By DAVID NAGEL
TOUGH, hard, good old-fashioned footy returned to the Casey Cardinia Football League on Saturday as Narre Warren overcame a brave Berwick challenge by 43 points at Edwin Flack Reserve.
Intentions were made clear from the first bounce as Magpie ruckman Steve Watson let Berwick youngster Jake Gains know what big-time football was all about.
Berwick responded, but the pressure applied by the Magpies saw the Wickers cough up the ball, and you just can’t do that against back-to-back champs. Two of the Magpies first-quarter goals were the direct result of some panic under pressure. Narre extended its lead at each break in a game that really lived up to its billing.
Kerem Baskaya was the dominant forward on the ground, slotting six for the winners, while skipper Michael Collins and The Surgeon, Josh Tonna, were once again clinical through the midfield.
Berwick’s tall-brigade of Gains, Michael Manley and Daniel Harrison were its best performers.
Snoozing through its alarm clock once again, Cranbourne overcame a slow start to run away from Tooradin by 33 points at Westernport Oval.
An upset looked likely as the Seagulls slipped out to a 34-point lead early in the second term before the Eagles clawed their way back. Still nine points down at three-quarter time, the Eagles rattled on 8.6 to 2.0 in the final term.
Michael Theodoridis continued his great form, with six for Cranny, while skipper Marc Holt was sent-off early before making up for his indiscretion with five second-half goals. Defenders Brandon Osborne and Stu Morrish were others to impress while Paddy Chin was at his opportunistic best for the Seagulls with four goals.
ROC has plonked itself nicely inside the top four after an economic 21-point victory over Doveton at Starling Road.
The Kangas only had 15 shots on goal, but 12 of those were majors as Matt Clarke, with five, and Blair Allan, three, capitalised on every opportunity up forward. Dylan Chapman was tremendous in the ruck for ROC, while Doves skipper Shannon Henwood was his side’s best player.
Six goals from Brent Heus, five from Troy McDermott, and an Anzac Medal winning display from skipper Daniel Mislicki were the inspiration behind Beaconsfield’s 112-point victory over Hampton Park.
The Eagles were horrific in front of goals, kicking 3.10 in the first term before straightening up in its first win for the season. Josh Dodsworth and Kane Hughes were others to shine for the victors while John Kennedy and Peter Bastin battled hard for the Redbacks.
Pakenham also chalked up its first win in 2014, saluting by 21 points over Keysborough. Daniel Fry booted four the Lions while Russ Lehman and Dom Paynter were everywhere through the midfield.
