By JARROD POTTER
GREATER DANDENONG FOOTBALL REVIEW – ROUND 3
PUTTING a big scalp on its early-season mantle, Noble Park held off the fast-finishing Norwood to claim an emphatic 13.11 (89) to 8.13 (61) EFL triumph.
Even with a host of big outs – Will Petropoulos, Sean Corrigan, Jackson Sketcher, Piva Wright and Luke Cody – the Bulls had more than enough in the tank to see off the visitors.
Hard fought and attritional at the best of times, neither side gave an inch through the first stanza with only two goals booted, one of which was a special effort down the flank from 17-year-old Jordan Marson.
The shoot-out through the second term – led by the likes of Kyle Martin (four goals) and Ziggie Alwan (three goals) – kept the game well in the balance at the half, but when the points were there to be taken, Noble Park stood up.
The run-and-carry efforts of Kevin Kean, Mitch Gent and Tyson Mitchem gave plenty for the forwards to savour, while the skipper Sam Monaghan relished his huge task in the second half manning Matthew Bate.
Another to shine defensively was Ryan Morrison – who has taken to last-line duties with gusto at the Bullring and alongside Trent Robertson made sure Norwood didn’t have an easy time of it inside-50.
There was one last gasp from the Norwood faithful – booting a couple of quick goals in the last term to keep things interesting – but it was not enough as the behinds, instead of majors, piled up rapidly.
The Bulls settled through goals to Shayne Allan and Alwan to stamp out the dying embers of Norwood’s fightback.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do – our ball movement is not where it should be, our skill level can improve and we’ve changed our structure a bit – maybe that’s had an impact,” Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty said. “Norwood are down on personnel and we understand that and we had five really strong players out as well, so that might have evened it up that way but it was a really tough, contested game and obviously pleased with the result.”
Fogarty praised the “unbelievable” Ben Giobbi, who has impressed throughout his first three EFL matches, while Martin, Craig Anderson and Brett Dore also impressed on the ANZAC Day long weekend.
The unbeaten Bulls head up the hill to Montrose this week.
VAFA results were led by St John’s, who pumped the Melbourne High School Old Boys in a 93-point demolition. An even spread across the board – led by Aaron Thornton (four goals) and Patrick Carr-Lehne (three goals), while the skipper Glenn Costas was exceptional across the paddock. The unbeaten JOCs face Preston at home on Saturday in a tantalising first versus second showdown.
VAFA winners’ list included Masala, as the Tigers beat Chadstone by 100 in the club’s best victory yet. Brad Lovell (six goals), Sam Freeman and Matthew Decarne (four goals apiece) terrorised the Synners up forward.
In SFL, Springvale Districts had to fight tooth and nail to overcome Skye 7.6 (48) to 5.5 (35), with Lachlan Morrey (three goals) and Brad Dight (two goals) sharing the forward work load while Billy Green, Sam Blackburn and Jack Allender also featured in the best.
Keysborough’s credentials took another battering, as the Burra was belted by Port Melbourne Colts to the tune of 114 points. Ruckman Bryce Sutton (three goals) went forward to create something for the visitors while Danny Morland and Brandon Mather also flew the flag.
There’s a great local flavour to top of the SFL 3 ladder, with Doveton Eagles, Hallam, Lyndale and Endeavour Hills all flying high.
Hallam is undefeated after a nail-biting nine-point win over Moorabbin. Phillip Ward (five goals) and Shane Thomas (four goals) presented all day via the midfield work of Matt Neve and Manny Peresso. Dandenong Stingrays alumnus Jayden Bubb made his Hallam debut, dominating in the ruck as Frankston Dolphins had a development league bye.
Doveton Eagles punished the visiting Lions to the tune of 115 points as Peter Dye (five goals) continued his forward-line rampage. Enayte Samadi, Brett Hidgcock and Steven Stredwick were best afield.
Endeavour Hills pecked away at Lyndhurst to take a comfortable 12.19 (91) to 4.5 (29) triumph on the back of hard work from Shaun Richards, Nick Gay and the multiple goal-kickers Nathan Strom (three goals), Shane Peake (three goals) and Cedric LeGrand (two goals).
Lyndale thrashed Sandown by 81 as Trevor Kumetaitis (nine goals) filled up a bag and then some. Kane D’Atri, Jordan Waite (three goals) and Sandringham Dragon Perry Lewis-Smith were in the best for the Cobras.
Dandenong was gallant against South Yarra, downed 8.7 (55) to 11.14 (80) as Jarod Van Mourik generated plenty of touches alongside Ali Hussani (three goals) and Stephen Young (two goals).
