By Marcus Uhe
A heavyweight battle between the two top sides in Division One of the Outer East Football Netball League lived up to all expectations on Saturday as Emerald prevailed by four points in a thriller against Berwick Springs.
The margin was never more than four points at any break in the game with the Bombers holding off a late Titans charge to claim a 12.11 83 to 11.13 79 victory.
Emerald coach Sean Clearihan was delighted with his side’s ability to stick fat with what they had implemented over summer, and says they’re beginning to reap the rewards with a series of positive results.
“I think Berwick Springs got out to about 18 points during the third quarter but the boys stuck to their structures, which was fantastic and they crawled their way back to being a point up at three-quarter-time,” Clearihan said.
“We got out to 11 points (in the last quarter) and then Berwick Springs had one more roll of the dice.
“They got a goal and it was an arm-wrestle.
“It was an arm-wrestle all day, I wasn’t even looking at the scoreboard at all.
“When we got the break on them, we just held on, which was good.
“The boys stuck to their structures and the mental side of their game has improved a hell of a lot this year, which is what we’ve been working on.”
The result means Emerald are the only undefeated in Division One, having got the better of three sides expected to be around the mark when it comes to premiership contention.
“We’ve had a pretty hard start, Officer Seville and now Berwick Springs,” Clearihan said.
“We’ve been tested and now and we probably didn’t want it any other way than winning the hard ones like that.
“We’ve got Hallam this week, they’ve been putting in good efforts so they’ll be wanting to have a good crack at us.
“We’ve got to be prepared for that.
“We celebrate the win on a Saturday but Sunday is the start of a new week and we’ve got to concentrate on the next side.”
Small forward and former best-and-fairest winner for the Bombers, Rogan Goonan starred with four goals in his first senior game of the year to lead all goalkickers on the field, where Ty Ellison and Braydn Hoewel continued their strong starts to 2023 with three goals each for the Titans.
Berwick Springs were missing star midfielder Clint Johnson, who sustained an injury the previous week against Officer.
The Kangaroos are on the board under Danny Charles, victorious over Seville by 55 points.
Officer book-ended the game with six goals in the first and last quarter and were supremely accurate in front of goal, kicking 20.9 (129), where Seville were wayward with 10.14 (74).
Troy Tharle made a successful return from injury, kicking five goals and forming a dangerous combination with Mark Seedsman who kicked four of his own to take his season tally to 10.
There are now four sides in Division One sitting on one victory, while newcomers Hallam still search for the elusive maiden win.
Seville, grand finalists in 2022, have struggled to score heavily this season, sporting the lowest ‘points for’ total of sides to have played three games.
Healesville are also on the board, thrashing Belgrave by 56 points at Belgrave Recreation Reserve.
The high of the Magpies’ drought-breaking win last week wasn’t able to be sustained as Healesville pulled away in the second half, kicking eight goals to three.
Sam Gebert kicked five for the visitors and Jesse Bates three.
Ellison extended his lead at the top of the leading goal kickers list, now two clear of both Callum White and Seedsman on 10 each.
Both Belgrave and Seville will be out to secure a second win of the season when they battle in Seville, top tackle bottom when Hallam host Emerald and Berwick will look to bounce-back against Healesville.
