By Nick Creely
OUTER EAST FOOTBALL
DIVISION 1 REVIEW – ROUND 15
The noise is getting louder at Pakenham.
With the minor premiership within its grasp with just round left to play before a crunch finals campaign, there’s some expectation building for the famous football club on the Princes Highway.
But try telling coach Ash Green that – he wants his players to remain focused week to week, and block out the external noise as they continue to build momentum.
“The club’s pretty low key, to be honest,” he told the Gazette after Saturday’s 33-point win against Doveton, 12.18 (90) to 8.9 (57).
“We hadn’t really discussed finals until really after the Warburton game, only because we had two important games in Doveton, and then Officer this week.
“It’s hard for any player to not think finals, but you have to be still playing well in the home and away games as well, and to Doveton’s credit, they were really good, they pushed us.
“We’ll probably play them again at some stage, and we look forward to that, but we now focus on Officer this week.”
The Lions got the better of another terrific football side in the Doves at AJ Robinson Oval on Saturday, controlling the game – particularly after half time – to move one step closer to earning the week off in the first week of finals.
It was an almighty scrap early, highly contested and with very little space to move, with the Lions making the most of the home side’s turnovers in the first term to take in a comfortable 15-point lead.
Despite a much-needed response by the Doves in the second quarter, sparked from some inventive play from youngster Kobi George and the wise head of Matthew Boyd, the Lions just had all the answers, with Zac Stewart and Darcy Hope looking ominous in attack.
While the Lions didn’t fully get the game on their terms until midway through the third term – largely due to some inaccuracy in front of the big sticks – an unanswered four-goal third term saw them surge to a 36-point three quarter time lead, icing the game as the game opened up in the final term.
Once again, the Lions were incredibly even across the ground, with Jake Thompson, Joel Sarlo and Rhys Nelson all named in the best, while Hope and Stewart combined for five goals and Chris Cardona provided his usual drive.
For the Doves, George was a shining light, while the likes of Matt Stapleton, Andrew Parker Matthew Boyd and on-baller Mitch Cotter all battled valiantly.
Green described the contest as having a real ‘finals-like’ intensity, and was pleased his side were able to stand up and put the Doves under the pump.
“It was a really contested game early on, there wasn’t a lot of clean, free flowing football,” he said.
“And to be fair, we had 30 scoring shots, and missed some easy goals, so we should of put more pressure on the scoreboard, and to their credit, they were able to get out the back a few times.
“We have to get better at that, but it was a great contest heading into finals, there was a lot of pressure and it was really hard to get easy possession.
“And I think the scoreboard showed it.”
There is still well and truly pressure for spots down at Toomuc Reserve, with Green admitting his best side is nearer to coming to fruition, with the likelihood the Lions will be further strengthened before finals.
“You want to be having your best side coming in now – Jake Barclay just came back and had a run in the twos, Adam Alberni played twos and Matty Ryan’s been kicking goals in the reserves, and bar any injuries, we’re not far away,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries this year, but we’re in a position where we’re starting to get our better players back, and that’s good for us.”
The race for the minor premiership, however, is set to be fought on the final day of the home and away season on Saturday, with Monbulk keeping in touch with a win against Mount Evelyn, 12.15 (87) to 6.16 (52).
The Hawks – who are tied on 52 points with the Lions – will need Ash Green’s side to drop its final game against Officer and beat Belgrave themselves to earn the week off, with percentage not a factor.
In the contest on Saturday, the Rovers were right with the Hawks for three quarters, and if not for inaccuracy – particularly in the first half – could have nearly taken a potentially match-winning lead.
But a six-goal final term sealed the deal for the Hawks, with Michael Langworth snagging five goals to be best afield, while Daimon Kift was named the best for the Rovers.
In the remaining matches, Emerald were too good for Belgrave, 18.15 (123) to 7.10 (52), while Officer’s recent run of extraordinary scoring continued with a barnstorming win against Warburton Millgrove, 25.9 (159) to 3.6 (24).
The Kangaroos had 11 individual goal kickers, with Will Hanson filling his boots with five, while Tyler Clark once again dominated and big man Sean Roach was once again prominent, and even snuck forward to kick two goals.
Interestingly, despite sitting in fourth spot heading into the final round, Doug Koop’s side has scored an astonishing 1431 points (at an average of 95.4), with the next being Pakenham on 1290, proving just how damaging the Kangaroos are becoming in attack.
Gembrook Cockatoo, meanwhile, qualified for finals on the final day of the Division 2 home and away season with a mammoth win against Yarra Glen, 18.17 (125) to 7.6 (48).
With the winner of the blockbuster locking themselves in for finals on Saturday, the Brookers just gave the visitors no chance in a blistering display after half time.
The visitors led at quarter time in what loomed as a low-scoring grind, but the Brookers fought back to take the lead at half time after a four-goal to two second quarter.
But it was the class that came to the fore in a dominant second half, kicking 13 goals to three in the final hour – with Tarkyn Lockyer (five) and Michael Firrito (four) showcasing their immense skill – to run away with the game and book an elimination final showdown.
In the first round of the finals this Saturday, Yarra Junction take on Kinglake in the qualifying final, while Gembrook Cockatoo plays Powelltown in an elimination final.
