By David Nagel
Even thick black clouds that hovered threateningly over Holm Park Reserve on Saturday failed to camouflage a dream day for Beaconsfield in Eastern Division One football.
The Eagles controlled the controllables; leapfrogging Montrose into fourth place on the ladder with an impressive 10.4(64) to 6.7(43) victory.
But the news got even better for Mick Fogarty and his team, with the Eagles’ number-one challenger for a finals berth – Mooroolbark – going down by one point to seventh-placed Bayswater.
A confidence booster on one hand, and a pressure-reliever on the other; it was the perfect outcome for the Eagles who are now well placed to make a serious run at this year’s premiership.
After making a staggering seven changes ahead of last week’s clash against South Belgrave, Fogarty welcomed back some talent with Hayden Brown, Brandon White, Mitch Szybkowski, Myles Currie and Brady Niezgodka all returning to the side.
And it didn’t take long for the inclusions to have an impact.
Currie and Szybkowski played a key hand in the first of the afternoon, with Jafar Ocaa racing into an open goal after one minute of play.
Szybkowski then found Ocaa on the lead, and when Brown did likewise at the 12-minute mark; Ocaa had the first three goals of the match.
Bailey White answered for the Demons, before the Eagles hit a significant first hurdle.
Key defender Lachlan Valentine landed awkwardly after a marking contest, 19 minutes into the first term, with the aftermath seeing him clutch agonisingly at his knee.
Heading into Saturday’s contest, Valentine was one of only five Eagles – alongside Tylah Stokoe, Hayden Brough, Sam Merrick and Devon Smith – to have played every game this year.
The news got worse for the Eagles when Ty Galbraith cut the margin back to five points a minute later.
But the home side regained its composure, with goals to Casey Wassylko – and a fourth for the quarter to Ocaa – opening up a 17-point lead at the first change.
Szybkowski then provided the day’s highlight; perfectly timing his run at the back of a stoppage, gathering cleanly, and guiding one through off his right foot to make it 23 points the difference; eight minutes into the second.
White once again answered for the Demons, before a cracking response from Currie gave the home side a four-goal buffer at the major interval.
Charlie Muley then gave the Eagles the opening goal in each of the first three quarters, before a goal to Dan Chamberlin saw the Eagles head to the final break with a 25-point lead.
Brown then iced the game with a congested six-pointer, early in the last, before the Demons rallied with several shots on goal.
Fortunately for the Eagles they missed, with Szybkowski and Mackay Bateson then setting up Devon Smith for a crowd-pleasing sealer.
Ocaa’s opening burst was crucial in a low-scoring match, while the defensive efforts of Connor Mouat, Finn Devine and Jack Docherty were critically important in Valentine’s absence.
Stokoe and Michael Cameron were consistent performers through the midfield, while Currie’s ability to run up and down the ground ensured the half forward had an impact.
The Eagles can take a deep breath now, with a bye this weekend, before setting their focus on an away trip to ladder-leading Park Orchards.
They then finish off their season with games against Doncaster (9th), Mitcham (3rd) and Bayswater (7th).
BEACONSFIELD 5.0 7.1 8.3 10.4(64)
MONTROSE 2.1 3.1 4.2 6.7(43)
Beaconsfield Goals: Jafar Ocaa 4, Hayden Brown, Myles Currie, Charlie Muley, Devon Smith, Mitch Szybkowski, Casey Wassylko. Best: Connor Mouat, Michael Cameron, Tylah Stokoe, Finn Devine, Sam Merrick, Jack Docherty.
Montrose Goals: Bailey White 3, Daniel Chamberlin, Ty Galbraith, Beau Tennant. Best: Bailey White, Greg Lord, Corey Whitchell, Benjamin Dessent, Liam Bowden.
Other Game R14: Bayswater 5.12(42) def Mooroolbark 5.11(41). Byes: Doncaster, Mitcham, North Ringwood, Park Orchards, South Belgrave, Wantirna South.
Ladder: Park Orchards 48, South Belgrave 40, Mitcham 36, Beaconsfield 36, Montrose 32, Mooroolbark 28, Bayswater 20, North Ringwood 12, Doncaster 12, Wantirna South 4.
Fixture (Remainder R14) Doncaster v North Ringwood, Mitcham v Wantirna South, South Belgrave v Park Orchards. Byes: Bayswater, Beaconsfield, Montrose, Mooroolbark.
