Berwick, went down valiantly to South Croydon on Saturday at Edwin Flack Reserve.
The Wickers launched out of the blocks with two early majors, before a first half deficit proved to be the difference between them and the Dogs.
Despite conceding the first few goals of the second half, Berwick won the second half and if it wasn’t for wasted opportunities, could’ve created a tight finish.
The Wickers missed two golden opportunities in the final term to bring the margin within a straight kick, but could only manage minor scores, before the Dogs went on to secure the 13.10 (88) to 10.10 (70) win.
Berwick coach Clint Evan’s eyes lit up when his side bounced out of the blocks, but said his side failed to dominate the engine room.
“We kicked the first two goals in the first five minutes and I thought ‘oh here we go’,” he said.
“Then they (South Croydon) just got their game going and they just beat us at the stoppages, we collapsed a bit too early and let them out of stoppage too easy.
“I think they kicked four or five out of stoppage and that really hurt us, the goals they got were real easy and were just from our bad play, to be honest.”
Though the missed opportunities hurt the Wickers, Evans was beyond proud of how his side competed.
“I think they got five goals up half way through the third and to be the boys credit we just kept chipping away,” he said.
“We sort of just ground them down with our pressure and in the last quarter, we got within nine points and I think we missed two goals to get within three points, both from 20 out directly in front.
“If we kick those goals, who knows what could’ve happened.
“The way they fought it out, I couldn’t have been happier with them, it was just frustrating with the misses when they were there to be taken.”
The Wickers have been dealt a few injuries to an already green list, but it was the greener players that pleased the coach.
“It’s the changing of the guard,” he said.
“We had three or four debutants on the weekend and probably another five or six guys with under 20 games.
“To come from where we were from to compete against one of the best side was really good.
“Our pressure was there and it was sustained for four quarters and it’s what kept us in the game.
“We’re going to have to do that to compete with the top teams… we get enough of the ball, we do turn it over more than these other guys, but their dedication and pressure, as I said once we do that we do grind sides down.
“We just have to be in a position to be in it at that time.”
In other games across the competition:
Vermont 13.8 (86) defeated Doncaster East 12.9 (81) off the back of eight majors from Andrew Ainger; Norwood punished Doncaster 15.26 (116) to 8.11 (59) and Park Orchards beat North Ringwood 16.11 (107) to 7.8 (50).
Berwick, Noble Park and Rowville all have the bye over next weekend’s Easter round.
LADDER
TEAM W L Pts %
Park Orchards 1 0 4 214
Norwood 1 0 4 196.61
Rowville 1 0 4 131.33
South Croydon 1 0 4 125.71
Vermont 1 0 4 106.17
Doncaster East 0 1 0 94.19
Berwick 0 1 0 79.55
Noble Park 0 1 0 76.15
Doncaster 0 1 0 50.86
North Ringwood 0 1 0 46.73
Blackburn 0 0 0 0
Balwyn 0 0 0 0
GOAL KICKERS
PLAYER CLUB TOTAL
A Ainger Vermont 8
J Bennell NFC Senior 7
C Hickey Park Orchards 6
B Marson Noble Park 4
J Braunthal North Ringwood 4
