Coach: Dog house performance ‘putrid’ PENINSULA LEAGUE
By Toe Punt IT took Mornington until the 16-minute mark of the final quarter to kick its one and only goal against Pines in MPNFL Peninsula Division on Saturday. Billed as the match of the day, it was anything but that as Mornington struggled to get out of a canter. Pines steamrolled the Dogs in every aspect of the game and in many instances, made the opposition look second rate. The score line of 13.14 (92) to 1.5 (11) was a true reflection of the contest. Doggies coach Chris Holcombe described the performance of his side as “putrid”. Holcombe said the team was made to “look slow and disinterested”. Earlier in the day on the RPP Footy Show, Holcombe said that his side was much better placed this season than last and he was excited about taking on Pines at Pines. Fast forward a few hours and Mornington suffered its worst loss in recent memory. Holcombe agreed that it “was the worst performance from a Mornington side that I have seen since I arrived at the club more than 15 years ago”. Take nothing away from Pines though. Pines was well-structured, organised, committed and confident with ball in hand. It was a far cry from what it rolled out against YCW the week before although Pines was very ordinary against YCW, couldn’t have played much worse and still only lost by four goals.
In tight: Mt Eliza kept Langwarrin goalless in the first half to notch up an impressive win. Picture: Scott Memery
Tim Bongetti and Aaron Edwards both came into the weekend’s game under an injury cloud but both impressed and booted seven goals between them. Luke Potts in the middle of the ground was arguably the best player on the park while Nick Boswell absolutely dominated from half back. It took Mornington until midway through the last quarter to put a stopper on Boswell – it was way too late. Corey Ash got the lockdown role on the dangerous Joel Miller and beat him, while Lachy Marshall and Jacob Boyle were super impressive. Guy and Beau Hendry, along with Ben Thomas, completely shut down the Dogs forwards in Jackson Calder, Dale Whelan and Peter McGettigan. Calder only had a touch when he was
moved back. McGettigan kicked the only Dogs’ goal and Whelan was nowhere to be seen. Warwick Miller was head and shoulders better than any other Mornington player while Kalen Bird tried hard also. The Dog’s backs were under enormous pressure and Ryan Smith and Troy Kirwan did pretty well under the circumstances. Seaford moved into the top three with a solid second half performance against Bonbeach. While yours truly predicted before a ball had been bounced this season that Seaford would be the bolter, it was always going to take a game like this one against Bonbeach to get a true indication. At half time, the jury was still out –
the score was 2.11 to 2.4 with the Tigers winning more footy but not converting. The Tigers though booted five unanswered goals in the third quarter and booted a further five in the last to Bonbeach’s one to win 12.14 (86) to 3.10 (28). The Sharks were kept scoreless in the third quarter. Damian Rayson arrived with big wraps this season and completely dominated on Saturday with three goals. Rourke Fischer is back to his best and Dean Williamson is one of the best players in the competition. They were all dominant on Saturday. Matt Douglas and Owen Hulett were the best of the Sharks, while Jackson Casey continues to put a case forward
for an interleague call-up. Chelsea made it two wins on the trot with a hard fought 7.14.56 to 8.5.53 win against Karingal. The Gulls set-up the win with a three goal to zip first quarter. Karingal made a run in the last, keeping Chelsea goalless but four points was enough to give the home side a victory. Daly Shannon was arguably the best player on the ground while James Brain and Simon Mitchelhill were also outstanding in the win. Jake Kelly and Aisea Valenti were the best of the Bulls while Damian Ashcroft booted three goals and was lively. Frankston YCW remains undefeated at the top of the ladder after knocking over Edithvale, 16.15 (111) to 12.5 (77). The Stonecats had a number of their VFL-listed players running around, including Lachy Wallace, who booted four goals and BJ Credlin, who dominated across half back. Macklin Raine also dominated for the Stonecats and there’s no question that he’s ready to take over the mantle of Ash Eames when the time comes. Steve Mannix and Craig Wray were the best of the Eagles. Mt Eliza got the four points against Langwarrin. The game didn’t reach any great heights with the Mounties keeping Langwarrin goalless in the opening half. The margin was 33 points at the big break. The Kangas responded a little more in the second half, booting four goals to Mt Eliza’s six but still went down 11.13 (79) to 4.11 (35).
