By David Nagel
Beaconsfield has shaken off an early bout of ring-rust to storm home over the top of North Ringwood in the opening round of the Eastern Division 1 season at Holm Park Reserve on Saturday.
The Eagles conceded four of the first five goals of the match, before settling into their work nicely to record a 12.12(84) to 7.5(47) victory over the Saints.
The core of Beaconsfield’s preliminary final team from last year remains largely intact, although there was a different look and feel to the team that lost to Park Orchards on the penultimate day of last season.
Jake Aarts, Ali Zijai and youngster Marley Appleyard had a noticeable impact around the ground, while Travis Stewart gave the Eagles a fresh new look in the ruck.
Ethan Winterton was also a new face at the defensive end of the ground.
The Eagles started the new season in style, with Myles Currie recovering from a dropped mark to kick the new year off with a goal from a dribble kick.
But North Ringwood was quick to return fire, with Luke Patterson providing the quick answer before skipper Luke Fenton snagged a long one from outside 50.
Tom Stubs then smacked home another bomb from the arc, before a contested mark from key forward Taylor Davidson rang alarm bells for Eagles’ coach Mick Fogarty.
After kicking the first of the afternoon, the Eagles were 16 points adrift.
The class of Jafar Ocaa then calmed the nerves for the Eagles, before a combination that Fogarty hopes will prove lethal cut the margin to just four points at quarter time.
Former Richmond player Aarts, found his skipper Jake Bowd on a lead with the captain ramming home the first of six majors for the day.
By quarter time, the Eagles appeared to have absorbed the Saints best shot.
A quick goal to Fenton then extended the gap to nine; before Bowd answered with a set shot from 40 to cut the margin back to three points at the major interval.
The game appeared to be free-flowing and skilful; but slow growth on the scoreboard was telling a different story.
The Eagles then opened their shoulders in the second half, kicking 8.6 to 2.2, although their eventual dominance did take time to mature.
Star defender Brandon White found Bowd for his third, before a large pack in the North Ringwood forward pocket produced some carnage.
Key-forward Davidson was carried form the ground on a stretcher, accidentally knocked-out in the marking contest and hitting the ground heavily.
Having lost control of his faculties, Davidson fell across the legs of Beaconsfield co-captain Damien Johnston, who also hit the deck hard.
Fortunately for Beaconsfield, what initially didn’t look good…would prove a non-event for Johnston, who would return to his midfield duties a short-time later.
After a lengthy delay, the game recommenced with Patrick Dunne taking Davidson’s free-kick and converting from tight in the pocket.
Bowd then received silver service from Devon Smith and Charlie Muley, booting his fourth and fifth for the day to open up a 12-point lead for the hosts.
But Stubs was hearing nothing of lying down, reading the play brilliantly in the goal square to cut the margin back to six points at the final change.
Despite their efforts, it would be the last time the saints would pierce the big sticks.
The Eagles were relentless in the final term, kicking 5.2 to 0.1 to finish things off in style.
Currie kicked things off with an enterprising snap from stoppage, before Zijai put his classy left foot to good use with a ripping goal on the run.
The Eagles were almost home, and when Hayden Brough converted a mark from beside the point post…the home side had banked the four points.
Bowd then marked and goaled, capping off a great game with his sixth, before Muley launched one from range to finish off some nice work from Tylah Stokoe.
Stewart was influential in the ruck for the Beaconsfield, while wingers Josh Mounter and Ethan Harris found plenty of space on the outer extremities of Holm Park.
White and Finn Devine were rock-solid in the back half, while Aarts, Smith, Zijai, Johnston and Kade De La Rue were serviceable contributors through the midfield.
With a bye in round two, followed by a league-wide rest over Easter, the Eagles now rest up for a fortnight before a mammoth clash against South Belgrave on the road on Saturday 26 April.
South Belgrave will have redemption on their mind…after the Eagles knocked them out at the semi-final stage last year.
EASTERN DIVISION 1 – ROUND 1 SUMMARY
BEACONSFIELD 3.3 4.6 7.10 12.12(84)
NORTH RINGWOOD 4.1 5.3 7.4 7.5(47)
Beaconsfield Goals: Jake Bowd 6, Myles Currie 2, Hayden Brough, Charlie Muley, Jafar Ocaa, Ali Zijai. Best: Jake Bowd, Travis Stewart, Ethan Harris, Brandon White, Joshua Mounter, Finn Devine.
North Ringwood Goals: Aaron Fenton 2, Tom Stubs 2, Taylor Davidson, Patrick Dunne, Luke Patterson. Best: Michael Locco, Jayden Van Unen, Lachlan O’Donnell, Connor O’Brien, Tom Stubs, Jackson Braunthal.
Other Games – R1: Montrose 13.18(96) def Bayswater 13.11(89), Mooroolbark 12.22(94) def Norwood 3.8(26), South Belgrave 15.16(106) def Park Orchards 9.10(64). Bye: Boronia.
Ladder: Mooroolbark, Beaconsfield, South Belgrave, Montrose 4, Bayswater, Park Orchards, North Ringwood, Norwood, Boronia 0.
Fixture R2: Bayswater v Boronia, North Ringwood v Mooroolbark, Montrose v Park Orchards, Norwood v South Belgrave. Bye: Beaconsfield.
