By Marcus Uhe
Officer is rounding into form and clicking at the right time of year as the race for fourth place looks set to go down to the wire.
The Kangaroos secured a crucial win against Healesville at home on Saturday, restricting the Bloods to just a solitary goal after quarter time in the 11.11 77 to 5.12 42 result.
Critically, the 31-point margin secures the tie-breaker for Officer, should both sides finish the season on the same match ratio at the end of the season.
Having split the results of the two matches this season, the next criteria is greatest winning margin in games played between two teams.
Healesville got the better of Officer by 11 points back in round seven.
Daniel Charles preached from the beginning of the year that his side would need time to round into form, and his prediction is beginning to bear fruit.
“I said right at the very start that our back half of the year was going to be better than our front half because we’ve got a fairly young side,” Charles said.
“Everyone is still learning the game plan, structure and style, so it’s new to everyone.
“They’re starting to get it, there’s still a long way to go but we are getting better each week.
“Everyone’s getting their head around the structures and it’s all about knowing your role, accepting your role and playing your role.
“We’re hoping we can continue to win and scrape into the finals.”
Officer kicked the first two goals of the afternoon before a lapse in concentration saw them concede the next four in the space of 10 minutes.
The Bloods didn’t next score until the dying stages of the afternoon, as the Kangaroos midfield picked up the slack.
“The midfield got on top and we made a few changes, we put Antonio Quach into the middle, he was fantastic and the pressure we were able to put on through the middle of the ground forced them to not deliver the ball all that well going forward,” Charles said.
“There were a fair few dump kicks going forward from them, which gave an advantage to our backs.”
Quach is the latest to get a taste in the guts for Charles side, having experimented with a handful of players against Hallam two weeks prior, including Zac Charles and Mitch Mibus.
“What the players found out against Hallam was where they need to get to, to get to the level of (Luke) Smaluch and (Anthony) Bernardo.
“It was a good education for them.
“We tried Quach in there this week and he relished in the opportunity.”
Despite experiencing the rollercoaster of a win-loss pattern in the last five weeks, the two losses have come against division powerhouses in Emerald and Berwick Springs.
In both instances the games were there to be won in the final term, but the Kangaroos failed to take their opportunities when it mattered.
But signs of improvement are obvious; in the previous two contests against Emerald, the final result appeared obvious by three-quarter-time, in 83 and 60-point losses, respectively.
Charles said last week’s loss was a “missed opportunity” given the statistical dominance.
“We had more of the footy and almost won in every category, except on the scoreboard.
“Emerald to their credit are a really good side, they’ve got a fantastic backline and strong midfielders. They took their moments when they arose and we didn’t.
“I think we’ve improved each time we’ve played them, so hopefully we get another chance.”
The Bombers inflicted the heaviest defeat of any side in the division this season, walloping Belgrave by 149 points at home.
Their offensive firepower was on full display, as six payers kicked multiple goals in the 26.21 177 to 4.4 28 hammering.
Noah Van Haren led the way for the Bombers with five goals, followed by David Johnson, Lachlan Crnogorac and Lachlan Hoye (four each), Rogan Goonan (three) and Jack Raukola (two).
The Magpies were held goalless in the third term but managed to kick two in the final quarter to add some respectability to the scoreline.
But Sein Clearihan’s side would not be deterred, kicking 10 of their own as they piled-on the pain.
It’s a win that all-but secures the minor premiership and a double-chance for the Bombers, four games clear of Berwick Springs and Seville in third and second respectively and with what will be a bountiful percentage thanks to an average winning margin of 58 points.
Percentage is not displayed on the Division One ladder due to the use of match ratio.
Only Berwick Springs and Seville can match Emerald’s win total percentage but both will need to win their remaining four games by a healthy percentage, which includes fixtures against Emerald.
At Hallam, a disastrous third quarter in which the Hawks conceded eight-goals-to-one meant the quest for a maiden win continues.
The margin grew from 22 points at half time to 61 at the final break, the Blues winning 18.15 123 to 8.6 54 in the finish.
Jack Sharlassian kicked a season-high four goals as he and his brother Harry continue their excellent seasons for Scott Kerr’s side, while Joshua Anderson has hit a purple-patch late in the campaign.
Seville shared the goal scoring load with six players kicking multiple goals, led by Jake Roe-Duggan with three.