‘The great divide’ widens across league NEPEAN LEAGUE
By Toe Punt THE divide between the best and worst teams in MPNFL Nepean division is widening, with a number of big blowouts on Saturday. Despite wet and windy conditions, the better sides in the competition still booted big scores and restricted the lesser sides to tough afternoons. Sorrento booted 24 goals against Pearcedale, Frankston kicked 17 majors against Rye, Hastings kicked 18 goals against Crib Point and Red Hill nailed 20 goals against Tyabb. Five of the six matches were blow-outs with Devon Meadows and Somerville predictably the closest match of the round. After just five rounds, we can draw a line through Tyabb, Crib Point, Rye and Pearcedale in 2017, while the Meadows and Somerville are just behind the top five. Sorrento, Hastings, Frankston, Red Hill and Rosebud, in no particular order, appear to be the teams most likely to play finals in 2017. Red Hill’s clash against Hastings in Round six in two weeks, up at the hill, will determine whether the Hillmen are the real deal. On Saturday, Red Hill had 40 scoring shots to Tyabb’s eight and won 20.20 (140) to 6.2 (38). The first half was reasonably tight, the Hillmen leading by just 26 points. However, the visitors booted seven goals in the third quarter and a further six in the last. The Hillmen also rolledout a new player in the reserves, Shane Bloomfield, a former star forward of
It’s too easy: Pines smashed Mornington in the Peninsula League on Saturday. Pictures: Andrew Hurst
the Geelong FL, who dominated against the MPNFL when it last player the GFL in interleague footy a few years ago. Bloomfield kicked 1.5 in the reserves in his first game in 12 months. He is expected to play one more in the twos before joining Ben Hughes deep in the Red Hill forward line. Hastings and Crib Point is usually a hotly contested game regardless of the where the neighbouring clubs are on the ladder – Saturday was a fizzer. The game was tight at quarter time when the Blues led by two points, however, the visi-
tors booted 17 goals to six after the first change to win 18.17 (125) to 6.8 (44). Jay Reynolds booted five goals and Scott Foster four majors in Frankston Bombers’ 17.19 (121) to 3.8 (26) win against Rye. The Bombers booted 9.12 to 1.3 in the first half and should have been much further in front. Josh Francis with a couple of majors and Jarryd Amalfi dominated for the Bombers while skipper Mitch Bosward was also at his best. Adam Kirkwood and Harry Witty were the best of the Demons while Leigh Morse continues
to play well for them. Sorrento had 42 scoring shots to Pearcedale’s 11 on Saturday at Tractor Park, again highlighting the great divide between the best and the worst. The most exciting thing to happen at Pearcedale, besides Sorrento dominating the scoreboard, was Melbourne players Max Gawn and Jack Trengove sitting in the back of a ute with a dog watching their old teammates Luke Tapscott and Chris Dawes run around for the Sharks. Somerville had 23 scoring shots to Devon Meadows’ 21 on Saturday but
lost the game 6.17 (53) to 8.13 (61). At half-time, the Eagles had booted 1.10 to the home side’s 3.7. Bad kicking is bad footy and despite the Eagles having chances to win the game, Devon Meadows won its third game on the trot. Dromana’s woes continued, smashed by Rosebud to the tune of 56 points. The Tigers can thank Rosebud’s inaccuracy in front of goal that it was able to lose by less than 10 goals. The Buds led 5.11 to 3.5 at half time and by the end of the match, it was 12.20 (92) to 5.6 (36). Frankston Times 8 May 2017
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