By David Nagel
Beaconsfield’s up-and-down debut season in Eastern Division One has continued after the Eagles were taught a football lesson by Mitcham at Holm Park Reserve on Saturday.
The 74-point loss – 18.10.118 to 6.8.44 – means the Eagles are still yet to string consecutive wins together in a very even competition.
The Eagles started brightly enough, dominating the first 20 minutes of play, but were then overwhelmed by a strong and confident Mitcham outfit.
Mitcham’s seven-goal hero, Jake Parente, toe-poked the game’s opener after six minutes of play before the Eagles settled and played some sparkling first-quarter football.
Tylah Stokoe looked sharp early, and troubled the Tigers’ midfield with his pace and clean ball use, and the Eagles soon had reward for their efforts.
Matt Johnson struck dual blows inside a minute, both from exactly the same spot, from just outside 50, to give the Eagles the early lead.
And when Matt Wilson burst through a pack to bag another, and Johnson capitalised on some great work from Jafar Ocaa in the forward pocket, the Eagles had four on the board and looked clearly the better team.
But Mitcham showed composure towards the end of the first term, and goals to Jesse Uren and Parente cut the margin back to just two points at quarter time.
Despite trailing, the Tigers took the initiative just towards the end of the quarter and continued their brand in the second term.
Wilson missed an early opportunity to extend Beaconsfield’s lead, but the Tigers then ran away with the contest.
Jackson Hallo found too much space to stroll into an easy goal, before Parente stamped his class on the contest with two important goals.
He first got on the end of a bullet-like pass from brother Marc, before a brilliant chase-down tackle saw him nail two goals inside two minutes.
The Tigers midfield won clearance after clearance and goals to Uren and Jake Toohey saw the visitors slice out to a 27-point lead at half time.
The Eagles had a dirty day at the office after their impressive first quarter display, with an easy miss by Johnson…just before half time…denying the home side any sort of momentum heading into the second half.
Mitcham drove home its advantage in the second half, booting 10.5 to 2.6 to claim third position on the ladder.
Parente’s seven goals were a standout, while midfielders Harry Veitch, Toohey and Jarrod West were also good, while tall defender Josh May was a mainstay in defence.
The Eagles not only lost the game, but gave back some valuable ground it made up in a comprehensive victory over Upper Ferntree Gully last week.
The Eagles percentage rose from 84 to 115 last week, but has dropped back to 97 after their disappointing second-half performance.
That drop in percentage has seen the Eagles fall from fifth to eighth on the ladder, but equal on points with fifth-placed Montrose.
The Eagles are one of five teams currently on three wins for the season, and head to Lilydale this week to take on another team in that group of five.
Johnson kicked three first-quarter goals, the only multiple contributor for Beaconsfield, while skipper Jake Bowd stuck to his guns in a busy and over-worked defence.
Casey Wassylko battled hard as a key forward and second ruckman, while Trent Stokoe and full-back Casey Thomsen did well to limit the damage with tireless efforts in the back half.
EASTERN DIVISION ONE
RESULTS – ROUND 8
BEACONSFIELD 4.0 4.2 5.6 6.8 (44)
MITCHAM 3.4 8.5 14.6 18.10 (118)
Beaconsfield Goals: M. Johnson 3, M. Wilson, M. Cameron, H. Coe. Best: J. Bowd, T. Stokoe, C. Wassylko, T. Stokoe, C. Thomsen, M. Wilson.
Mitcham Goals: Jake Parente 7, M. Pavey 2, J. Uren 2, T. Lovell 2, J. Smyth 2, J. Hallo, H. Veitch, J. Toohey. Best: J. Parente, H. Veitch, M. Parente, J. May, J. Toohey, M. Pavey.
OTHER GAMES
Bayswater 10.12.72 v Montrose 5.10.40, Croydon 6.10.46 v Mooroolbark 11.15.81, Upper Ferntree Gully 3.4.22 v East Ringwood 20.26.146, Wantirna South 11.13.79 v Lilydale 13.12.90.
LADDER
Mooroolbark 32, East Ringwood 28, Mitcham 20, Croydon 20, Montrose 12, Lilydale 12, Wantirna South 12, Beaconsfield 12, Bayswater 12, Upper Ferntree Gully 0.
FIXTURE – ROUND 9
Lilydale v Beaconsfield, East Ringwood v Bayswater, Mooroolbark v Wantirna South, Montrose v Croydon, Mitcham v Upper Ferntree Gully.
