Berwick’s Blake Hentsleke spoils Narre Warren star Brett Evans’ marking attempt in the Magpies’ 46-point victory on Saturday. Picture: Luke Plummer.By Brad Kingsbury
DOVETON embraced the spirit of Anzac and obliterated their Devon Medows rivals on the field of battle at the Glover Reserve on Friday.
The one-sided, 99-point result was a shattering reality check for the good public holiday crowd that had made their way to the Meadows in the hope that the home side’s recent recruiting would help it challenge the Casey Cardinia league powerhouse.
However the rampant Doves stunned their opposition in a 17-minute first-quarter burst that produced eight unanswered goals with the assistance of a gentle breeze, and set the scene for a one-way contest.
Devon Meadows had no answers and players retreated allowing the faster and physically stronger Doves to dictate terms from then on.
The Panthers missed Scott Young, who was replaced by Dandenong Stingrays player Billy Hayes, but after the initial onslaught led by mobile Doves Nathan Wilson, Michael Henry and Michael Laszczyk, the game was effectively iced at the first change.
The Doveton defence was tight with Michael Rodriquez blanketing Matt Davey and Brad Downe too swift for burly Panthers centre half forward Andrew Cotton.
Playmakers Daryl Thomas and Matt Miller had a field day in the back half, continually winning the loose ball with little or no pressure from the Panther forwards.
Devon Meadows dropped players behind the ball in the second quarter in an attempt to close the game up, but the Doves reacted positively and found ways to get through and maintain supply to key forwards Justin Hill (six goals) and Ryan Hendy (three).
The deficit was reduced slightly to 45 points at the main break, but the Doves put the pedal down in the second half and ran away to record a huge win and serve notice that they were back to their absolute best.
Miller was awarded the inaugural J.A. Glourey Medal for best afield and team mates including Thomas, Nathan Wilson, Ryan Pearson and Callum Pattie also had outstanding games.
Coach Tom Hallinan acknowledged that their opponents were on the back foot early, but said that his aim was four quarters of football from all his players given their recent habit of lapsing at crucial times in a game.
“It’s something we concentrated on from the start of (last) week,” he said.
“We went back to the grass roots and started with respecting our opponents, starting well and working to our game plan from the beginning.”
Devon Meadows was well served by Brett Armitage, Guy Chisnall and Justin Corrigan, but a serious ankle injury to rising star Rhyse Shortis in the second term further dampened the afternoon for home side supporters.
NARRE WARREN unfurled its 2007 premiership flag and then set about giving the competition a demonstration of how it intends to make it three in a row with a comprehensive victory over Berwick.
The Magpies took control of the game in the opening quarter and secured a match-winning lead to run out 46-point winners.
Trailing by 51 points at quarter-time, Berwick coach Ronnie Burns asked his players for accountability and with Daniel Charles and David VanDiemen leading the counter attack, however Narre Warren was never really threatened and maintained the ascendancy through busy playmakers Brad Scalzo, Ricky Clark and teenager Jackson Parker.
At half time the gap was still 43 points and the Magpies retained control of the contest.
The game petered out in the second half with the Magpies cruising to victory.
Veteran Berwick spearhead George Gorozidis was a thorn in Narre Warren’s side, finishing with nine of his side’s 13 goals, while Magpie star Brett Evans kicked five majors.
Young ball magnet Scalzo was awarded best-on-ground honours and was joined by Evans, Clark and Parker as Narre Warren’s better players.
Triumphant coach Matt Shinners said that, while a win was always the result he was looking for, there were signs of complacency and plenty of room for improvement.
CRANBOURNE chalked up win number one for 2008, giving TOORADIN a 58-point belting at Casey Fields and keeping the Seagulls to three goals for the game.
While the loss of potency in attack was always going to be an issue for Tooradin after the departure of Adam Cook, Jake Matthews and Dan O’Loughlin, the side’s inability to convert scoring chances is a major concern for coach Cristian O’Brien.
Cranbourne increased its margin at every break, despite the swirling wind and created attack from defence with best afield Robert Beadel leading the way from half-back.
Tooradin’s better players included Steve Arvanitis, Aaron Hyde and Michael Hobbs, while Beadel was joined by team mates Brad Langley, Justin Shields and Matt Foster as the Eagles vote-catchers.
Winning coach Doug Koop was content with the effort as a good start, but said the road to ultimate success would be a long one.
KEYSBOROUGH signalled that it would be a serious player in the battle for this year’s Casey Cardinia league premiership with a convincing 32-point victory over a rejuvenated BEACONSFIELD at the Rowley Reserve.
The form of young forwards Tyson King (five goals) and Matthew Freeman (four) excited the Burra faithful as the side upped their work rate in the second half to secure the important win.
PAKENHAM did as it pleased at the Toomuc Reserve before sending ROC away with a 142-point drubbing.
While a loss was not unexpected, given the off-season departures that have beset the visitors, the ruthlessness shown by the victors stood out and sounded a warning to all rivals.
IN Nepean league action PEARCEDALE had to battle hard to subdue a spirited TYABB before notching up its second win of the season by six points.
Panthers full forward Kerem Baskaya booted three goals to bring his total for 2008 to 21, five behind league leader Simon Goosey, while hard man Rod Hoober was best afield in the hard-fought result, that saw Pearcedale move into the top five for the first time this season.
