Berwick’s Madison Andrews snaps on his non-preferred right foot during the Wickers 93 point loss to Cranbourne on Saturday. 83862 Picture: Stewart Chambers
By DAVID NAGEL
BERWICK’S fall from the top echelon of Casey Cardinia football was confirmed on Saturday when it was given a 93 point thumping by Cranbourne at Edwin Flack Reserve.
Remarkably, despite winning just four games for the season, the Wickers are still a finals hope and need to win five of its remaining six matches to possibly force their way in.
Berwick came out breathing fire and led by 11 points at the first break, with Nathan Waite looking dangerous up forward, but then the Eagles took over. It was they who led by 11 at the half, and then extended it to 54 at the final break before running away in the final term. A scoreline of 22.13 to 6.5 after quarter time tells the story better than words can.
The main difference was the bigger bodies of the top-of-the-table Eagles being able to maintain pressure for four quarters. The Wickers are young and quick but couldn’t maintain the heat for long periods.
After a fast start, Waite booted five for the Wickers and was their only multiple goalkicker, while Brett Robinson, Jason Kelly and Kristian Meredith held firm down back among the onslaught. Vergim Faik continued his great form in the ruck, while Bryce Rutherford was lively through the midfield.
Berwick this week travel to Starling Road to take on the eighth placed ROC.
NARRE WARREN blew out the cobwebs ahead of its massive confrontation with Cranbourne this week with a grinding 26 point win over an improving Beaconsfield at Fox Road.
The Magpies trailed by two points at quarter time and took a seven point buffer to the main break, before a 6.3 to 3.0 third term put the issue beyond doubt.
“To be honest, it was a comedy of errors at the start,” Narre coach Chris Toner said.
“We’ve had two weeks off, and no matter how hard you try, you can’t manufacture match conditions, we’ve tried at training, but you just can’t.
“We started to play properly in the third quarter and probably relaxed a little in the last.”
Narre’s running machine tuned up nicely for this week’s big encounter with Michael Collins, Josh Tonna, Jackson Parker, Adam Giobbi and Col McNamara prominent ball winners. Kerem Baskaya kicked four on Beaconsfield’s Daniel “Blanket” Battaglin, who was once again in the Eagles best.
The Eagles have had a stellar fortnight, after pushing Cranbourne to 24 points last week, they emerge from their one-two confrontations with confidence and percentage intact. Their destiny is in their own hands.
Once again it was Daniel Mislicki, Robbie Taylor and Battaglin who led the way with Jesse Linkins, James Johnston and Kris Fletcher providing valuable support.
Narre travel to Casey Fields this week for the big clash with Cranbourne, while the other Eagles, Beacy, host Pakenham.
HAMPTON PARK sunk to a new low on Saturday, when it allowed third placed Doveton to kick 26.10 to 1.1 after half time in a 229 point drubbing at Robinson Oval.
Somehow the Redbacks have managed to turn their season into a feel good story, a bunch of local heroes saving an ailing club, but Saturday’s second half is a headshaker – and embarrassing.
The Doves wanted a percentage booster…and they got it.
“We need to put together a ruthless four quarter effort,” Doveton coach Hayden Stanton said in last week’s preview, and that’s exactly what he got – to the letter.
The first quarter was a contest as the Doves struggled to break the shackles. A 16 point lead blew out to 70 at half time, but from there things got messy…awfully messy. A 12.5 to 1.1 third term extended the lead to 140 at the final break before a 14.5 (that’s 19 scoring shots) to 0.0 last quarter ended the carnage.
The Doves queued up to kick goals, with Ryan Hendy (seven), Kevin McLean (six), Nathan Wilson and Travis Hendy (four 4 each) leading a band of 15 six-point-shooters. Michael Henry, John Atwell, Jake Mullen and Nicholas Battle joined the Hendys on the best player list.
Brad Starkey kicked the Redbacks’ only three goals and was joined by Lionel Beniot, Shaun Winsall, Mitch Hill, James Alexander, Tom Lancaster and Luke O’Brien as those to try hard.
Third placed Doveton host fourth placed Tooradin this week while Hampton Park travel to Keysborough.
