By Nick Creely
AFL OUTER EAST DIVISION 1
REVIEW – ROUND 2
It was a cracking game of local football befitting of a special occasion tinged with a thriving community spirit.
Famous foes Emerald and Gembrook-Cockatoo locked horns in its traditional Anzac Round blockbuster, with a monster crowd converging on Chandler Recreation Reserve to get a glimpse of the action.
And with the anticipation, and rivalry bubbling along, the senior football didn’t disappoint.
In the end, the Brookers claimed the points, pulling away in the last half to record a 24-point win, 12.9 (81) to 7.15 (57).
It was a case of what could have been for the Bombers, who despite having more of the play – particularly in the first quarter – couldn’t get it on the scoreboard in a meaningful way.
Looking to flick the ball around, and change the angles, the Bombers looked flashy with ball in hand, and despite the early dominance, the Brookers registered the only goal of the opening term with more direct attack.
The Brookers held sway in the second term, with the likes of Michael Firrito, Braeden Wood and Lochlan Taylor in particular getting in on the action, with the visitors holding a narrow three-point advantage at the major break.
It was the third term that the Brookers showcased its class and proved it’ll be a handful in 2021, kicking five goals to one to steal the game away.
Despite having their chances, kicking 3.5 in the final term, the Brookers were never threatened thereafter to record another famous win against its great hills rival.
Braeden Wood was simply sublime to be best on ground for the Brookers, while Michael ‘Spud’ Firrito slotted four to be a major threat up forward.
For the Bombers, Matt Livermore could hold his head high with a class display, while Steven Paull was also named in the best.
The ultra-impressive Mt Evelyn, meanwhile, has clinched an early scalp, knocking over Seville in a thrilling two-point win, 10.17 (77) to 10.15 (75).
Mark Fisher’s group has started the season with back-to-back wins, showcasing a hard edge to its footy but with enough outside flair to make the eyebrows raise.
The game never really petered beyond a two-goal sway in either direction, with the Rovers leading by 11 points at quarter time, but across the second and third terms, it was four goals to seven as the game tightened up to see the Blues lead by four at the final change.
In a see-sawing final term, the Rovers stood tall – particularly in its young defensive group – to generate just enough looks on goal to secure a confidence boosting win.
“We’re really happy with where the boys are at – they’re in really good nick,” Rovers coach Mark Fisher said.
“They’re a bit banged up and sore after last week against Emerald, so we knew that coming in that there would be a bit of second-week blues, having not played for essentially 18 months.
“But the way they’ve bought in is great – the standard they hold each other accountable to is as better as it’s ever been.”
After a dominant showing in the opening round, Seville’s twin-towers in Leigh Williams and Nathan O’Keefe were well contained, kicking five between them, with Fisher praising his group for its preparation for the threat posed by the two stars.
“It was more about playing those guys one-on-one, and knowing what the strengths of them are – we had a 20-year-old (Luke Inaps) playing on Leigh (Williams), and we spoke to him and showed him some stuff,” he said.
“We put a bit of work into him from watching how he likes to play, and one of our experienced blokes (Dom Matarazzo) played on Nathan, and from what we’ve seen he likes to play a bit higher up the ground.
“They both did a big job – Dom unfortunately got a knock to the neck and he had to come off, so we put another young bloke, Bayley Forbes on him and he did as equally as good a job.
“To keep them to five collectively was fantastic from the two young blokes who will be 250-300 game players for the club.”
Down at Starling Road, Officer clinched its first win of the season, outmuscling the promising Berwick Springs, 13.20 (98) to 4.4 (28).
Inaccuracy hurt the Kangaroos in perhaps the only blemish, but showed enough signs – despite a growing injury list – that it is going to be right up there this season.
The Titans, on the other hand, ran out of puff with its young list, but Rodney Benstead’s group play with some exciting flair, and appear well-drilled and hungry.
The Kangaroos were never really threatened in the slippery conditions, racing out to a 31-point half-time lead.
The heavens really opened up after half-time with more seasoned Kangaroo bodies winning the ball on the inside and having enough class on the outside to generate enough looks at goal.
In a dominant third term, the Kangaroos handled the conditions superbly to surge out to a 58-point lead, before kicking wasteful but still winning the final term comfortably.
With skipper Matthew Clarke out injured with a knee, and Tyler Clark still a ways off from a return, the Kangaroos have had to dig deep into its depth and were well-served by its usual suspects in champion big man Sean Roach, Jesse Longmuir and Jake Ingaliso, but it was recruit Anthony Bernardo that was ultra-impressive in the wet conditions. Ben O’Loughlin and big man Dylan Chapman were also solid.
Bailey Delves, Daniel Ousley and Aidan Nelson were in the best for the Titans.
In the remaining match, Healesville were too strong for Belgrave at The Graveyard, 14.12 (96) to 9.9 (63).
