By Tyler Lewis
Officer has failed its maiden AFL Outer East Premier Division test.
The young Roos weren’t short of chances, dominating the play in Saturday’s round 1 clash with Upwey Tecoma.
Officer had a plethora of energy in the first half, but failed to compose itself in the final steps to punish its opponent where it counts – on the scoreboard.
In a low scoring opening term, the Roos lead by a kick, before keeping the Tigers to four minor scores to its two goals in the second stanza.
The third term will no doubt be on the agenda for Officer this week, as the Roos conceded eight goals without putting a score on the board.
The Tigers won the ball at the source and completed what the Roos couldn’t in the first half.
The final interval couldn’t come quick enough for Officer, as the Tigers recorded a 57 point unanswered swing in the premiership quarter.
Disappointingly for Officer, it won three quarters of footy, but the third term was too damaging, as the Tigers claimed a 10.17 (77) to 10.6 (66) victory.
The Kangaroos led at the first break 3.1 to 1.3, before holding a 20 point half-time buffer (5.3 to 1.7).
Skipper Ben O’Laughlin believes his side should’ve iced the game in the first half when it had all the ascendancy.
“We probably didn’t put enough pressure on scoreboard wise,” he said.
“We pretty much dominated possession and had a lot of run of the football, we just couldn’t put it on the scoreboard to be honest.
“We just couldn’t get the shots going forward, we couldn’t hit targets, we weren’t missing a few, we just couldn’t finish going into the forward-line.”
The third term was a nightmare for the Roos, so much so it was the only term Officer actually lost.
And while it could’ve been worse with the Tigers kicking nine behinds, the 8.9 to no score proved the difference.
O’Laughlin explained it was a tale of two halves, but with one slight change, the Tigers were able to apply that aforesaid scoreboard pressure.
“It was pretty much the complete opposite, we just couldn’t get our hands on it in the midfield,” he said.
“I don’t think we won a clearance in third quarter, we couldn’t get our hands on it straight away and having a young backline didn’t spade well for us with that.
“It is just a learning curve for the younger blokes I suppose.
“We had to man up the stoppages, we weren’t winning the tap so we had to nullify what they were doing and try and get to three quarter time.
“We tried to get a man behind the ball, but when you’re losing it that quickly out of the midfield it didn’t really help much.”
Though the Roos would’ve expected they head into the next game against Pakenham 1-0, O’Laughlin and his side are taking solace in the fact they can resurrect themselves on 23 April at Toomuc Reserve.
“There is always positives in a game, there are always negatives,” he said.
“The third quarter is obviously a negative; for three quarters we stood up well against a Premier division side for our first hit out.
“We had four under-19s players playing, a couple debutants for the club, always next week.”
Olinda Ferny Creek and Woori Yallock, meanwhile, played out a brilliant high-scoring game of footy at Olinda Recreation Reserve.
There were several lead changes, as the Bloods led at first change, but trailed at the half.
Olinda Ferny Creek will be rueing its early misses in the first term, after kicking 3.7 to the Tigers 2.2.
The home side stormed home though, kicking six goals to three in the final stanza.
The Tigers ultimately held on, winning in a 15.17 (107) to 14.17 (101) thriller.
Kelsey Currie was at his brilliant best for Olinda Ferny Creek, while Zach Monkhorst started his season in style, booting four majors.
In the stand-alone Sunday game between Wandin and Mt Evelyn, the Dogs delivered a second quarter clinic to secure their first win of the season.
It wasn’t a typical Wandin home game in the first term, with both sides kicking the solitary major.
The Dogs unleashed the shackles in the second however, booting a scintillating six goals to one to take a 32-point lead into half-time.
The Rovers then had their chances after the main break, but were wasteful in front of goal, kicking 2.9, while the Dogs kicked a neat 4.4 from fewer shots.
While Mt Evelyn came home with a wet sail, the Dogs held on to win 15.14 (104) to 10.18 (78).
The win is beyond promising for the Dogs, who have the chance to go 2-0 with another game at home in round 2 on Anzac Day.
Monbulk are in a unique situation, with the bye in the first round ahead of the Easter break. The Hawks will play its first game on 23 April when it welcomes Narre Warren.
In Division 1, four of the seven sides are yet to taste defeat.
Seville, Gembrook Cockatoo, Healesville and Emerald have all sung the song at least once in the opening fortnight.
On Saturday, Seville registered another big win, this round over Berwick Springs at Mick Morland Reserve.
The Blues brushed off a horror opening term to defeat the Titans 17.14 (116) to 7.7 (49).
Rodney Benstead’s men are close, but fundamentals are costing his side considerably at the moment.
Leading 3.3 to 0.3 at the first change, Berwick Springs then lost the final three periods 17.11 (113) to 4.4 (28).
Nathan O’Keefe kicked a handful (5 goals), while Ryan Farrow also booted five.
Daniel Ousley was best afield for Berwick Springs.
Healesville hung on in a nail-biter against Yarra Glen.
Less than a kick decided the two sides at quarter-time, half-time and full-time.
Positively for the Bloods, it was them who had the each on all three occasions.
The victorious visitors kicked away in the third term kicking four unanswered goals to have a five goal buffer at the final change.
Yarra Glen then stormed home in the final quarter, but fell five points short with the Bloods taking the points, 11.15 (810 to 10.16 (76).
Charlie Wood (Yarra Glen) booted four, while Jesse Bates (Healesville) slotted three.
Connor Ballingall was best afield for the winners, while Sam Wood performed well in a loss.
Michael Firrito and Myles Wareham packed their kicking boots in the Brookers season opener against Belgrave.
The Brookers lead by 35-points at the main break, before putting the foot on the throat in the second half.
The visitors kicked a whopping 15 goals to one in the second half, as Firrito and Wareham both bagged seven majors.
Firrito – the 275 AFL game Roo – is simply too strong for the Division 1 competition and with such a small amount of teams, his early season is just a sample size for what he can achieve for the Brookers this year.
Gembrook Cockatoo registered an early season percentage boost, as the Pies fell 5.8 (38) to 24.14 (158).
Despite a difficult draw for Belgrave in the first two weeks, with Seville and Gembrook Cockatoo, it’s panic stations for the Pies, as they’ve suffered back-to-back 100-point thrashings.
Emerald had the bye, but will be in full focus in round 3 when it travels to Gembrook Cockatoo.
