By Nick Creely
OUTER EAST FOOTBALL
PREMIER DIVISION REVIEW – ROUND 5
Another bag of goals to Harry Money, and another four points – things are going swimmingly for Berwick after a 99-point victory against Woori Yallock on Saturday at Edwin Flack Reserve.
The champion Wickers side inflicted the Tigers to their first loss of the AFL Outer East Premier Division season, in another impressive four-quarter performance, 20.17 (137) to 6.2 (38).
On a day where nasty weather also seemed to be looming large, the destructive Money was the man once again, slotting eight majors to take his tally to 25 from the first five matches.
His destructiveness around goal, and ability to be a threat in the air and on the ground proved a major stumbling block for Bryan Cole’s team, who still had quality names Michael Riseley and Robbie Allen down back.
Rhys Nisbet’s side was greeted by a competitive Tigers outfit on the wide expanses of Edwin Flack in the first term to hold just a 13-point lead, but stormed ahead with a dominant six-goal second term, with the visitors only able to register a point.
With Travis Tuck returning to his damaging best after being a late withdrawal prior to the interleague break, and Madi Andrews stunningly taking his place despite missing the trip to Bendigo to represent the league last weekend with a broken hand, the Wickers just had too much class through the middle, giving Money plenty of chances to weave his magic.
Money was well supported by Andrew Morozoff, Jonte Andrew, James McLean and Tim Gunn, who all snared two majors, while defender Will Arthurson snuck down to also pick up a couple of goals.
Defender Jo West, Matthew Young and Dylan Morris were others to impress for the home side, while for the Tigers, Hayden Smith and former Wicker Michael Riseley played strong games.
Beaconsfield, meanwhile, snared an incredibly important win on the road, knocking off Upwey Tecoma in a dominant second-half showing, 19.13 (127) to 7.13 (55).
The Eagles – despite actually starting the season in relatively solid form despite entering with a 1-3 record – simply needed to come away with the win.
And they did.
Eagles coach Leigh McQuillen acknowledged that it was a massive game for his footy club, who – if falling to a 1-4 record – would be playing catch up for the rest of the year.
“We knew we’d been playing well and losing three games to the former SEFNL clubs by a total of five goals spoke volumes about the fact we could’ve easily had a better record that 1-3,” he said.
“Coming back from 1-4 would’ve made it a longer road.”
The Eagles skipped away eventually after an entertaining first-term which saw nine-goals and a narrow four point lead to the visitors, kicking 14 goals to three after quarter time to bank some important percentage and confidence, all without champion ruckman Scott Meyer.
The Eagles had nine individual goal kickers, while the likes of Jake Bowd, Sean Dwyer and Jacob Patullo dominated.
McQuillen said it was a credit to the group’s maturity that they were able to adapt within games, and said that they prepared meticulously for the challenge of playing on the smaller ground.
“The group has matured so much and after the past two seasons of playing under a drastically changed game plan and we’re seeing the benefits now with this group having a thorough understanding of what we do with the ball in hand and where we need to be without the ball to support team structure,” he said.
“We trained all week on our back oval reducing the boundaries to the exact dimensions of Upwey’s ground.
“Our drills we’re all in tight and our defence was adjusted to cater for the dimensions. We selected a side that featured more inside players.
“Early in the game we focused on quick hands and gaining territory via run and carry, knowing that one kick can place you in scoring territory.
“We knew we had a lot of creative forwards and that at the drop of the ball we would be extremely dangerous.”
Once again – despite kicking 127 points and 19 goals – the Eagles’ stingy defensive unit came to the fore, giving up only seven goals in another impressive effort, with McQuillen’s side conceding just 301 points (second best in the competition) from the first five rounds.
He said that his back half is as strong as he can remember, with plenty of options to turn to if necessary.
“This has been a strength, the back half have really become a strong unit in an exciting team,” he said.
“Our development team has also got a few knocking the door down to be part of it so we feel very deep in this area.
“We’ve got a great mix of size and experience in there and a core of players who have spent at least three seasons together. I trust their judgement and often leave them to control their own match ups while continually working on their craft at training in match scenarios.
“(It’s) a credit to Mitch Welsh, our back half coach who has placed a lot of development and faith into these players.”
In the remaining matches, Cranbourne inflicted Healesville with a heavy 24.19 (163) to 7.4 (46) loss, to continue their impress goal scoring form in recent weeks.
There was danger signs early as the Eagles had 14 scoring shots to just one at quarter time, opening up a 38 point lead to flatten the Bloods.
Although the home side fought back with four goals to six in the second half, Steve O’Brien’s side found another gear to slam on 12 goals to two in the second half.
With 12 individual goal kickers, there was plenty of winners across the park for the Eagles, with Anthony Vella backing up his five goal haul from before the interleague break to slot another four, while rising star Corey Ellison kicked four too in a dynamic performance.
Olinda Ferny Creek had the bye.
