By David Nagel
Forget Covid…Beaconsfield requires a second dose of the goal-kicking-woes vaccination after the Eagles reverted to their wayward best in a 44-point defeat at the hands of East Ringwood on Saturday.
The Eagles shanked them all over the place in round two, kicking 6.15 in a 31-point loss to Mooroolbark, but isolated for a week after jab one and came out firing against Bayswater…kicking 14.4 in a 38-point victory in round three.
But the RAT’s (Rapid Accuracy Test) will be out again this week after the Eagles booted 4.13.37 to 12.9.81 at East Ringwood Reserve.
Beaconsfield was up against one of the two undefeated teams in the competition, and went blow for blow with the Roos in the first half…having just one less scoring shot.
The problem for Mick Fogarty and his men is that East Ringwood had 8.3 on the board, with the Eagles languishing 31 points adrift on 2.8.
The Eagles were never a winning chance from that point forward with the Roos kicking four goals to two in the second half to bank their fourth consecutive victory.
Beaconsfield will be disappointed with the result, but be much better for the run with x-factor Jafar Ocaa and midfield runner Lachie Modica sure to benefit from their first games for the season.
Ocaa and Modica had an instant impact on return, joining forward Josh Smith on the best players’ list.
Smith backed up his five-goal haul from last week with another two against the Roos and is proving a great focal point for the young Eagles to aim at.
Sam Merrick was also instrumental for the Eagles, joining consistent performers Lachie Valentine and Jack Docherty in a group of players that could hold their heads high.
The Eagles had no answers to East Ringwood full-forward Trent Farmer, who booted seven goals to take his overall tally to 13 from just three games.
Connor Weightman was also impressive is his return to the side, while Callum Norris and Chris Cerni also provided the visitors with some nasty headaches.
The Eagles this week host Montrose, who will come in confident after a 74-point thrashing of bottom-side Upper Ferntree Gully on the weekend.
The Eagles will need to be on their toes, right across the field, with this week’s visitors having 12 individual goal kickers.
And they kicked more goals than points…something the ninth-placed Eagles will need to do if they’re to knock off the fifth-ranked team in the competition.
The first bounce of the ball will take place at Holm Park Reserve at 2.20pm on Saturday.
EASTERN DIVISION ONE
ROUND 4 RESULTS
Bayswater 9.9.63 v Mitcham 11.13.79, East Ringwood 12.9.81 v Beaconsfield 4.13.37, Lilydale 13.5.83 v Mooroolbark 17.14.116, Montrose 19.16.130 v Upper Ferntree Gully 9.2.56, Wantirna South 11.6.72 v Croydon 11.11.77.
LADDER
East Ringwood, Mooroolbark 16, Croydon 12, Wantirna South, Montrose, Mitcham 8, Lilydale, Bayswater, Beaconsfield 4, Upper Ferntree Gully 0.
ROUND 5 FIXTURE – SATURDAY, 7 MAY
Bayswater v Lilydale, Mooroolbark v East Ringwood, Beaconsfield v Montrose, Upper Ferntree Gully v Croydon, Mitcham v Wantirna South.
