Eagles steady for flag run

By Mark Gullick
CRANBOURNE returns to Casey Fields for an encounter with fifth-placed Berwick on Saturday.
While the undefeated Eagles have been comfortable at any ground, they relish the space of the main oval at Casey Fields.
“Our next three games are a really good preparation for the finals,” Cranbourne coach Doug Koop said.
“We play three of the top contenders. We’re expecting some really close encounters, which we probably haven’t had over the last couple of weeks. We want to make sure we put out a really solid effort.”
The last meeting between Cranbourne and Berwick, which the Eagles won by two points, was a classic encounter.
On Saturday, Cranbourne shrugged off Doveton in the second half to record a 91-point win at Robinson Oval.
At half-time, Doveton trailed by just 14 points and were right in the game before fading badly.
“We expected a pretty tight start, which we got,” Cranbourne coach Doug Koop said.
“They came out all guns blazing and we weathered the storm and then went on to a pretty solid win.
“They had a really good desire to win the footy. They moved it quickly, they had blokes on the go and we found it hard to cover them. Unfortunately for them, they just couldn’t sustain it.”
Running defender Nick Barker, big man Troy Tharle-Adams and Matthew Fletcher (eight goals) were prominent for the winners.
Meanwhile, Devon Meadows has an opportunity to lift itself off the bottom of the ladder when it faces Tooradin-Dalmore at E.G. Allen Reserve.
Not a point separated the teams in round two – the first drawn game of the year.
On Saturday, Devon Meadows went down by 45 points to Hampton Park in a dour affair at Robert Booth Reserve.
With just five goals kicked in the first half – three to the Redbacks – the home side was challenged by the lowly Panthers.
However, a five-goal third term and an eight-goal second half secured the win for Hampton Park.
Michael McDonald, Luke Nunan and Jackson Dalton consistently led the Redbacks, while Dean Jamieson kicked four goals.
Devon Meadows’ better players were utility Taylor Kemp, hard-working captain Jess Dehey, and ruckman Lukas Hoogenboom.