Keysborough star Tyson King runs into trouble during his team’s shock 106-point drubbing at the hands of Pakenham on the weekend. 29651 Picture: Meagan RogersBy Brad Kingsbury
DOVETON signalled that pre-season predictions of success in 2009 were more than just talk with a gutsy 24-point win over a new-look Narre Warren at Fox Road on Saturday.
The Doves showed the benefit of a solid pre-season fitness campaign, together with an emphasis on full-game consistency, to boot four late goals after the Magpies hit the lead at the 10-minute mark of the final term.
The Narre Warren faithful had flocked to the game to watch the unfurling of last year’s premiership pennant prior to the game, but the Doves, under interim coach Mark Mott, spoiled the party.
The first half was scrappy, typical of a round-one home-and-away game, with both sides continually butchering the ball and turning it over.
The young Magpies, led by Chris Collins, Joel Broadhurst, Andrew Field and Matt Werner, showed superior speed to the Doveton playmakers.
However after talls Aaron Mills and Cameron Bell were forced from the field with knee injuries in the opening term, the Doves took full advantage and expanded a five-point quarter-time advantage to 27 points at the long break.
Star recruit Russell Gabriel showed his class in the air and gave on-ballers Daniel Charles, Corrie Wilson and Michael Henry first use of the football throughout the first two quarters and a comfortable Doveton win threatened as the sides lined up to start the third quarter. However, the culture at Narre Warren is now one of winning and the Magpies came at the Doves again in a much higher standard second half.
The Magpies ignited their followers with a five-goal-to-two third term, with veteran spearhead Brett Evans leading and marking strongly, to trail by only seven points at the final change. Doveton supporters feared the worst when their side suddenly trailed by a point midway through the final quarter.
However, the pressure applied by the experienced Doveton defenders Ricky Hayes and Nathan Wilson, caused important turnovers and the cooler, more polished visitors proved too strong with Ryan Hendy sealing the game with two late goals.
Magpie Lee Boyle did a good job on Gabriel in defence, while Clay Peresso and Michael Collins also battled hard throughout the afternoon.
ROC rolls over Redbacks
ROC scored a stirring 28-point victory over HAMPTON PARK at Starling Road, over running the Redbacks in the second half and booting 15 goals to nine.
Hampton Park, under the charge of Josh Taylor for the first time, looked good early with Matt Shorey and Kevin McLean creating opportunities in attack and Jim Van Elewoud, Ryan Simpson and Dean Jamieson providing plenty of drive.
The Redbacks led by 15 points at quarter time and 16 points at half-time, with both sides struggling for accuracy in front of goal.
Fletcher’s move of half-back Andrew Logan into attack in the second half proved telling.
Logan finished the day with four important goals and provided another scoring option as the Kangaroos stormed back into the game in a nine-goal to seven third-quarter shootout.
The Kangaroos ran the game out better than their tiring opponents to record a win and set a positive tone for the 2009 season.
Wickers outpoint Panthers
BERWICK put the focus back on football with a solid 28-point come-from-behind win over DEVON MEADOWS at the Glover Reserve. After an even first term, the Wickers ground out to a 15-point half-time lead, before the home side stormed back to lead by nine points at the final change.
Unfortunately that was the extent of it and Berwick, through midfielders Brad Miles and Adam Mott together with big-marking forwards Grant Noonan and Jason Heath, over-ran the Panthers with a seven-goal to one final term. Devon Meadows missed the drive of Brett Armitage (overseas) across half-back and Jesse Dehey was also out of sorts after a heavy collision during the game.
On a positive note Scott Morrison and Aaron Henneman finished with five goals apiece, while newcomers Callum Ransom and Daniel Rigg were among the Panthers’ best players.
Eagles down plucky Seagulls
BEACONSFIELD began the season with a 39-point win over an improved TOORADIN at the Perc Alison Oval, but the Seagulls showed that the ‘easy-beat’ tag of 2008 has been disposed of.
With both sides boasting a number of new names, the contest was an entertaining affair with Tooradin hanging in until the end, when the Eagles’ experience through Andrew Williams, Kane Airdrie and Lachlan McDonald saw the home side steady and run out solid victors in the last 25 minutes.
Lions bury Boroughs
PAKENHAM smashed KEYSBOROUGH by 106 points in a stunning round-one demolition of the 2008 grand finalists at the Rowley Allen Reserve.
The highly anticipated rematch of last year’s preliminary finalists turned into a farce as the Lions exacted their retribution for the Burra denying them what they believed was their right to compete in last year’s grand final, after sailing through the season as undefeated minor premiers.
Big Lion Daniel Fry finished with five goals, while Dan O’Loughlin booted five majors in a best-on-ground performance.
‘Pathetic’ Pearcedale
IN MPNFL Nepean League PEARCEDALE was described as ‘pathetic’ by coach Jason Chapple after its 33-point capitulation to HASTINGS, under ex-Collingwood utility Tyson Lane.
The Panthers were left with only 16 fit players in the third quarter, after a spate of injuries, and were steamrolled by the Blues, putting up little resistance.
