tireless in the ruck.
Smith finished with five goals, while Jackson Fry bagged three. For the Hammers, it was all left to stalwart Justin Isaac, who booted six of their 10 goals in a lone show of defiance, although solid support came from Carl Nichols, Rhys Pierce and Corey Smith (3 goals).
COMING UP
Div. 1
Cheltenham v East Brighton
St Kilda City v Dingley
Clayton v Bentleigh
East Malvern v Oakleigh District
St Pauls v Mordialloc
Div. 2
Black Rock v Skye
Caulfield v Keysborough
Heatherton v Port Colts
Hampton v Springvale Districts
Chelsea Heights v Highett
Bye — Murrumbeena
Div. 3
Moorabbin v Endeavour Hills
Lyndale v Carrum Patt Lakes
Lyndhurst v Mt Waverley
Doveton Eagles v Ashwood
South Yarra v Sandown
Hallam v Dandenong
