By David Nagel
South Belgrave has confirmed itself as the team to beat in Eastern Division 1 football after the Saints rode a strong second half to a 22-point victory – 14.11(95) to 11.7(73) – over Beaconsfield on Anzac Day.
The home-ground Saints continued their faultless start to their 2025 premiership assault after commanding victories over Park Orchards and Norwood in the opening two rounds of the season.
Beaconsfield, meanwhile, was playing its first game since April 5, with a bye in round two and the league-wide Easter break a week later making it 20 days between outings.
But there was certainly no need for WD40 to be applied in the opening term, with the Eagles having the better of a ruthless and rust-free first quarter.
South Belgrave kicked two of the opening three goals of the contest before Beaconsfield turned things around heading into the quarter-time break.
The Eagles applied great pressure to the Saints in an extremely hot start to the game, with three unanswered goals leading to an 11-point lead at the first change.
The Eagles then struck an early blow in the second term, racing out to a 17-point lead, before the Saints shook off the visitors’ best punch and regained control of the contest.
The Saints narrowed the margin with two quick answers and then dominated forward-50 control for the next 20 minutes of play.
The home side had nine shots at goal to nil, from the three-minute mark to 23 minutes into the second term, but wasted opportunities; kicking 1.6 after those initial two accurate shots at goal.
The Eagles had dodged a bullet – six in fact – and squared things away at half time after a late goal in the second quarter.
The third term was a real arm-wrestle, with both teams having their time in the sun.
Beaconsfield kicked the first of the second half, but South then answered with three straight conversions to take a 13-point lead during the middle stages of the third quarter.
But the Eagles weren’t ready to raise the white flag on Anzac Day just yet, kicking two of their own to cut the margin to a solitary point heading into the red-zone.
And it was a red-zone that would prove costly for Mick Fogarty and his Eagles, with South Belgrave kicking the final two goals of the premiership quarter to take a 13-point lead to the final change of ends.
The Saints kicked out to a 25-point lead, early in the final term, before Beaconsfield responded, making it 16 points the difference at the 18-minute mark.
South Belgrave then staved off the Eagles latest challenge, kicking two of the last three goals to claim the four points; and the Rik Crook Cup, in a high-standard game of football played in wet and greasy conditions.
The Saints had several avenues to goal, with Taylor Garner booting three, and Riccardo Daraio, Damian Garner and Blake Simondson two each, while former Melbourne and St Kilda midfielder Luke Dunstan was among the better players on the ground.
Jake Aarts, Hayden Brough and co-captain Damien Johnston slotted two each for Beaconsfield, who had Brandon White in super form in defence.
Jack Docherty was also influential for the Eagles, while Finn Devine and Devon Smith were hard workers on the day.
South Belgrave stay at home in round four, hosting North Ringwood, while the Eagles host second-placed Boronia in a litmus test at Holm Park Reserve.
EASTERN DIVISION 1
SOUTH BELGRAVE 2.3 5.9 10.10 14.11(95)
BEACONSFIELD 4.2 6.3 9.3 11.7(73)
South Belgrave Goals: Taylor Garner 3, Riccardo Daraio 2, Damian Garner 2, Blake Simondson 2, Sean Bartels, Calvin Daraio, Mitchell Garner, Roger Mazzone, Brayden Ryan. Best: Luke Dunstan, Blake Simondson, Clay Tucker, Roger Mazzone, Calvin Daraio, Tim Smith.
Beaconsfield Goals: Jake Aarts 2, Hayden Brough 2, Damien Johnston 2, Marley Appleyard, Jake Bowd, Charlie Muley, Tylah Stokoe, Ali Zijai. Best: Brandon White, Jack Docherty, Finn Devine, Devon Smith, Damien Johnston, Jake Aarts.
Other Games: Park Orchards 17.19(121) def Bayswater 6.9(45), Boronia 17.10(112) def Montrose 6.8(44), North Ringwood 21.27(153) def Norwood 8.8(56). Bye: Mooroolbark.
Ladder: South Belgrave 12, Boronia 8, North Ringwood 8, Park Orchards 8, Mooroolbark 4, Beaconsfield 4, Montrose 4, Bayswater 0, Norwood 0.
Fixture R4 – Saturday 3 May: Norwood (9) v Bayswater (8), Beaconsfield (6) v Boronia (2), South Belgrave (1) v North Ringwood (3), Mooroolbark (5) v Park Orchards (4). Bye: Montrose (7).
