By David Nagel
A slick looking Beaconsfield outfit has chalked up its fifth success of the Eastern Division One season with a commanding 10-goal win over Doncaster at Schramms Reserve on Saturday.
The Eagles set up a mouth-watering home clash with reigning-premier Mitcham this week after a 14.8(92) to 4.8(32) victory.
Coach Mick Fogarty was once again forced to make changes at the selection table with Mitch Szybkowski, Kobe Shipp, Ryan Williamson and Ben Fogarty making way for Josh Mounter, Trent Stokoe, Ethan Harris and Taelor Reyment; playing his first senior game for the season.
Beaconsfield fell behind early when former Inverloch-Kongwak forward Tristan Van Driel marked and goaled to kick the opening goal of the match.
But it soon became clear where the four points would be heading, with the Eagles dominating in most positions on the ground.
The Eagles answered the home side’s early goal when Charlie Muley found Jake Bowd at the nine-minute mark, before three goals in five minutes opened up a 15-point lead at the first break.
Winger Lachie Modica latched onto some crumbs to kick an open goal from close range, before a Tylah Stokoe clearance found Bowd on the lead for his second.
When Charlie Muley then marked and goaled; the Eagles were on their way to a handy advantage at quarter time.
Muley was proving too big and strong for an undersized Doncaster defence, while midfielders Stokoe, Devon Smith, Ethan Harris and Damien Johnston were all their creative best.
Hayden Brough kicked a ripper from the boundary to open the second term, but the Eagles then struggled to take full advantage of dominant time in their forward half.
Bowd kicked his third after a mark at the top of the goalsquare, before James Munks answered to make it a four-goal game at half time.
Beaconsfield then took control in the third quarter with its best footy for the match.
The teams went goal-for-goal early; but four goals in 11 minutes ended the penny section.
The Eagles looked focused on creating turnovers and then moving the ball quickly, hurting the home side with its slick decisions by hand.
Bowd kicked his fourth for the afternoon after slick hands from Johnston found Mackay Bateson, who hit Bowd lace out with clinical precision.
Muley then converted a set shot to make it 37 points – 17-minutes into the third – before a quick handball from Nathan Wright released Stokoe to bury one from 40.
When Wright then sealed the deal after some great play from Johnston and Myles Currie…the Eagles were home and hosed.
The visitors then kicked three goals to one in the final term to put the exclamation mark on a fine performance.
The Eagles were simply too good all over the park.
The starting back six of Brandon White, Trent Stokoe, Declan Curran, Connor Mouat, Lachie Valentine and Sam Merrick kept the home side to a paltry four goals, while Mitch Summers and Reyment competed well in the ruck.
Johnston was clearly the best midfielder on the ground, kicking a last-quarter goal to cap off a stellar performance for the Eagles, while Bowd finished with four, and Muley three up front.
This was a mature win for the Eagles; who were clearly a class above their opposition.
This week’s test against Mitcham is vitally important in the context of the season, with a win to the second-placed Eagles seeing them jump two games clear of the Tigers; who currently sit fifth.
Fogarty and his team then have a stretch of four games, against teams that currently sit outside the top five…where they can certainly set up their season.
DONCASTER 1.4 2.4 3.5 4.8(32)
BEACONSFIELD 4.1 6.4 11.6 14.8(92)
Doncaster Goals: Isaac Barassi, Max Dooley, James Munks, Tristan Van Driel. Best: Pat Jacobson, Sam Goodwin, Ben Munks, Max Dooley, Luke Kenna, Ryan Smith.
Beaconsfield Goals: Jake Bowd 4, Charlie Muley 3, Hayden Brough 2, Damien Johnston, Lachlan Modica, Joshua Mounter, Tylah Stokoe, Nathan Wright. Best: Brandon White, Damien Johnston, Trent Stokoe, Jake Bowd, Ethan Harris.
Other Games: Mitcham 20.16(136) def North Ringwood 7.9(51), Mooroolbark 8.10(58) def Montrose 5.8(38), Park Orchards 14.9(93) def Bayswater 11.8(74), Wantirna South 4.8(32) def by South Belgrave 12.11(83).
Ladder R7: Park Orchards 28, Beaconsfield, South Belgrave 20, Montrose, Mitcham 16, Bayswater, Mooroolbark 12, North Ringwood, Doncaster 8, Wantirna South 0.
Fixture R8: Beaconsfield (2) v Mitcham (5), Montrose (4) v North Ringwood (8), Park Orchards (1) v Doncaster (9), South Belgrave (3) v Bayswater (6), Wantirna South (10) v Mooroolbark (7).
