By Tyler Lewis
AFL OUTER EAST DIVISION 1
REVIEW – ROUND 3
He had threatened in the opening two matches so something big was coming.
Leigh Williams has certainly made an impressionable start to the Seville Football Club and one that has echoed across the Outer East competition.
The Eastern Football League legend booted 13 majors for the Blues in a thumping win over Belgrave on Saturday.
In the previous two rounds, Williams kicked four and four.
But now, he has sent a message to the competition, politely reminding defenders he is going to be a handful.
The Blues opened the match with a scintillating first term, kicking 11.6 to the Magpies 0.0.
It didn’t get much easier on the eyes for the Magpies fans, as the Blues piled on 25 goals for the day in the 25.12 (162) to 2.2 (14) win.
Nathan O’Keefe also bounced back with a handful, booting five.
In just three rounds, O’Keefe and Williams are sitting first and second in the league goal kicking with 15 and 21 respectively.
Leigh Williams had an enormous day, and along with his forward Nathan O’Keefe, Seville loom as a threat forward of centre.
As a coach’s dream, Seville coach Kane Shore is pleased with how his forward pair have worked together.
“Williams probably gave off three or four as well,” he said.
“You always have plans in place, we were hopeful that it was going to happen (Williams and O’Keefe to work so well together).
“They are both very talented.
“We know they can adapt to a lot of situations, you put them in there and they are some of the better country forwards to play with or against.
“We were very excited to get them both that’s for sure,” Shore said.
Shore has set the bar high; it’s only early in the season, but the Blues have already got the September tunnel vision.
“We have put our feelers out for finals, our aim is to play finals and I don’t back away from that,” he said.
“We have to play finals.”
Shore also made note about the unlucky start to the season the Magpies have had, with several injuries that are making the side dig deep into its depth.
Mount Evelyn, meanwhile, has proven it won’t be an easy beat in the race for the Division 1 premiership, topping Officer 15.17 (107) to 11.12 (78).
The Roos had just six majors to the final change, before slotting five in the fourth term, but the horse had already long bolted.
The Rovers have claimed two scalps in as many weeks, keeping the twin towers of Seville quiet last week and now toppling fellow frontrunner Officer.
The Roos now slump to 1-2 ahead of its bye this week.
Claiming big wins over top tiered sides is one thing, but smelling blood and pouncing on a side for a percentage boost is a telling sign of a powerful side; the match against Belgrave this week is bigger for the Rovers than it may appear on paper.
A Taylor Joyce half a dozen, meanwhile has handed Monbulk a big win over Healesville.
The Hawks kept the Bloods goalless in the opening half, while they added just three themselves in a low scoring affair.
The Hawks kicked a further five goals to one in the second half, on its way to a 8.16 (64) to 1.5 (11) win.
Joyce slotted six, while Tom Taylor was named best afield.
Shaun Donkin kicked the solitary major for the Bloods and Daniel Senior was judged the best for the losing side.
Wayward kicking from Gembrook Cockatoo has prevented it from recording a large win against Berwick Springs.
The Brookers had the troubles the Titans didn’t in front of goal, kicking 14.20 (104) to 12.4 (76).
The Titans had a handy buffer at the main break, leading by three goals despite having less scoring shots.
The Brookers overran the Titans in the second half, kicking 11 goals to five on its to collecting the four points.
Ryan Ladd was crucial for the Titans, while Liam Henzen was impressive for the Brookers.
A difficult loss to stomach for Berwick Springs fans, however the early signs are there for the new and exciting group to compete with the best for periods of time.
