Eagles ready to roll Rockers

By Paul Pickering
THE Doveton Eagles have squandered a chance to inflict psychological damage on Black Rock ahead of this week’s elimination semi-final, falling away in the second half to lose by 39 points at Power Reserve on Saturday.
With Black Rock and Doveton locked into third and fourth spots on the Southern Football League Division Three ladder, the final-round match was essentially meaningless – yet provided an intriguing preview to this Saturday’s clash at Ben Kavanagh Reserve in Mordialloc.
The front end of the double-header shaped as tight affair in the first half, with Doveton leading by a goal at quarter-time.
Despite a wayward second term in front of goals, the Rockers went into half-time with an eight-point lead.
While Doveton coach Jason Salerno would have been confident his young running brigade could gain the ascendancy in the second half, Black Rock’s hardened bodies began to take charge in the third term.
Despite the dominance of emerging ruckman Gus Toolepai and ball magnet Brett Hidgcock, the Eagles remained well and truly grounded in the last quarter.
Steve Ognjenovic’s five-goal haul was among few highlights for Doveton, while Daniel Jenkins and Kelly Spratt each booted four for Black Rock.
Salerno’s plan to run Black Rock off its legs over the two weeks is yet to come to fruition, yet the bigger ground at Mordialloc this week is likely to suit the Eagles’ style of play.
Sandown Cobras v Mount Waverley
THE lowly Sandown Cobras almost pulled off the upset of the season against ladder leader Mount Waverley on Saturday, leading by five goals at half-time before succumbing by a heart-wrenching three points.
The Cobras’ seven-goal second quarter is likely to instil some confidence in coach Mike Allen for next season, but the sorrows of a second-half fade-out could only be drowned by a hectic Mad Monday for the boys from Edinburgh Reserve.
Clinton Sheedy was again a shining light for the Cobras up forward, booting seven goals to take his season’s tally to 62.
Hai Nguyen, Jake Chapman and Adam Maling were also among Sandown’s best in the brave loss.
An improbable win would have saved the Cobras from the indignity of the wooden spoon, with just over one percentage point separating Sandown from eighth-placed South Yarra.
Dandy Demons v Cerberus
HAVING slipped out of finals contention last week, the Dandy Demons snapped a four-game losing streak against Cerberus at Greaves Reserve on Saturday.
While the 24-point victory was far from convincing, the battered and bruised Demons will be content with finishing the season on a high note.
Preoshun Poonasamy played his best game of the year for Dandy, while Stephen Coats bagged four goals and Vaghan Geddes and William Jessop bagged three each.
The Demons have finished in fifth spot, just two points outside the finals.