By ROY WARD
– Click here for our picture gallery of the Hallam v Mt Waverley game.
SOME performances send a message to the rest of a competition. Doveton Eagles’ eight-goal third term against Sandown at Edinburgh Reserve on Saturday is one such performance.
The Eagles played the windy conditions to perfection during that third term, with their midfielders pressuring and tackling with abandon and then drilling the ball to key forwards Nathan Wilson (three goals) and Ricky Ramsdale (six goals) as the visitors stormed out to a 57-point lead at the final change.
Although the Cobras bounced back in the last quarter to kick a wasteful five goals, nine behinds, the damage had been done with the Eagles scoring a 16.5 (101) to 9.17 (71) victory in their Southern Football League division 3 match.
Eagles playing coach Paul Davis credited his players for securing the match when it was there to be won.
“In that third term there were two or three of our guys to one of theirs in each contest.
“We got lots of run as well. We have some really good runners in our side in Jarrod O’Neill, Corrie Wilson and Brett Hidgecock.”
The Eagles also made the most of Ramsdale’s season debut, with the burly full forward deciding during the week to return to his old club with hopes of playing in a premiership later this season.
Throughout the match, Ramsdale proved unstoppable in marking contests, kicking most of his goals from the goal square.
“Ricky played with us a few years ago and kicked 100 goals,” Davis said. “During the week he said he would love to give us a hand and help us go all the way. He is our get-out-of-jail kick because we know if we kick it long to him he is not going to be out-marked.”
The Eagles had winners on every line with Clint Wilson in the ruck and on-ballers like Corrie Wilson and Enayte Samadi winning lots of football in midfield. Mark Mott was also a calming presence in defence.
Jake Chapman kicked three goals in a midfield role for the Cobras while Dan Macklin in midfield and Mitch McGovern in defence on dangerous Eagles forward Peter Dye were also good.
Cobras coach Mick Rossborough said his players’ undisciplined performance in the third term fed into the Eagles’ dominance.
But he was also happy with his team’s fightback in the last term.
“We just gave away too many silly goals,” Rossborough said. “In the third quarter we gave away three 50-metre penalties. We lost our structure and started arguing with umpires.”
In other division 3 matches Hallam Hawks had a rough visit to Mount Waverley, losing by 98 points. Click here for our picture gallery of the game.
Lyndale got a decisive win over Black Rock by 35 points while Dandenong comfortably beat Ashwood by 30 points and Endeavour Hills fell to Carrum-Paterson Lakes by 35 points. In division 2 Springvale Districts kept its good form going with a 28-point win over Moorabbin and in division 1 Dingley made it four wins from four rounds with a 98-point thumping of Highett.
SFL division 3 ladder: Mount Waverley 16 points, 223.74 per cent; Doveton Eagles 16, 190.87; Dandenong 12, 124.63; Lyndale 12, 118.82; Sandown 8, 144.24; Carrum Patterson Lakes 8, 87.99; Ashwood 4, 89.24; Black Rock 4, 83.11; Hallam 0, 39.53; Endeavour Hills 0, 35.75.
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