By Tyler Lewis and David Nagel
Berwick will travel to Noble Park this week to further create history in a developing local rivalry with the Bulls.
It’s not quite the Wickers v Narre Warren or ‘Battle of the Creek’ clashes south east football lovers are accustomed to against Beaconsfield, but the Bulls and the Wickers are in the presence of constructing a modern day rivalry.
The Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL) has acknowledged the two sides by playing them as a stand-alone fixture at Pat Wright Oval on Anzac Eve.
Both sides came off a loss in round one, with the Wickers going down 10.10 (70) to 13.10 (88) to South Croydon, and the Bulls suffering a shock defeat to their other local rivals, Rowville, 16.13 (109) to 12.11 (83).
The Wickers simply couldn’t get their hands on the footy in the heavily contested game against the Dogs, losing the disposal count by a whopping 74 touches.
For the Bulls, the round-one defeat was just the fifth time in 28 outings it conceded 100 points or more.
Noble’s ability to restrict their opposition will be where this game will be won and lost; in the two matches between these two sides last year, the Bulls collected the four-points in both and held the Berwick outfit to just 59 and 62 respectively.
While the expectation on Berwick for this season is much lower than that of Noble Park, the Bulls head into this as a must-win, with the ever-green Vermont side on the road in its sights the following week.
Rowville, meanwhile, are coasting after the aforementioned win over Noble Park.
The Hawks surprised a few with just how efficient they were going inside 50; Rowville lost the inside 50s (47 to 52) against the Bulls, but still had 27 shots on goal from 47 entries.
It was the spread of goals that was the most promising aspect of the win for the Hawks, with Mav Taylor, Mark Seedsman, Lachie Wynd and Jai Coleclough all kicking multiple goals.
The Hawks will have a brilliant opportunity to take a 2-0 start to its season this week when they make their way to Quambee Reserve to take on North Ringwood.
While the Hawks have already shaken the ladder predictor like an earthquake, the Saints were expected to finish the season even lower than the Hawks were.
In Division One, Beaconsfield will be out to bank its first win in the EFNL when the Eagles host Bayswater at Holm Park Reserve.
The Eagles have been super-competitive in their first two outings, pushing Wantirna South and Mooroolbark, and will be strengthened with some key additions as the season does roll on.
At the moment, coach Mick Fogarty is relying on a bevy of youth to carry his team forward until regulars such as Jafar Ocaa, Hayden Brough, Daniel Johnston, Pat Gerdan and Lachie Modica all make their way back from injury.
Harry Coe and Josh Smith have been carrying the ruck duties, trying to feed a midfield led by Tylah Stokoe, Jack Docherty, Declan Everett and Damien Johnston, while Scott Triffitt, Lachie Valentine, Declan Curran and Tanner Stanton have been doing well in defence.
The Eagles just need more return for their effort, with skipper Jake Bowd and his forward colleagues such as Jack Cameron, Sam Cachia, Matt Johnson and Matt Wilson needing to dial the radar in if the Eagles are to knock down the Kangas.
Bayswater has had a really solid start to the season, thumping Upper Ferntree Gully by 67 points in round one before pushing the undefeated Croydon in round two.
The Kangaroos started well against Croydon, but also kicked inaccurately, with accuracy this week looking to play a key role in the final outcome.
“I’m really confident that a win is not far away for us,” Fogarty said after the round two clash against Mooroolbark.
“Mooroolbark had some strong bodies around the footy, but once we got our game going, and started using our leg speed, we looked pretty good.
“I’ll go back to it again; it’s just about finishing off our work.
“You have to take your opportunities against good teams, because if you don’t, you can’t win games.
“It’s all about taking opportunities and applying scoreboard pressure to the opposition and seeing how they react to that pressure.”
Beaconsfield’s inaccuracy has left it as one of only two teams in the competition to have not scored 100 pints yet this season…alongside bottom-placed Upper Ferntree Gully.
In other games on Saturday, two undefeated teams – Croydon and East Ringwood – will battle it out at Croydon, while Mooroolbark will look to stay unconquered when it welcomes Montrose to Height Reserve.
Upper Ferntree Gully will be hoping its home-ground advantage will give it the edge over Wantirna South, while Mitcham will be hoping for its first win of the season when it welcomes Lilydale to Walker Park.
PREMIER LADDER: Balwyn 4, Park Orchards 4, Norwood 4, Rowville 4, South Croydon 4, Vermont 4, Doncaster East 0, Berwick 0, Noble Park 0, Doncaster 0, North Ringwood 0, Blackburn 0.
DIV 1 LADDER: Mooroolbark, East Ringwood, Croydon 8, Lilydale, Bayswater, Wantirna South, Montrose 4, Mitcham, Beaconsfield, Upper Ferntree Gully 0.
