By Nick Creely
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 6
It must be said that Pakenham are slowly building a side that is hard to topple, and Saturday’s encouraging display against Beaconsfield was testament to that.
Ultimately the Eagles had too much class with Nathan Langley slotting five, Jake Bowd racking up the footy and Scott Meyer dominating in the air, but Ash Green’s side was up to their eyeballs for the first half and can take a lot of pride in controlling parts of the game against a competition heavyweight.
Early in the contest, Langley attempted to take a massive specky over the shoulders of Lions skipper Chris Cardona, and landed awkwardly on his shoulder as the crowd shuddered, unsure of whether he was seriously injured.
But he bounced back to his feet to slot the opening major of the game after drawing a free kick in the goal square, and got his Eagles off to a brilliant start, letting his opponent Jordan Stewart know about it.
However, the Lions of 2018 refuse to give in, and after a pair of goals to Adam Alberni, Chris Cardona and Jay Jay Peni, the visitors took control of the quarter to take an 18-point quarter time lead, keeping the crowd quiet with their ability to force the Eagles into turning the ball over.
It’s not the first time that the Lions have got the jump on a highly fancied opponent in 2018, with the opening quarters against Berwick and during the second quarter against Cranbourne a sign of what’s to come as the group continues to build continuity.
As expected, the Eagles shot back, with Langley booting two for the term and the returning Taylor Joyce slotting one. The class of their leaders as well as a more rounded attacking game meant the scoreboard was always going to turn at some stage.
But at half time, the Lions only trailed by five points and were well and truly in the game if they could start the third quarter in a positive fashion and exert the pressure that is slowly beginning to make its mark.
The momentum went the way of the Eagles – as anticipated – after half time, slotting 9.8 to 3.3 in the last hour of play to run out 46 point winners, and is building a strong run of form that sees them comfortably set into fourth spot on the SEFNL ladder.
And the form of some of their stars continues to impress, with the likes of Bowd, Brad Homfray, Sean Dwyer and Riley Verbi really lifting their rating in the last month.
Pakenham has a massive chance for a second win of 2018 when they host Tooradin on Saturday, while Beaconsfield travels to AJ Robinson Oval to take on Doveton, a side that has shown more competitiveness in recent weeks.
Beaconsfield 15.11 (101)
Pakenham 8.7 (55)
