Proudly undefeated

By Mark Gullick
CRANBOURNE has gone through the Casey Cardinia league season undefeated after a 135-point win over Keysborough at Rowley Allen Reserve.
The Eagles secured the minor premiership and has a two-week break before starting their finals campaign on 10 September.
The Eagles piled on nine goals in the opening term against the Burras and led by 101 points at half-time, having kept Keysborough scoreless.
Keysborough altered its tactics during the long break and held the visitors to two goals in the third term before Cranbourne kicked five goals to two in the final term.
“Our objective was to start well and keep them down,” Cranbourne coach Doug Koop said.
“They’ve been really good starters over the last month and we were aware of that. For us to start so well and keep them scoreless at half-time, it was a pretty solid effort.”
Eagles captain Marc Holt secured the goalkicking award with a nine-goal haul.
Jarrod Murphy, Curtise Barker and Matthew Rus were strong performers.
“We’ll go and see who wins out of Berwick and Hampton Park and see how they’re looking,” Koop said.
“We’re more interested in our preparation and making sure we don’t come up rusty in that first final. We’ll certainly be doing it hard on the track in the next three weeks.”
Devon Meadows also concluded its season with a determined seven-point loss to Narre Warren at EG Allen Reserve.
The Panthers record of one win and a draw “won” them the wooden spoon.
However, they gave the reigning premiers a big shock last Saturday.
The result appeared a formality at quarter-time, with Narre leading by 25 points and playing strong football.
But the home side slowly worked into the game, restricting Narre’s possession rate while regularly hitting the scoreboard.
Devon Meadows outscored Narre Warren by five goals to three to close its half-time deficit to 11 points. Narre opened up a 23-point lead by the final change, but the Panthers stormed home, kicking six goals, but falling just short.
Devon Meadows has reaped excellent, ongoing service from its leading talent.
The classy duo David Verlardo (who has been named in the best eight times this season) and Steve McInnes (seven times) led the Panthers, along with Michael Bain (10 times), Aaron Laing (five times), Brandan Wapshott (nine times) and captain Jesse DeHey (seven times).