Dominant Doves bury the Burra

By Brad Kingsbury
THE gap between the top and bottom of this year’s Casey Cardinia League competition is 91 points.
That was the margin by which undefeated ladder leaders Doveton won Saturday’s match at the Robinson Reserve against win-less cellar-dwellers Keysborough.
The Doves now move on to face traditional rivals Cranbourne at Casey Fields next Sunday, while the Burra are left to lament what could have been in 2009.
Doveton rover Michael Henry sparked his team-mates into action, backing up his recent return to form with a best-afield effort, and the game was effectively shot in the first half, with Burra coach Greg Siwes playing extra men behind the ball in an attempt to shut down the Doves’ goal-scoring options.
Shaun Witherden’s battle with star Dove ruckman Russell Gabriel was a highlight of the afternoon, as was the effort of Doveton’s attack which boasted 12 goalkickers to produce its 19 goals.
Corey Wilkinson kept Doveton captain Justin Hill in check, Davor Rajic had the better of Danny Casset (three goals) and Ryan Hendy was kept to one goal.
However, the Doves are not reliant on any one player to win their games and the writing was on the wall early with their lead increasing at each break.
While the Doves lost Daniel Charles before the game, Keysborough’s shocking run of outs has not helped the cause with Michael Downie and Matthew Freeman on the long-term injury list, however coach Greg Siwes did not use that as an excuse.
“We were just outplayed,” he said.
“Doveton has improved and they’re playing good footy at the minute. They’re fit and move the ball really well.
“Having said that, I don’t think the margin reflected the way we played. I thought we were okay for a lot of the game and we had almost as much of the football as they did. They were just cleaner and sharper than us.”