By Tyler Lewis
Narre Warren has made the toughest trek in Outer East football look like a school excursion.
Prior to Saturday’s clash with the Pies, Wandin withheld a striking 123-point for average that had ultimately resulted in its three win and one loss record at home.
It appeared the Dogs would soon follow a similar script against the undefeated Maggies, kicking the opening goal within 30 seconds before competition leading goal-kicker Clinton Johnson threaded through the home sides second shortly after.
But as story of this season has gone so fluently, the Pies then posed a question no side has had the answer to, keeping Wandin goalless for from the 10-minute mark of the first quarter to well into the third stanza.
With a 5.5 to 15.9 lead at the final change, Narre Warren’s 11th successive win was well and truly in the bank, irrespective of what occurred in the fourth period.
However in the final term, perpetually moving midfielder Kurt Mutimer turned what was already a sublime performance, into an unforgettable one, adding a fourth and fifth major to his name.
In the fallout of Mutimer’s 36 disposal, 10 clearance and five goal haul, Pies coach Shane Dwyer revealed what makes him so special to his unscathed side.
“He’s played at the highest level, so that’s first and foremost,” he said.
“But he’s come back and he’s nothing different to when he left… he left a 16 or 17-year-old kid and you wouldn’t even know he’s played AFL footy because he’s just a humble bloke that loves playing footy at the footy club.
“He’s having a good year, touch wood, he’s getting a good run at it with his body – he’s probably got used to the level now and used to the guys around him.
“Yeah he’s played well every week this year.”
Despite the fact no side in the Premier competition has had the ability to restrict Wandin under 100 points this season, the Pies did it with ease.
Dwyer has put that accomplishment down the stability of his back six.
“They work together well, and they have pretty much been the same blokes all year,” he said.
“Trent Papworth has come back in there and Jesse Davies was runner up in our bnf last year at full-back and he hasn’t even played.
“They’re just really organised and we do a lot of competitive stuff every Tuesday and Thursday at training, so they’re playing on our forwards – I think that helps as well.
“They’re playing on (Jake) Richardson, they’re playing on (Will) Howe and these sorts of blokes.
“There was enough pressure up the ground from the midfield which helps them out too.”
For a side two wins clear of second with a third of the home and away season to play, there are few problems at Kalora Park.
But Dwyer revealed the problem he and his coaches are facing after the bye is both good and bad.
“The good and the bad are probably the same,” he said.
“That is that in the back half of this year, we’re going to get a couple back.
“That’s obviously a good problem to have in the way of our depth and that we have good players that could possibly come back in.
“But on the negative side on that, blokes could miss out… we have three or four that are out for the year, no one has everyone available, but it could be a difficult time to be in the selection room.
“They’re probably the same issue; someone is going to have to go and let someone in at some stage, that’s up to us to make that call.”
The 20.12 (132) to 8.7 (55) win for Narre Warren is the Pies smallest win since round 7- which was a 64-point win over Olinda Ferny Creek.
Pakenham, meanwhile, is now in need of a scalp.
The need is yet to become desperate, but with an intriguing draw, the Lions will need to claim victory over a contender in the final three matches of the year in order to appear in finals football.
Saturday’s 12.10 (82) to 7.15 (57) loss to Olinda Ferny Creek has slid the Lions a win and invaluable percentage adrift of the Bloods.
The disappointing loss came as a result of an inability to execute where it counts the most.
In the comfortable win over Officer in the week before, Pakenham converted 22 majors from its 30 shots on goal, but this week’s encounter with the Bloods was at the extreme opposite end of the scale.
The Lions had a similar amount of scoring shots to their opponent at every change, but failed to convert and therefore slender the margin.
The 5.12 to 11.7 score line at the final change summarised the day for the Lions, as one less scoring shot equated to a 31-point buffer.
With more than winnable games against Mt Evelyn and Upwey Tecoma in the next fortnight ahead of the bye, the Lions will likely need to claim four points in at least one of its final three matches against Wandin, Woori Yallock or Monbulk to surpass the Bloods.
In other matches across the Outer East Premier Division:
Monbulk bounced back with a 72-point win over Mt Evelyn, but it had the makings to be far worse for the Rovers, as the Hawks also botched a plethora of shots on goal in the 14.26 (110) to 5.8 (38) win.
Woori Yallock stacked an expected four points in the battle of the Tigers, defeating Upwey Tecoma 13.18 (96) to 8.10 (58), while Officer had a much-needed rest.
With Officer travelling to Woori Yallock, Pakenham hosting Mt Evelyn and Wandin welcoming Upwey Tecoma, this Saturday looms as another one-sided affair in all matches barring Olinda Ferny Creek taking on Monbulk.
It was a far from pretty weekend of Division 1 football, but Saturday’s results have created a mini-final finals series ahead for Berwick Springs.
The Titans torpedoed Belgrave on Saturday, registering a whopping 50 scoring shots in the 25.25 (175) to 3.6 (24) thrashing.
While the home side fired off a greater number of majors in the opening half (15), the second half was arguably more impressive.
The Titans managed to keep the Magpies to just three behinds in the second half, while adding a further 10 goals.
Though the efficiency in front of goal loosened from 15.8 to 25.25 after the main break, the Titans still showed up defensively in the highly-anticipated win.
High-flyer Tom Nelson booted seven, improving his season tally to 34. He was accompanied on the goal-kickers list by 12 of his teammates in the 151-point win.
Gembrook Cockatoo also recorded a commanding win, out-muscling Yarra Glen 15.13 (103) to 3.4 (22).
Myles Wareham slotted five majors, as his side kept the visitors goalless after quarter time.
With the final game of the round being a 13.22 (100) to 2.3 (15) win for Emerald over Healesville, a fortnight of finals to conclude July will commence this weekend for a number of sides.
The now fourth-placed Berwick Springs will play second-placed Gembrook Cockatoo this Saturday.
A win will likely secure a top two finish for the Brookers, while a maiden finals appearance is on offer for the Titans.
As Healesville welcomes premiership favourite Seville, a win for the Titans would also widen an already two-point gap for Rodney Benstead’s men, who take on the Bloods the following week.
The last time Gembrook Cockatoo and Berwick Springs met – back in round 7 – the game resulted in a thrilling 12.11 (83) apiece draw.
