By Ken Moore
REIGNING premier Cora Lynn showed its class to fight back from certain defeat with a nine-goal avalanche in the last quarter to beat Neerim Neerim South by 28 points on Saturday.
Incredibly, the Cobras were outplayed for three quarters and yet won by a margin that appeared comfortable, despite only hitting the front for the first time around the 20-minute mark of the last term.
Key defender Brendan Kimber was moved into the ruck in the last quarter and his bustling presence sparked the home side.
Along with co-captain James Bradshaw, his former Narre Warren teammate Jesse Edmonds, Craig Taylor and Ryan Donaldson, with four last-quarter goals and nine for the match, proved to be the big difference between the two sides.
Neerim showed it is likely to be a far more difficult team to knock over than many pundits expected.
In a good team effort, Cam Hinkley provided plenty of stout defence, Chris Urie kicked four goals and did plenty of hard yakka around the packs.
He was given tremendous support from Tyssen Morrow. Aran Hayes, Marc Tymkin and Gabe Marsden who all did little wrong for the Cats in a good team effort.
Lang Lang’s nine knocks Nyora
Lang Lang rammed on nine goals to only one in the second quarter to surge clear from local rivals Nyora.
After an even first term it was this goal spree that set it up for a convincing 68-point victory.
Star forward Kurt Batt steered through four second-quarter goals and went on to post eight for the match and in tandem with Mooroolbark recruit Luke Muirhead, who reeled in some good grabs and slotted home four goals the Tigers packed too many guns.
Across half-forward David Williams was lively, midfield Clint Fulton and veteran Adam Baxter won many critical possessions and Stuart Casey was at his reliable best in defence.
Nyora wingman Adam Tagliaferro had a crack all game, half-back James Fowles pressed hard, recruit Justin Isaac was prominent and his Clayton teammate from last season Damian Armansin also won plenty of the leather.
Catani’s Fitzpatrick buries Poowong
Eight straight second-quarter goals by Catani set up a 29-point victory over Poowong on Saturday.
Power forward and captain Owen Fitzpatrick was the catalyst behind the Blues’ victory.
He slotted eight goals from all angles, including a few ball-bursters in the second quarter when he nailed five.
In defence Luke McFarlane, through the middle Justin Evans and Andy Stockx and ruckman Paul Youle all provided the momentum.
Poowong came out strongly in the third term and reduced the margin to only seven points before Catani finished the stronger.
For the Magpies, Korumburra recruit Mitch Cochrane provided a good target across the half-forward line and Jarred Attenborough won heaps of disposals.
Matt Grant gave it his all in the midfield and Dave Miller did well when moved onto Owen Fitzpatrick.
Star Blue’s recruit Luke James kicked four opportunistic goals, but for a good deal of the game was well held by Magpie assistant coach Ben Bradley.
Buln Buln takes the points
Fuelled by a strong second half Buln Buln accounted for Ellinbank by 49 points.
Lyrebird midfielders Che Jenkins and Matt Nooy, along with half-back Rhys Hall and half-forward Dan Johnson all made strong contributions and Brad Taylor, with five goals, gave his teammates a good target.
Ellinbank only trailed by 11 points at the main break and their competitiveness was largely due to the perseverance of defenders Ash Wallace, Neil Parke and Peter Joyce along with wingman Toby Wallace.
Dusties shake up Bombers
The highly fancied Nilma-Darnum, the league’s new glamour side with all its high profile recruits, made heavy weather of beating Warragul Industrials on Saturday.
The Bombers were shocked early by the intensity and vigour of the Dusties and trailed by 30 points before responding with eight unanswered goals from late in the third quarter until midway through the last term.
The Industrials then showed it was a team of some substance this season by reducing the gap to only four points at the final siren.
The result suggested Nilma has a fair way to go if is to threaten the top teams in the league and the Dusties, last season’s cellar dwellers, courtesy of their new recruits will be competitive against all but the top liners this season.
Nilma wingman Jade Jensen showed up some of his more high-profile teammates with a fine game, former AFL star Mal Michael, despite close attention from Matt Willis, did well when moved midfield after starting up forward.
Sale recruit Kane Martin kicked four goals and Hasan Kiki was lively and booted three and Shane Morgan solidified the defence.
Mick Santo scored four first-half goals to give the Dusties the early ascendancy, ruckman Ben Hobgen put in four good quarters, Jamie West read the ball well in defence, Brett Wadelton added grunt midfield and Adam Neal did well restricting the output of Nilma maestro Kael Bergles.
