Sharks break hoodoo against YCW PENINSULA LEAGUE
By Toe Punt BONBEACH snapped a long-time hoodoo on Saturday by knocking over the previously undefeated Frankston YCW. It seems the country championships bye gave the Sharks the time it needed to overcome its miserable loss to Seaford and bounce back against the league leaders, winning 12.17 (89) to 9.9 (63). Frankston YCW hasn’t been setting the world on fire this season but has been winning games of footy. On Saturday against the Sharks, the Stonecats were jumped in the opening quarter and smashed in the second half in what was Luke Damon’s final game after he announced his retirement after a brilliant career. Bonbeach could have quite easily been a lot further in front at the first change but despite having six more scoring shots, only led by six points after kicking with the breeze. Despite trailing by three points at halftime, Bonbeach had restricted the opposition against the breeze and set themselves up nicely for a big third term. With Dylan Jones dominating in the middle and when he moved forward and Jackson Casey and Gary Carpenter setting things up across half-back, the Sharks were able to boot five unanswered goals in the third and go in at the change with a 35-point lead. Trent Dennis-Lane (three goals) was causing some headaches in attack and Gavin Vassallo was also proving to be a handful for the opposition. The Stonecats, as expected, hit back in the final term with three majors but Bonbeach was able to answer the chal-
lenge with a couple of their own. The domination of the Sharks was highlighted by the fact it had 29 scoring shots to 18 – this rarely happens against the Stonecats. Ryan Santon was one of YCW’s best with three goals while Luke Paynter and Kevin Lylak worked hard in defence. Bonbeach coach Steve Hughes said on Sunday morning that “coffee always tastes better on a Sunday when you win”. “It was a really good day for us, we played really well,” Hughes said. “We probably got them at a good time with a few of their stars playing VFL but we did play very well. “It’s not often that you walk out of Jubilee Park with the four points. “We got our right whack against Seaford a couple of weeks ago. We were just going and they rightfully beat us comfortably. “The week off was good and I was really happy with the maturity of the group. Everyone had an impact and whilst our good players continue to play well, we didn’t leave it all up to them to get the job done,” Hughes said. Mt Eliza’s woes continued in more ways than one on Saturday, beaten by Edithvale-Aspendale after the game was called off early in the last quarter. In shocking scenes at Wooralla Drive, talented youngster Brody Shaw suffered a compound fracture of his leg and laid motionless and in horrific pain on the ground while it took more than 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. The game was called off with the scoreboard reading 8.17 (65) to 8.9 (57). The Eagles led by two points at threequarter time and kicked the opening goal of the final quarter. The Redlegs have now lost to Chelsea
and Edithvale in the past three weeks. Coming off a grand final last season and after one full season under new coach Troy Shannon, it was expected that the Redlegs would be the main threat in 2017. Whilst Saturday’s loss was unusual, it was still a loss. Truth be told, Mt Eliza doesn’t even look threatening right at the minute. Aaron Edwards booted nine goals in Pines’ big 17.16 (118) to 9.9 (63) win against Karingal. After carrying a niggling injury over the past month, Edwards looked at his best on Saturday and completely dominated. Lachy Marshall was again outstanding for the Pythons also. Pines now sits on top of the Peninsula ladder. Chelsea made it three wins on the trot on Saturday, smashing Langwarrin by almost six goals. The Gulls had previously won 10 games in four seasons and celebrated hard on Saturday night after its third straight win. Todd Gardner dominated for the Gulls with a couple of goals and Jack Francis was on fire with four goals. The hapless Kangaroos are at an alltime low with zero wins in six matches. One really does wonder what has happened to this once powerful club. The envy of all clubs given its junior depth, the Langwarrin FC is nothing more right now than the butt of opposition jibes. Seaford continued its domination, beating Mornington by 27 points. The Tigers set-up the win with a blistering first term, booting seven goals to one. Mornington rallied over the next three quarters but still went down 13.12 (90) to 18.9 (117).
Kicking on: Pines ultimately beat the squeeze against Karingal to post a win on Saturday. Picture: Scott Memery
Blues ‘are the team to beat’ after big win NEPEAN LEAGUE
By Toe Punt HASTINGS proved it is still the side to beat in MPNFL Nepean Division after dishing out a convincing hiding to Red Hill on Saturday. Clearly the match of the round, it seemed to be heading in that direction at half-time when the margin was three points. However, the reigning premier turned up the heat in the second half and the home side couldn’t match it, losing 15.9 (99) to 8.13 (61). Hastings booted 11 goals to four after half-time. The Hillmen’s sure ball handling and domination from half back and through the middle was non-existent, as Hastings stayed disciplined, structured and too powerful all over the ground. Rarely are Red Hill’s young defensive guns in Michael Mock and Jonah Siverson beaten but Shaun Foster and Luke Hewitt had the better of the pair on Saturday. The run from half back was there for the Hillmen but they continually turned the footy over and overused the handball to players under pressure. The home side continually blazed away into their forward line, only to find the arms of Lance Brouwer, Paul Rogasch and Brendan Dunne, who set up brilliantly, while Jay Austerberry mopped up everything. Aaron Vinson has grown into a good young defender and beat both Jayden Pain and Danny Allsop, while Jake Hewitt continues to impress. His re-
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Frankston Times 22 May 2017
Blues prove a point: Hastings thumped Red Hill at the weekend and are on the rise. Pictures: Andrew Hurst
bound off half back was first class yet again and he was awarded with the RPP best onfield award. Through the middle, Josh Mulherron had the better of his younger opponent and his onball brigade delivered. Luke Smith was outstanding all afternoon, but especially in the first quarter, while Mark Devereaux and Nathan Gray dominated. The midfield depth of the Blues is impressive with David Hirst, Luke Clark and Ricky Ferraro also going through there. Both Clark and Ferraro wore the dangerous Chris Irving like a glove and re-
stricted his brilliance around the footy. Hirst was also very dangerous in attack. A disappointed Red Hill coach Tony Blackford said after the match that the Blues were “just too good”. “They are really strong all over the ground and they proved once again that we’re still just a bit off it,” Blackford said. “We planned for their set-up and structures in defence but we just couldn’t execute. “You can plan as much as you like but of the opposition make it hard and your players can’t hit the targets and execute, planning goes out the window.
“Hastings are a very disciplined side and they are much better positioned now than where they were this time last year. They have to be the side to beat,” Blackford said. Hastings coach Brendan Dunne said his side was “starting to play some good footy”. “We were very good today and are playing some good footy,” Dunne said. “We played very well against Dromana a few weeks ago and that has really set us up. “There’s some good depth and everyone is playing the role that we want them to play,” Dunne said.
Dromana had 12 goal kickers in its 19.18 (132) to 15.11 (101) shootout against Pearcedale. Zac Muschialli played his best game for the Tigers since crossing from Edithvale while Adam Hunter booted three majors. Harry Prior was Pearcedale’s best while Matt Cottrell booted four majors. Frankston Bombers had 42 scoring shots against Crib Point and eventually won by 72 points, 18.14 (132) to 9.6 (60). The Magpies went toe to toe with the Bombers in the first half and trailed by just seven points at half-time.