Line ball: Doveton Eagles player Stephen Wright tries to keep the ball in play, but his Kangaroo opponent is in hot pursuit.Eagles defender Ben Hughes was runnerup best and fairest for the club and also won the SFL Division Three goal umpires’ award. By Glen Atwell
THE Moorabbin Kangaroos sent an emphatic message to the Doveton Eagles during their Southern Football League Division Three final – shape up or ship out.
The Kangaroos halted the Eagles’ charge towards the Division Three premiership with a convincing 64-point win at Ben Kavanagh Reserve on Saturday.
In blustery conditions, Eagles captain Paul Davis won the toss, but the flip was as close as his side would come to victory all day.
Kicking with the breeze in the first quarter, the Eagles failed to take advantage of the three-goal wind and allowed the Kangaroos to sneak away to a seven-point quarter-time lead.
Eagles’ coach Paul Wilson was adamant in his instructions: ‘Be accountable and win the game’.
“Everyone must man-up, playing five or 10 metres away from your opponent is not the way to win a final,” he said.
But the Eagles refused to stay accountable and allowed the Kangaroo players to have an extra man at every contest.
The bruising encounter took its toll on Eagles forward Travis Gardner, who left the field before half-time with a serious knee injury.
At half-time the Kangaroos had 11 more scoring shots than the Eagles and led by 31 points.
Wilson met the players on the ground and asked some serious questions.
“There was a definite lack of application and a number of players put their hands up and identified that,” he said.
But the frank assessment at half-time did nothing to spur the Eagles into action.
Nick Karalis was taken from the ground on a stretcher early in the third quarter after a heavy knock left him dazed and suffering another Eagles knee injury.
Three quick goals by the Eagles drew them within swooping distance of the Kangaroos, but free kicks awarded to the Moorabbin side at the following two centre bounces resulted in goals and sealed the win.
Kangaroo star Mimo Dimashki was too strong for Eagles defender Adam Matthews, who was unable to punch the ball from his vice-like grip.
Dimashki booted four goals for the Kangaroos, while no Eagles player managed to kick multiple goals.
Fia Tootoo was a match-winner for the Kangaroos, staying a kick behind the play and presenting at every marking contest.
Wilson said it was a disappointing day for the club, but by no means was the season over.
“After the game we asked ourselves – did we really have a serious go today?” he said.
“The answer was no and we’ll have to turn things around before this Saturday.”
After finishing minor premiers, pressure is mounting on the Eagles to perform.
“It is a different type of pressure come finals time, but the Kangaroos came out hard,” Wilson said.
“We know we have the side, we just weren’t switched on.”
The Eagles will be desperately searching for that elusive switch before taking on North Kew in a do-or-die preliminary final this Saturday at Ben Kavanagh Reserve.
After thumping Cerberus two weeks ago, the Bears would still need the Eagles to perform well below their best to have a chance of progressing to the grand final.
At last week’s vote count night, Doug Carmichael was awarded the Eagles’ best and fairest. The fast on-baller edged out Ben Hughes and Corrie Wilson to bag the prize. Ben Hughes has had a stellar year for the club, taking out the SFL goal-umpires’ award. Hughes beat Kangaroo rival Mimo Dimashki by seven votes.
