By Tyler Lewis
AFL OUTER EAST DIVISION 1
REVIEW – ROUND 1 (MATCH OF THE ROUND)
On paper, Beaconsfield v Narre Warren at Holm Park Reserve is what the eyes immediately search for when the AFL Outer Easter fixture is released each year.
And somehow, even more so in season 2021.
With the dominant Berwick Football Club shifting its allegiance to the Eastern Football League, an opportunity rises for the two teams that have been the chaser for so long, to be the chased.
On Anzac Eve, it was Beaconsfield that claimed bragging rights among the top-flight teams, defeating reigning premier Narre Warren in an extremely physically contest in front of a bumper crowd at the Eagles nest.
The Pies got off to a strong start, with Tom Toner continuing his brilliant start to the year with the opener.
It was quickly matched by Hamish West, who booted the second of the day.
With melees after every goal, it appeared the game was going to be played on the edge.
While the early ascendancy was definitely with the Pies, its inability to convert the opportunities inside 50 threatened to cost Shane Dwyer’s men, especially when the likes of Brandon White started to work into the game and perpetual runner Nick Battle started to tick the legs over.
By kicking 2.7, and one out on the full, the Pies had left the door ajar for the home side to counter attack.
And Beaconsfield did so with pleasure in the second term.
The Eagles slotted 4.3 to Narre’s 1.3 in the second, with Jafar Ocaa’s big mark and goal in the square sending the Beaconsfield faithful into frenzy before the half time interval.
With two yellow cards – one for each side – holding over the main break and the rain starting to settle in, the second half loomed as if the contest could get even more enthralling than it already was.
The conditions applied the brakes on the frantic pace in which the game was being played in the third term, but it set up a must-watch final 30-minutes of football.
When Tom Miller booted a big goal to get the Pies within seven points in the final term it put the options ahead of the young Beaconsfield outfit.
Be overran, or step up to the challenge.
In the driving rain and dark skies that had settled in over Holm Park, the Eagles group chose the latter, piling on a margin that didn’t reflect the contest.
The Eagles came away 13.12 (90) to 5.14 (44) winners over fellow September certainty Narre Warren.
Beaconsfield were able to capitalise on Narre Warren’s missed opportunities in the early stages of the match, and while it was beneficial in the long run, Eagles coach Mick Fogarty was intrigued to see how his group would’ve have reacted to the early season adversity if the Pies kicked straight.
“Our starts in our practice games have been a bit slow and I think that is probably the case again on Saturday, it is something we are working really hard on,” he said.
“For Narre to have plenty of opportunities early and not take them, it kept us in the game.
“I would’ve loved to have seen what our response would have been if they had kicked those goals.
“They are the best in it at the moment, and we were just happy to stay in the game and get some scoreboard pressure the other way.
“We will take that for sure,” Fogarty said.
The game was definitely played on the edge, with both teams not willing to take a backward step.
With what he labels an ‘inexperienced group’, Fogarty was proud of how his boys reacted to the physical opposition through the course of the day.
“They come at us early physically, I was rapt with our young group that we were able to withstand that,” he said.
“It was a really hard and physical game; we were up for Narre because they are the best side in the competition and the reigning premiers.
“We haven’t played footy for 16 months as well, the boys were up for it, our pre-season form was really good, we had prepared well.
“I know they had some really important guys out so they will be better for it when they come back in,” Fogarty said.
Jake Bowd went forward on the weekend and booted six majors in a brilliant performance – more commonly known as a defender – Fogarty isn’t giving away any of his other master-plans for the crucial match up he has to overcome this weekend.
“He has been a star hasn’t he? Holty,” he said.
“It is about everyone, as much as what Holty has given and gives Cranbourne, there is other dangerous players we have to be accountable for.
“We will have a look at the match ups, but I am sure whoever goes to Holty will have his hands bloody full.”
As for sending a statement to the competition, Fogarty is reassured his side isn’t getting ahead of themselves and believes the continuous finals appearances are no longer the pass mark for his talented group.
“We haven’t done anything for seven years, whilst we have contested for finals; we have a hell of a lot of work to do going forward knowing that our next step is Cranbourne.
“Great to get the win but we just move on quickly to Cranbourne at their new ground, and that’s a new challenge.”
Beaconsfield will swiftly move onto its next challenge, travelling to Cranbourne in the first game for premiership points at the Eagles new ground.
