By Tyler Lewis
The bye has come at a perfect time for Officer.
It’s been far from a dream start for the Roos in its maiden AFL Outer East Premier Division campaign, suffering two losses from its opening two outings.
On Saturday, the Roos hosted Pakenham – a side that has had a three week layoff since its opening round defeat to Narre Warren on 2 April.
Ash Green’s men had all the ascendancy in the opening half, but were unable to ice the game in front of goal, taking a 6.12 score line into the main break.
The yips continued in the third term for the Lions, as they added a further 2.6.
The wayward kicking in front of goal threatened to cost Pakenham the game in the final stanza, when the Officer outfit stormed home.
The Roos weren’t dead-eyes in the fourth term themselves, but by holding the Lions to 1.1, Officer mounted a neat comeback.
The home side came home with a wet sail, but a two goal first half ultimately left the young Roos with too much ground to cover.
The 9.11 (65) to 9.19 (73) defeat leaves the Roos 0-2 heading into the bye, with a crucial pair of games against Woori Yallock and the improved Wandin side to follow.
For Pakenham, the early wins are as important as any, with a heavier home game schedule to come.
Narre Warren, meanwhile, did as Narre Warren does.
The Pies were tested in its clash with Monbulk, but stepped up accordingly.
Monbulk trailed by just a straight kick at the half, before the Pies answered.
Like a prized fighter that is a cut above, it almost appeared as if the Narre Warren core enjoyed a side willing to make them earn it.
The Pies kicked the first three out of the main break, with the likes of Trent Cody and Kurt Mutimer – as they often do – grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck.
Although the Hawks remained within striking distance, the Pies knew when to land the knockout blow, kicking a swift four goals in red time of the fourth to run away with the 17.9 (111) to 10.9 (69) win.
Pies coach Shane Dwyer was unable to attend the game through health and safety protocols, but felt his side did might’ve gone in a bit lenient after seeing an earlier result.
“I would have spoken to eight or 10 of them yesterday, I think from their perspective the reserves game might’ve put a mindset into their heads… it was so one-sided,” he said.
“They’re sitting watching our reserves win by 30 goals and are up ready firing to go and then they see that they might’ve had a change of thinking, thinking it wasn’t going to be as tough.
“The fight has been good, two games in a row sides have come at us late and we have been able to pull away and win.
“They have all been happy with how we won and how the game was, from what I understand they sung the song with a bit of gusto as well which is a positive.”
Despite Jake Richardson booting four majors, best afield was comfortably ex-AFL Eagle Kurt Mutimer, who found a stack of the footy.
“Last year he had injuries in the preseason, I think he might’ve only played four games,” Dwyer said.
“He had four games with a whole new group of players and has done the preseason again, we only played one and a half practice games but he has had that time to get to know the boys.
“I think having that experience from last year has helped him out this year, he is going well, he is a class player, he is going to want to be the dominant player week in, week out.”
The two matches in which Narre Warren has played have followed a similar script, where the Pies have been tested before running away with it.
Dwyer puts that down to the maturity of his leaders on field.
“We have a good leadership group, they take a bit of ownership on the ground, we are really player driven,” he said.
“We want them to adapt as we go, we can’t wait until the breaks and from what I understand were really good on the weekend.
“The right guys going into the middle and the leaders in each line lifting and directing traffic, it shows we are fit enough as well because we have been able to pull away in both games.
“It’s a good reflection on how hard they have worked in the off season”
Goal-kicking has been an itch the Pies haven’t been able to scratch for years and something Dwyer has always had to answer questions about.
Incidentally, the game he is forced to miss out on is the game the Pies can’t miss.
“I know, I know,” he laughed.
“I think the last note I wrote on my pad for my assistant coaches was: ‘kick the **** goals!”
“Because at the end of the day if we kick straight, we are going to be hard to beat.
“Jake Richardson, I think he kicked 4.3… the boys are working hard, out at training before we start, I mean if they weren’t doing that you would think they aren’t working hard enough on their goal-kicking.
“With a bit of luck we can stay on top of the ledger with goals to points, but from what I understand it was a nice day, makes it a bit easier doesn’t it.”
In the two Anzac Day clashes in the Premier Division competition; it was a good day to be taking the kick outs at Wandin Recreation Reserve, as the Dogs and Woori Yallock played out a shootout.
The Tigers ultimately secured the 19.20 (138) to 18.10 (118) win, despite wasting chances in front of goal.
Tidy goal-kicking kept an opportunistic Upwey Tecoma in it against Olinda Ferny Creek, but death by a thousand cuts is still death, as the Bloods snagged a 13.15 (93) to 12.8 (80) win.
In Division 1, young Healesville forward Max Donegan has filled his boots against an uncompetitive Belgrave side, booting 11 majors.
Donegan beat the Pies by nine goals himself, as the Bloods came away 17.23 (125) to 2.4 (16) victors.
A Patrick Chin inspired Emerald side maturely handled the red-hot Gembrook Cockatoo side.
Chin kicked six as the Bombers held on to a 12.15 (87) to 11.19 (85) win.
Brookers forward Myles Wareham also kicked six, to go with his seven last week.
In the final game of the round, Nathan O’Keefe kicked half a dozen as Seville defeated Yarra Glen 20.11 (131) to 10.11 (71).
