By DAVID NAGEL
THE Casey Cardinia Football League had one of those days it would like to forget on Saturday with four 100-point thumpings the defining message to come out of round five.
Some seriously good football has been played between the top teams this season, but Saturday’s demolition derby highlights the gulf that exists between the haves and have nots in the league.
The close one of the round took place at a wet and greasy Starling Road, where Pakenham’s slight edge in class got the Lions home by 15 points over a determined ROC.
Both teams struggled in the conditions but the ruck-work of Kym Jones and the sublime skills of Dom Paynter and coach Steve O’Bryan got the visitors home after ROC drew level early in the final term.
Paynter was dominant on centre-wing and kicked three for the winners -including two in the final term – while O’Bryan was busy through the middle before drifting forward to slot three of his own.
Defenders Stephen Morey and Ben Keane were others to shine for the Lions while Matt Rogers, Ben Tivendale and Andrew Logan were best for the Kangaroos.
The biggest belting of the day took place at Hampton Park’s Robert Booth Reserve where the Redbacks were towelled up by Cranbourne to the tune of 150 points.
The Eagles were clearly dominant all day but unleashed their full fury in the third term when they piled on 9.7 and allowed the Redbacks just 1.1 in reply.
Cranbourne skipper Marc Holt was in great touch with his eight goals while Michael Theodoridis continued his solid form with five.
Curtis Barker was brilliant around the stoppages for the Eagles while Lionel Beniot, Brodie Yapp, Matt Cox and Nathan Dawes were best on a bad day for the hosts.
Reigning premier Narre Warren has an insatiable appetite for a kill; the Magpies mean and nasty as they slaughtered Tooradin by 139 points at Westernport Oval.
The champs took their time to warm up, leading by just 18 points at the first break, before clicking into gear and executing their exquisite brand of footy to perfection.
Young guns Josh Tonna and Dylan Quirk were magnificent around the ground while Justin Marriott and Lee Boyle kicked five and four goals respectively.
Adam Galea and youngsters Kris Sabbatucci and Brad Lenders worked their butts off for the Seagulls.
Berwick squashed any thoughts of a let-down after last week’s huge win over Cranbourne with a clinical 115-point dissection of Keysborough at Rowley Allen Reserve.
The Wickers play a beautiful, hard-running style of football and did their best work in the second term when 10 goals sailed through the big sticks.
The contrast up forward was stark with the steady Michael Manley booting five while excitement machines Paul Vanschilt and Jordy Andrews ran wild with four apiece.
Glen Hawthorn and Tyson King never stopped trying for the Burra.
Beaconsfield started and finished superbly in its 113-point victory over Doveton at Holm Park Road.
A seven-goal first quarter from the Eagles was the pre-curser to a rather scrappy effort during the second and third terms.
But whatever coach Clint Evans said at the final break worked, the home side piling on 9.4 to no score in the final stanza.
Brent Heus was the focal point up forward, slotting six, while Tyson Mitchem and Kris Fletcher chimed in with three apiece.
Norm Walker Medallist Scott Meyer was back to his supreme best in the ruck, while Josh Dodsworth and Ben Kerrigan were other Eagles at the top of their game.
Doves leader Shannon Henwood was once again his side’s best player.
This Saturday’s round six features the big clash between Cranbourne and Beaconsfield under lights at Casey Fields.
The game kicks off at 7.15pm.
