By Nick Creely
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 5
It’s almost frightening just how clinical Narre Warren’s first five rounds have been.
Wins of 16 points, 19, 72, 130 and now 106 – at an average of 68.6 points – prove that the Magpies have had one of the more brilliant starts of recent memory.
Doveton were the unfortunate recipient of the Magpies’ golden touch on Saturday, with the home crowd flocking to Kalora Park for their first home game in front of the spectacular new social rooms.
In the end it was always going to go one way, nothing less than a strong Magpie victory. But the Doves showed plenty of spirit, and were simply outclassed by a team hell-bent on blitzing the competition.
The Doves did everything in their power to stick with the home side in the first half, but the Magpies had an answer every time Daniel Charles’ side had some momentum, with the likes of Mitch Cox, Trent Cody, the skilful Cory MacHaya and a typically industrious effort from Jake Richardson and Jesse Davies lifting when it mattered, taking in a 40 point half time lead after kicking five goals in each of the opening two quarters.
But it was the premiership third quarter where the Magpies lifted their rating and played at their breathtaking best, booting a wayward 7.11 to completely blanket the Doves to extend that margin to 92 points with a quarter left to play.
“As I said to the players, our third quarter was good, and that’s been the key for us – on the weekend we probably crucified how hard we worked and kicked something like 7.10, and some of those shots we should have really made,” coach Matt Shinners said of the quarter.
“We played some great footy in our forward half, and our tackle pressure was really good, and they just didn’t score in that third quarter.”
In the eventual 106 point win, the Magpies had 12 individual goal kickers – including seven multiple goal scorers – making them easily the most unpredictable side in the competition.
“We changed the side around a bit again, with the two young kids not being available, so two players came in with Mitch Cox and Trent Papworth really good all day,” Shinners said.
“This year, with how we’ve been able to spread our goals around is fantastic, and it makes it harder for the opposition to identify because we’re not reliant on any one individual.”
Former Western Bulldog Matthew Boyd was a class act once again for the struggling Doves, while Riley D’Arcy could hold his head high after kicking three of the seven goals for his side.
Narre Warren 23.20 (158)
Doveton 7.10 (52)
