By JARROD POTTER
SEFNL – Round 1
DOVETON 14.17 (101) d HAMPTON PARK 11.5 (71)
IT WAS the result everyone expected heading into the South East Football Netball League (SEFNL) season opener, but Hampton Park showed plenty of reasons to be proud in its 30-point loss to Doveton.
Positive strides forward have been taken by Matt O’Neill and his charges this season and that was clear from the first contest. By no means embarrassed out of this contest held on a glorious Good Friday afternoon, the Hampton Park of old – heading out to accept a 100-point or more demolition – is no more.
Ruckman William Thomas kept stride with SEFNL elite Russell Gabriel and fed the ball out well to Nathan Allen and Ashleigh Allen. With a functional forward line, the Redbacks slotted multiples through former AFL player Andrew Schipp, Nathan Carver and Dean Jamieson (two goals each).
The Spiderland crowd had plenty of reasons to cheer for the red-and-black brigade as they booted their way back into the match with a four-goal third term.
But this was Doveton’s match to lose from the first bounce – especially with a power-packed line-up featuring recruits Russell Gabriel and former AFL defender Jarrad Boumann.
Doveton had every opportunity to burst open the game and help their percentage skyrocket, but whether it was early-season jitters or just a lack of finishing skill the Doves sprayed 17 behinds to leave the match in the balance.
A five-goal final term put an end to any hopes of Redback retaliation as the visitors took the first points of 2015 in the brand new competition.
Doveton co-captain Callum Pattie showed the grey-haired Dove still knows how to fly as he soared for a few speccies while excelling at ground level with four goals.
Goalsneak Mitchell Pierce (four goals) also relished the high ball, sent in ably by Doveton midfielders Mitch Viney and coach Shannon Henwood, as he finished off his day with four majors and featured in the best alongside Andrew Green, Gabriel and Dean Bianco.
Hampton Park hosts Beaconsfield this weekend while Doveton will head to ROC.
