By Tyler Lewis
Narre Warren is the young and elusive Leo DiCaprio – while the rest of the AFL Outer East Premier Division is the persistent Tom Hanks.
Except there is one major difference… the rest – unlike Hanks – haven’t got even remotely close.
Pakenham was the latest challenger off the rank, and after skipper Trent Cody won the toss and indicated his side would kick with the wind in the opening term at Toomuc Reserve, the clash was all but over.
The Pies rattled home six goals in the opening term, while keeping the Lions scoreless.
The second term saw the contest step up a notch, not only physically, but also on the scoreboard, as Pakenham converted four goals.
In fact, the Lions would’ve won the term if it wasn’t for a neat Peter Gentile goal after the half-time siren.
The Pies won the third term three goals to one, before putting the foot on the throat in the last – firing off seven goals to two against what breeze was left.
While realistically all games – including Saturday’s – have been decided before three-quarter-time, it appears the Pies are getting a kick out of demolishing sides.
Star midfielder Kurt Mutimer revealed the Maggies are driven by the ‘love’ for each other, while also aspiring to be a four-quarter side irrespective of opposition.
“Since the start of the year, the boys have come a long way in terms of the love and care for each other,” he said.
“I think it showed out on the field (early in the season) we were a bit all over the place in attack, it showed when we played Monbulk up there, it was close for most of the game.
“Since the first couple of rounds, we have gotten a lot closer as a group, that love and care for each other has shown in the way we’re playing… from the older boys down to the younger boys, everyone is having an impact on games, which is why we’re playing good footy at the moment.
“That’s (relentless ambition in final terms) come directly from Grubbo (Shane Dwyer), we’re a good team and we need to play like a good team.
“It’s four quarters no matter who we’re playing, at the end of the day – no matter how far we’re in front – we want to play four quarters.”
There would be a few stretched footy jumpers after the clash between the Lions and the Pies, after scuffles were a theme of the game.
Tommy Miller was consistently letting Jordy Stewart know how his side was going, before Stewart’s teammates were quick to fly the flag.
Mutimer admitted he enjoys playing in the fiery contests with Pakenham, while also revealing his undefeated side played their best footy only on Saturday.
“It’s always fiery when you play Pakenham,” he said.
“They’re a young team, but it showed on Saturday, they brought the niggle for four quarters.
“We enjoy beating them, but it’s always a good contest between us and Pakky – it’s always feisty.
“We’re 9-0 now after the win on the weekend, it’s probably the best win we’ve had so far this year, we put together a four-quarter performance and we want to continue playing four quarters of footy and bringing that love and care for each other on the ground.”
For Mutimer personally, he returned from Perth and at the time told the Gazette his main intention was to enjoy footy again.
And with 16 goals to his name from the engine room and an immovable smile on his face when he plays, it’s fair to say the answer to the question ‘how much are you enjoying your footy?’ is rather obvious.
“Yeah I love it,” he said.
“That’s the whole reason I came back from WA to Narre, I love being around the boys, they’re a great bunch of boys and no matter whether we’re training or running out on a Saturday… it’s always enjoyable running out with them.”
The Magpies face two of its fiercest challengers in the next fortnight ahead of the bye, with Monbulk at home before Wandin on the road.
In other results across the Premier competition:
Woori Yallock overcame an early scare to Olinda Ferny Creek to runaway 13.15 (93) to 8.10 (58) winners.
Ben Monkhorst was the difference, booting four majors in a best afield performance.
Wandin registered a 22.21 (153) to 12.9 (81) percentage booster over Mt Evelyn.
The small confines of the Rovers home track suited the competitions leading goal-kicker Clinton Johnson (41 goals), who slotted seven.
It’s the third time Johnson has fired off seven or more, as he moves further ahead of Jake Richardson in second (34 goals).
After a humiliating defeat the week before at the hands of Narre Warren, things went from bad to worse for Officer on Saturday.
The Roos went down to Upwey Tecoma to the tune of 97 points, sinking to last position on the ladder.
The young group has never faulted having a crack this season, but has just failed to kick a winning score and stop the bleeding when opposition sides have momentum.
Officer fought hard after the main break, only losing the second half five goals to two – but the horse had long bolted after the 14 goal to three first half.
The 19.16.130 to 5.3.33 loss leaves the Roos in relegation territory, percentage behind Mt Evelyn, which the Roos host in round 16.
In Division 1, the finger nails of onlookers will be looking awfully bleak this week, after just 15 points was the collective margin across all three games.
The ever-improving Berwick Springs recorded a resounding win over Emerald, 10.11 (71) to 10.6 (66).
The Titans propelled out of the blocks to boot six goals to two in the first stanza which ultimately set up the win that coach Rodney Benstead labelled as the club’s ‘best ever’
“I think it’s the best win the club’s ever had,” he said.
“I had the week off, I had the chicken pox.
“I decided on Thursday that I wouldn’t coach, but to be at home and get continuous updates… it was the most exciting day.
“When you’re working really hard and you get a result like that, it’s just really rewarding for the players and the club.
“It was a bit bigger than the playing group, it was the whole club.”
As his side has now knocked off a contender and appears right in the hunt to contend in finals, Benstead admitted his pre-season expectation took a knock in round 1 before his sides bounce back.
“We wanted to make finals this year and we prepared really well in the pre-season,” he said.
“After the first round I thought, gee-wiz, that looked nothing like we were building, but we didn’t lose confidence, we have always said lets worry about improving each week.
“When you play so many games I think that’s as far as you can look, we just want to keep going on the upwards trajectory.”
Gembrook Cockatoo, meanwhile, scraped home in an excellent win over Seville, handing the Blues their first defeat of the season.
The Brookers trailed 20-2 at the first change before rattling on seven goals in the second to surge ahead.
Trailing by just 13 points at the final change, the Gembrook Cockatoo side used the conditions perfectly to surge to a 10.14 (74) to 11.7 (73) win.
With the Bombers falling to the Titans and the Brookers defeating the Blues, the Brookers are now in second position.
In the bottom-of-the-table clash, it was Yarra Glen who secured victory, 9.19 (73) to 9.10 (64).
The visitors kicked waywardly in front of goal, but ultimately did enough to deny the Magpies their first win of the season.
