By Marcus Uhe
Berwick Springs coach Rod Benstead said he hasn’t lost faith in his Titans’ premiership prospects in 2023, despite a calamitous loss to Seville on Saturday.
The 108-point margin was the third-biggest defeat in the club’s short history, with an inaccurate Titans side kicking 4.13 (37) to the Blues’ 22.13 (145) at Seville.
The Blues saved their highest-scoring quarter for last, slamming on 9.4 in the final term to send a message to their blue and green opponents, the side they are desperately trying to unseat from second place.
But a quirk in the fixture means that the two will meet again in two weeks time, giving the Titans the chance to hit-back straight after their round 14 bye, a contest Benstead labelled as a “statement game”.
“I said after the game, I’ve still got so much belief in the group, and I’ve got trust,” Benstead said.
“Sometimes you just have poor days and you move on really quickly.
“I think [Seville] are strong at the contest, they’ve just a bit of experience and took territory.
“They play to their strengths, they were pretty physical on the weekend.
“We’ve got that opportunity next week when we play them again, so that’s exciting.”
Domenic Aloi (five goals), Dylan Broadway (four) and Ryan Farrow (four) combined for 13 of Seville’s 22, while Berwick Springs finished without multiple goalkickers.
Stars Aidan Nelson and Hayden Stagg shone for the Titans, as did defender Riley Hillman.
“We kicked 1.5 in the first quarter and it was 16 entries to five,” Benstead said.
“We probably just needed to capitalise early and when we didn’t, they got their opportunities and scored.
“Each time we’ve had a performance like that we’ve had the ability to redeem ourselves, so that’s the question.
“It’ll be interesting to see the scorelines of the next encounter.”
Lachlan Marie kicked one major on debut for the Titans who were forced to test their depth, missing a number of key players including leading goalkicker Ty Ellison, defenders Jarryd Hocking and Jayden Malek, and midfielder Daniel Ousley.
At Officer, a five-goal blitz to open the final quarter from Emerald put to bed any chance of an upset from the Kangaroos, winning 15.12 102 to 11.9 75 at Starling Road.
The Bombers had got the better of Officer comfortably in their two meetings earlier in 2023, by 60 points in round one and 83 points in round eight, but the Kangaroos played with an attacking flair that had the ladder leaders under the pump.
Goals to Mark Seedman and Lachlan Ward cut a 20-point half time margin to eight within just five minutes of the third quarter.
Lachlan Hoye and Matt Edwards offered steadiers for the Bombers, but the persistent Kangaroos would not be denied, with consecutive goals to Troy Tharle ensuring just a slim nine-point lead at the final break.
Emerald had been tested in recent weeks, notably against Berwick Springs and even losing its first contest of the season against Seville in round 11, meaning the pressure was on to reaffirm its premiership credentials.
But good sides respond when faced with adversity, and that’s exactly what the Bombers did.
Lachlan Crnogorac and Noah Van Haren both showed their immense talent with roving goals off contests at speed to push the margin to 21 after seven minutes.
Shortly after, three goals in four minutes from Hoye, Crnogorac and Isaac Seskis pushed the lead to 39, the widest the gap between the two sides all day.
As the Bombers’ dynamic forward pack did its damage, the defence held up its end of the bargain, clamping-down on Officer’s forward threats and not allowing a major until the 24th minute, by which stage the game was all but over.
Not only were the defenders cutting off attacking forays, but their ability to mark and initiate attack through the corridor was critical as the game went on.
Hoye and Crnogorac each finished with three for Emerald, who boast an embarrassment of riches in its forward half.
David Johnson was held to just two but missed a number of shots, while Rogan Goonan was held goalless.
For Officer, Mark Seedsman kicked a second bag of five in two weeks and Troy Tharle three, but unlike their opponents they lacked enough avenues to goal.
In spite of a much-improved performance, it continues Officer’s inability to get the better of sides ranked above them on the Division One ladder, and sees them fall from fourth to fifth.
Healesville are back on the winners list and into fourth place, replacing Officer, after a nine-goal third quarter from blew Belgrave out of the water following a tight first half.
A six-point halftime lead to the Bloods became 59 at the final break and 80 at the final siren as the Magpies were held to just two behinds after half time.
Eight goals to Sam Gebert sends him soaring to the top of the leading goalkicker’s list, ahead of two clear of Johnson on 34.
