By JARROD POTTER
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Division 2 – round 7
A HEATED rivalry might just have emerged from Springvale District’s 24-point win over Doveton Eagles.
With two players off injured early in Saturday’s clash – captain Gavin Vassallo and Chris McTaggart – Springvale coach John McTaggart was forced to rearrange the Demons’ line-up entirely.
Forward Rob Johnston was thrust into the midfield, with great success, and emerging utility Ben Laier held down the defensive end alongside Justin Doust.
As the Districts’ run faded towards the end of the first half, whoever emerged in the third term would win the clash and to Springvale’s credit – the Demons struck six goals to Doveton Eagles’ three – with Dylan Bramble and Brad Dight featuring strongly en route to three-goals-apiece.
Matt Thompson and Aidan Jolly generated a lot of run through the centre and Jolly in particular made sure Doveton Eagles were kept away from their goals with tackle-after-tackle in the defensive end.
What little love between the two sides there was prior to the game was lost in the final term as Demons and Eagles alike went jumper-punching and pushing after Eagles’ Darryl Thomas was knocked down and had to be helped from the field.
Hostilities resumed thereafter, thankfully on the scoreboard and not through more roughhousing, as goals to Jason Adams and Clinton Brooks sealed the game.
The Eagles didn’t back down – as star forward Peter Dye drilled eight goals to keep his side afloat – but Springvale Districts found a few more fumes in their rapidly emptying tank to run out 17.16 (118) to 14.9 (93) winners.
“You could see there in the last quarter the game opened up as we were a bit fatigued, but I was pretty proud of our effort,” McTaggart said.
“They had a really good win against a side (Hampton) we think will be thereabouts, but to win by five goals and we had 10 more scoring shots was a pretty brave effort.”
McTaggart praised ruckman Danny Wilson and also highlighted the efforts from Leighton Ross, Thompson and Craig Keenan.
After the Queen’s birthday long-weekend, the fifth-placed Springvale Districts will face Caulfield.
Division 3 – round 8
Friday night lights beamed down on a successful Sandown outfit, knocking off Hallam by seven points. Jason Toan (3 goals) led the Cobras’ strike up forward and received great help from Jake Chapman, Nick Morrish and James Hewitt.
A closely fought contest went Dandenong’s way to help the Redlegs off the bottom of SFL Division 3. Four last term goals showed there was a bit left in the Redlegs to outpace South Yarra by 20 points. Daniel Atkin thumped in four goals to show his charges how it’s done as Chris Arnold, Shannon Brown and Kevin Atkin put in starring performances.
Lyndale was bested comfortably by Black Rock 10.13 (73) to 21.9 (135). Trevor Kumetaitis (3 goals) and Dale Tormey (2) were the main Puma scorers while Brett Tosh, Damien Wilsnach and Ben Cox were best on ground.
