By David Nagel
A scintillating Saturday shootout has ended with South Belgrave becoming the proud owners of the inaugural Rik ‘Crazy’ Crook Cup after an entertaining 12-point victory over Beaconsfield at Holm Park Reserve on Saturday.
The build up to the Eastern Division 1 contest was massive, with the top-of-the-table clash between the Eagles and Saints seeing the former rivals meet for the first time in more than 40 years.
The Eagles welcomed back Frankston VFL pair, midfielder Mitch Szybkowski and goal-kicking machine Matt Johnson, while the home side’s big-man department was also strengthened with the inclusion of Patrick Gerdan.
Both teams went at the footy helter-skelter in the opening exchanges, with a finals-like atmosphere being created by the big crowd.
The Eagles held the early ascendency.
Hayden Brough kicked the first of the day from a free kick, before Harrison Coe stood tall at the top of the goal-square to make it two on end for the hosts.
And when Tylah Stokoe found Sam Mackinder free inside 50, the Eagles were out to an early three-goal lead.
But the Eagles hadn’t been tested in defence, where the dual targets of former Melbourne player Tim Smith and Taylor Garner, who played 49 games for North Melbourne, lurked as a serious threat.
Garner ran into an open goal to kick the first of his seven majors at the 17-minute mark of the first term, and the Saints were on the board.
Smith soon followed suit, and when Garner leapt high into the Beaconsfield sky to pull down a screamer, the Saints had equalised at three-goals apiece.
Saints’ midfielder Charlie Peters had plenty of footy in the first term, giving Szybkowski the run-around, and when he hit Smith lace out at the 24-minute mark the visitors had well and truly remedied their slow start.
Matt Johnson, who would match Garner’s output with seven goals for the day, then kicked his first to square away the contest for the Eagles.
Mitch Cox, who would end the day with three important goals, then kicked the first of his haul with a long goal on the siren.
It was time to take a breath with the Saints leading by eight points at quarter time.
The game kept its high-tempo and topsy-turvy nature in the second term, with first the Saints, then the Eagles, then the Saints again, holding grains of momentum.
Garner kicked three for the quarter, and Johnson two, with the Saints kicking four goals to three to take an 11-point lead to the major change of ends.
Garner had five to half time and was looming as the key figure in the premiership quarter.
The Eagles came out breathing fire at the start of the third term, with Kade De La Rue kicking an early set shot before Trent Stokoe bumped with intent at the next centre clearance.
His hit on Peters raised temperatures somewhat, but the Eagle was forced to eat humble pie a short time later when a defensive turnover gave Garner the gift of his sixth.
Smith then marked, wheeled, and found Garner, who slotted his seventh to kick the visitors to 19 points in front.
When Peters then goaled from long-range on the run, and Cox kicked another just a minute later, the Saints were 31 points ahead…12 minutes into the third.
Beaconsfield coach Mick Fogarty has drummed into his side that Eastern Division 1 requires a full four-quarter effort, against all sides
His side didn’t secure the four points on the weekend – but Fogarty would certainly give them ‘A’ for effort.
The Eagles would kick five of the next six goals, either side of three-quarter time, with Brough cutting the deficit to just seven points, seven minutes into the final stanza.
Nick Kelly answered for the Saints, with a clever left-foot snap, before Johnson thumped home his seventh from 50 metres out.
Johnson had earlier hit the post, the margin now cut to just five points with 17 minutes gone by.
Cox then marked strongly, and converted with steady nerves, to seal victory for the Saints in a fantastic display of community football.
The Saints proved they have the fire-power to win the Division 1 title this year, after being triumphant in Division 2 last season, while the Eagles showed resilience when things looked dire – 12 minutes into the third.
Garner kicked seven, and Cox three for the winners, while Peters and Smith were constant threats throughout the course of the afternoon.
Johnson was superb for the Eagles, with his seven goals complemented by two each to Brough and Mackinder.
The Stokoe boys were terrific for the Eagles, showing true grit and determination, while defender Lachie Valentine did well to restrict Garner to no goals in the last 50 minutes of play.
The Eagles will need to regroup ahead of a tough visit to Mooroolbark this week, while the high-flying Saints head home to host seventh-placed Bayswater.
BEACONSFIELD 4.0 7.4 11.6 14.8(92)
SOUTH BELGRAVE 5.2 9.3 13.6 16.8(104)
Beaconsfield Goals: M. Johnson 7, S. Mackinder 2, H. Brough 2, J. Ocaa, H. Coe, K. Shipp. Best: M. Johnson, S. Mackinder, T. Stokoe, T. Stokoe, L. Valentine, D. Smith.
South Belgrave Goals: T. Garner 7, M. Cox 3, C. Peters 2, T. Smith 2, B. Hards, N. Keily. Best: T. Garner, C. Peters, M. Cox, T. Smith, S. Bartels, B. Connelly.
Other Results R4: Bayswater 12.9.81 def Mooroolbark 12.8.80, Montrose 13.17.95 def Lilydale 9.9.63, North Ringwood 10.14.74 def by Mitcham 13.8.86, Wantirna South 14.12.96 def Croydon 12.14.86.
Ladder: South Belgrave 16, Montrose, Mitcham 12, Mooroolbark, Beaconsfield, Wantirna South, Bayswater 8, North Ringwood, Croydon 4, Lilydale 0.
Fixture R5: Mooroolbark (4) v Beaconsfield (5), South Belgrave (1) v Bayswater (7), Croydon (9) v North Ringwood (8), Lilydale (10) v Mitcham (3), Wantirna South (6) v Montrose (2).
