By David Nagel
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 14
A resurgent Narre Warren is on the precipice of a coveted double-chance after a dominant third quarter led to a 19-point victory over arch-rival Cranbourne at Kalora Park on Saturday.
The reinvigorated Magpies made it back-to-back wins over top-three contenders, adding this flock of Eagles to that of the previously vanquished Beaconsfield.
Magpies coach Heath Black was proud of his side’s ability to bounce back from a Round 12 loss to Berwick.
As Meatloaf would sing – two out of three aint bad!
“We eyed it off early in the season, we recognised that it would be a significant three to four week block in the context of where we finish this season,” Black said.
“I’m a realist, and winning one of those games would have kept us in top-three contention but winning two has been a real bonus. There’s a still a long way to go but if we keep performing, well we’ve now got one hand on the double chance.”
A strong breeze blew towards the main entrance at Fox Road, making scoring difficult and goals hard to come by.
Dean Kelly set the scene for the home side, gathering possessions at will on the members’ wing, while centre-half forward Jake Richardson was proving a handful for Stu Morrish.
The Eagles had their share of the play in the opening minutes of play, but poor conversion from Michael Thompson kept the Magpies in the hunt.
And they soon gained the ascendency, a clever kick off the ground from Jack Soroczynski and a typically deadly finish from Nick Scanlon gave the Magpies a seven-point lead at quarter time. Regular midfielder Shaun Marusic played behind the ball for the Eagles in the first term, and saved the day on numerous occasions in a backline under siege.
Black through Aaron Wilson into a similar role in the second term, the Eagles taking a one-point lead to half time after Khaled Kandakji kicked the only goal for the quarter.
The Magpies exploded in the third term.
Kelly was joined by Josh Tonna, Trent Cody and Michael Collins in a dominant midfield display, the Magpies piling on the pain with a 6.2 to 1.3 burst to take a 28-point lead at the final change.
It was a special third quarter from the Magpies with two goals to Cody, and singles to Soroczynski, Sam McLean, Dale Gawley and Dylan Quirk cutting a swathe through the Eagles’ defence.
The Eagles wasted their opportunities in the last kicking 1.6 to 0.3 to fall three goals short of victory.
The switch of Kelly to the wing has given the Magpies a potent look through the midfield.
“Dean’s been a very, very good footballer over the years and he’s a great competitor who hates losing, even a one-on-one contest,” Black said.
“He’d be close to leading our best and fairest and I think moving to the wing has really reinvigorated his career. He’s playing great football at the moment.”
Black agreed that maintaining this solid run of form is important, but competition for spots would delete any form of complacency.
“We’ve got some players in form but we’ve also got six or seven players who are in average to poor form, so the competition for a place in the team is strong” he said.
“Ben Carter was named in the best in the reserves, (Jack) Wheeler and (Jordyn) Flannery as well, so we’ve got some decisions to make moving forward.”
Soroczynski and Cody finished with two each for the winners who had defender Sam McLean join the impressive midfield brigade, and Richardson, on the list of best players.
The Eagles just don’t look dangerous going forward against quality opponents at the moment, with this four-goal effort against the Pies backing up a six-goal slog against Berwick in Round 11.
Ryan Jones kicked two for the Eagles while the experienced trio of Ryan Davey, Mat Fletcher and Brandon Osborne could hold their heads very high in defeat.
Both teams face comfortable assignments this week with the Eagles hosting Pakenham and the Magpies welcoming Hampton Park to its shores.
NARRE WARREN 8.9(57) v CRANBOURNE 4.14(38)
