By Paul Pickering
DIVISION One newcomer Dingley arrived in fine style on Saturday, crushing Mordialloc by 133 points in front of a bumper crowd at Souter Oval.
The Dingoes unfurled their 2008 Division Two flag before the game, and wasted little time in displaying the hard running and crisp ball-movement that became their trademark last season.
Dingley booted five goals to zip in the first term and went on to extent the margin at every juncture, thanks largely to tall forwards Andrew Frost and Steve Vinen, who slotted seven apiece.
Vinen has made the move from goal square to goal square with the retirement of Dingo spearhead and coach Adam Quinn, and the premiership defender didn’t disappoint in his new role.
Frost was at his versatile best, working up and back with devastating effect.
Developing backman Stefan Feehan was a force at the other end, while on-ball stars Daniel Turcarelli, Clinton Brooks and Bret Lavars won the footy at will.
Quinn went into the game unsure of what to expect from the Bloods, but he was delighted with the first-up display from his own troops.
“It’s hard to get a take on whether they were poor or we were particularly good, but it was a fantastic result and a good occasion for the club,” he said.
Quinn was also pleased with the output of young recruits Josh Boyle and Lee Wonnacott, who both spent extended periods in the middle of the ground.
He is expecting a tougher contest from Tooronga Malvern this weekend.
Meanwhile, Springvale Districts began their second Division One campaign by shrugging aside Clayton at Newcomen Road on Friday night.
The Demons jumped out to an early lead on the back of a dominant start from silky-skilled skipper Gavin Vassallo (five goals) and were never headed on their way to a 43-point win.
The Clays, decimated by a handful of key off-season departures, showed some spirit either side of halftime, but didn’t have the firepower to match it with a home side led by a best-on-ground performance from John McMurray.
Springvale Districts recruits Matt Sheahan, Josh Pierpoint (three) and Trevor Koumaditis (three) all made their presence felt in the new colours, while familiar faces Nigel Scott and Leighton Ross also got in on the act.
@BT Sub Sport News:Division Two
LYNDALE started and finished well in their round one clash with Murrumbeena, only to lose by 49 points.
The Pumas trailed by just eight points at quarter-time, but barely gave a yelp in the second and third quarters.
Mark Greene and Andrew McCracken kicked three each for the visitors, while Jason Ramsay, Ryan Johns and Matt Timmerman all had serviceable afternoons.
For the Lions, it was Ashley Rowlands (five) and gun recruit Matt Jones who did the damage.
A four-goal-to-one final term at least provided the Pumas with some momentum heading into round two.
@BT Sub Sport News:Division Three
The Doveton Eagles showed no mercy on re-branded rival Dandenong Redlegs on Saturday, cruising to a 102-point victory in the local derby at Power Road.
The home side had too many options in attack, with seven multiple goal-kickers for the afternoon.
Not surprisingly, Ricky Ramsdale (six) led the way from Sam Palapiano (five) and Cameron Van-nes (three).
Matt Fristad booted two in a best-on-ground performance, with Michael Gardner and Gary D’Amelio not far behind.
The Redleg resistance was led by former Division One best-and-fairest winner Chris Hatfield, Daniel Shiel and Visal Wallalawita.
Elsewhere, the Sandown Cobras defied a scoreless first term to scrape home by six points over Cerberus at the Navy base.
The visitors trailed by 33 points at quarter-time, but conceded just two more goals to effect an unlikely comeback.
Ex-Scoresby duo Ben Kinniburgh and James Tate were the architects, while returning spearhead Clint Sheedy booted three goals in a low-scoring encounter.
