By RUSSELL BENNETT
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 11 EAST DIVISION
ELLINBANK v NILMA DARNUM
THE Eagles claimed their second scalp of the season on Saturday with an impressive 78-point win over the Bombers, 20.9 (129) to 7.9 (51).
Nilma has been ravaged by injury and unavailability over recent weeks and their issues were compounded last Tuesday night with star utility and Bunyip recruit Mitch Davies rubbed out for a month for his role in a fiery clash with Poowong in Round 8.
To make matters worse, gun ruckman Johnny Ikupu also missed Saturday’s match.
The hometown Ellinbank led by two goals at the first break before putting the foot down in the second, piling on another six majors.
The half-time break did little to halt the Eagles’ momentum, either, as they rammed home seven goals in a rampaging third term to lead by 60 at the final change. The Bombers could only manage three goals for the whole second half, while in contrast the Eagles booted 11.
Will Jolley (5 goals), Shaun Phelan and player-coach Daniel Barrand (3 goals) were the stars of the show for Ellinbank, while Matt Osborne, Josh Milner and the evergreen Shane Youngman were the standouts for the Bombers.
NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH v WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS
SHANE Brewster’s Dusties returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday, doubling up the Cats in a 9.8 (62) to 4.7 (31) triumph away at Neerim South.
The visitors got off to a promising start in the low-scoring contest, leading by two goals at quarter-time. But it was their defensive efforts that really shone – restricting Neerim to just one goal across the first three quarters; and that came in the first term.
Michael Ablett, Josh Peterson, Rhett O’Hara and Clay Peresso led the way for the Dusties, while Corey Nickels, Danny Brewster and Chris Larosa booted two goals apiece.
Tom Metselaar (3 goals) had the biggest scoreboard impact for the Cats, while Jack Deen, Dean Macfarlane and Kody Wilson were three of the home side’s best performers.
Despite their win, the Dusties remain in third on the ladder – a game behind Buln Buln and two behind Longwarry.
LONGWARRY v NYORA
THE Crows continued on their merry way on the weekend with a six-goal win at home over the Saints. While Saturday’s win alone hardly cements Dean Rice’s side as a genuine premiership threat, its 10 game winning streak does. The side is firing on all cylinders, with many of its wins this season to date coming by way of convincing margins.
Nyora got the early jump on Saturday, leading by five points at quarter-time but the Crows sprung into life in the second to take an 11-point lead into the main break. The third was a real arm wrestle, with the Saints going toe to toe with the highly-fancied crows and trailing by just seven points leading into the fourth.
But the final term was an impressive show of strength from Longwarry – outscoring Nyora 31 points to just two.
Perhaps the most ominous sign for the rest of the East was the ability of the Crows to kick away when it mattered, despite missing league-leading goal kicker Semir Zijai, who has 42 to his name at 4.2 per game so far this year. Steve Hawkins booted two majors in a best-on-ground effort for Longwarry, while Ilan Osman finished with three for the Saints.
BULN BULN v POOWONG
THE Magpies’ winless streak this season has stretched to 11 games after a 99-point touch-up at the hands of the Lyrebirds on Saturday, 18.17 (125) to 4.2 (26).
The visiting Poowong was held scoreless in the first term, with Buln jumping to a 26-point lead early.
But Paul Alger’s men stretched their margin by just seven points in a much more competitive second term, in which Poowong booted three majors.
After half-time, however, it was back to business as the Lyrebirds flexed their muscle. They slammed home 11 second-half goals to just one from the Pies in a clinical performance.
Brad Virgona and Matt Gray each booted four for Buln, while Bob McCallum, Tyson Bale and Brent Eastwell were also among their side’s best. Jason Hibbs was gallant as usual for Poowong, while Ben Drew kicked three of his side’s four goals.
