By Nicholas Creely
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 14
It’s no secret that Beaconsfield has gone through a tough time to get their best players on the park each week.
Injuries to the likes of key cogs in Nathan Langley, Scott Meyer, Lachlan Modica and Michael Misso for large parts of the year, as well as a raft of others, have certainly taken their toll and forced coach Leigh McQuillen to turn to youth in a big way.
This season, the Eagles have played 42 players, included a wrath of debutants. In comparison, reigning premier Berwick has played only 34 players this season despite having their own challenges.
But, Saturday was the first sign that the Eagles can be a legitimate September threat, dominating Doveton from start to finish and enjoying 39 scoring shots to seven to set up a 137-point win.
With spearhead Nathan Langley back in to the side and arguably the best player in the competition, Scott Meyer expected to be back before finals, the Eagles started to find some run, and more importantly, put it on the scoreboard – something that has been an issue for parts throughout the season.
Signs were highly ominous early when Taylor Joyce slotted his first of the day and the first of the game, setting up a seven goal first quarter and a 45-point lead.
Despite the usual fight by the likes of Doves trio Mitch Cotter, Matt Stapleton and Matthew Boyd, the class and speed of Riley Verbi, Bailey Morrish and the laser like kicking of Jake Bowd was giving coach Daniel Charles serious headaches.
The Eagles build their lead to 75 at half time, and eventually 99 at the final change, with the home side queuing up to get their chance to hit the scoreboard.
Unwilling to let his side simply take the foot off the pedal, momentum coming into next week became key, with the Eagles slamming on a further six unanswered goals in the final term to stretch the margin into triple figures.
Bailey Morrish looms as a September threat for the Eagles, with the youngster – a former Dandenong Stingray and current Williamston-listed player – snaring four goals and moving around the ground with class, while Verbi also hit the scoreboard with three and picked up plenty of the ball through the middle.
In his return from a shoulder injury, Nathan Langley managed to boot one goal and will build into his best form in the coming weeks.
The struggling Doves face another tough ask when they welcome Berwick to AJ Robinson Oval on Saturday, while the Eagles get a chance to continue to build some wins when they host Tooradin-Dalmore.
Beaconsfield 22.17 (149)
Doveton 1.6 (12)
