Casey Cardinia League review – round 17

By Brad Kingsbury
NARRE WARREN gave itself an outside chance of grabbing third place with a relentless 56-point victory over BERWICK at Fox Road on Saturday.
After suffering three consecutive losses on the road, the young Magpies regrouped and led from the outset, booting 20 goals in blustery conditions.
Veteran spearhead Brett Evans led from the front with six goals in a triumphant return to form after contemplating retirement during the week, while at the other end, interleague defender Lee Boyle kept league leading full-forward Grant Noonan goalless in a comprehensive domination.
As it did in most games on the weekend, the wind was a major factor in the game with the Magpies taking full advantage to lead by 28 points after the opening term.
However, when the home side booted five goals to four into the wind in the second quarter to lead by 31 points at half-time, the writing was big on the Wickers’ wall.
Berwick ruckman Dale Robinson was winning most of the tapouts, but it was the smart and hungry Magpie small men led by Chris Potalej, Jackson Parker, Justin Marriott and Daniel Borninkhof who took advantage of the crumbs.
They either sharked the ball or applied blinding pressure to the Wicker ball carriers at every stoppage.
When the ball went forward Evans and his young sidekick Dylan Piening were excellent targets.
On the other hand, excluding opportunist Brad Miles, the Berwick attack was sterile and static.
The match was iced by the Magpies with a nine-goal third term blitz and when Michael Collins slotted through the Magpies 20th goal with two minutes left to play, the day was complete and the post-match celebrations began.
Brett Robinson, Adam Mott and youngster Nathan Page were among the visitors to play out the four quarters, but they sorely missed injured star Jason Heath in attack.
Narre Warren coach Matt Shinners congratulated his players for their attack on the ball and attack on the game.
TOORADIN upset DEVON MEADOWS by 29 points at Glover Reserve, winning the Ron Mantel Shield.
Most expected the home side to win, given the Seagulls were coming off a belting at the hands of bottom-placed Hampton Park the weekend before but, again, the formline was reversed and Tooradin looked a class above their opponents, save for a 15-minute patch in the opening term.
The visitors kicked with a four-to-five-goal wind blowing towards the Western Port end of the ground and opened up with the first two goals through Beau Miller and Chad Liddell in the first five minutes of play. The danger signs for the Panthers were evident from the start with Miller absolutely dominating around the midfield and ruckman Steve Arvanitis controlling the air in a surprise return to the side after reports that he had retired the week before.
Despite less scoring shots, Tooradin led by 14 points at half-time and blew that out to a match-winning 42 points with a five-goal-to-one wind-assisted third term.
Even the report and send off of Clint Setford for a behind-the-play incident in the second term failed to halt the Seagulls’ momentum and again Devon Meadows suffered from an influx of old bad habits that cost downfield free kicks and goals.
The Panthers tried to mount a final term revival, but Tooradin defended their lead and ran out comfortable winners on the day.
Miller was brilliant and was marked by several players including Keith Moon, Damien Hinkley and Joel Alder, but his influence was massive and he ended the day with well in excess of 40 possessions.
CRANBOURNE put itself in the box seat to play at least two finals with a grinding 28-point victory over BEACONSFIELD at Casey Fields.
The visitors kicked with the strong wind in the opening term and shot away to a 21-point lead, thanks to three goals from star forward Andrew Williams together with a dominant effort from ruckman Chris Kelf.
However Cranbourne answered in the second quarter and should have been further in front than seven points at the long break, but for inaccuracy at goals.
Beaconsfield blew its chance to amass a decent lead in the third quarter, again through inaccuracy at goal.
They kicked 2.6 to two goals straight for the term and the 11-point margin at three-quarter time was never going to be enough if the home side used the wind to advantage.
Cranbourne did just that and kicked two quick goals to wrest the momentum and then continued the effort to record a solid win.
Beaconsfield defender Kane Airdrie shaded key Cranbourne forward Marc Holt on the day, but it was the running attack of Matthew Fletcher, Leigh Holt, Brad Coller and Michael Gersbeck who created the avenues to goal that sealed the result.
PAKENHAM had an unimpressive 56-point victory over HAMPTON PARK at the Toomuc Reserve.
The Lions are two weeks away from the finals but, according to coach Michael Holland, still have some work to do before they can hope for success.
A scrappy game developed and while the Lions maintained control, only four goals had been scored at half-time and, as a spectacle, the contest was underwhelming.
A five-goal third quarter from Pakenham put the result to rest and the game petered out as Hampton Park players started to contemplate the end of a tough season. The Redbacks better players included Linden Fredericks, Brady White and Ryan Simpson.
A late shot for goal by ROC defender Andrew Logan against KEYSBOROUGH missed its target, leaving the fast-finishing Kangaroos five points adrift of the home side when the final siren blew seconds later.
Logan’s kick would have drawn the game had it scored full points, which would have seen ROC steal two premiership points after trailing the Burra from the first bounce at the Rowley Allen Reserve.
In a one-sided Nepean League round PEARCEDALE downed SOMERVILLE by a massive 146 points with full-forward Kerem Baskaya booting 10 goals.