By DAVID NAGEL
PAKENHAM’s dream of a top-three finish in the Casey Cardinia league is still alive after the Lions worked hard for their 32-point victory over an improved Tooradin at Westernport Oval.
The Lions welcomed back defender Jarrod Tonks from injury, while under-19 player Jake Smith made his second debut in a fortnight, this time for the Lions after his maiden outing for Gippsland Power last week.
The Lions did win every quarter of this contest, by 10, 6, 14 and 2, but it was the eight-shot-to-four third quarter that finally settled the argument. It was a tough match-up for the Lions that required some real focus to claim the four points.
Not surprisingly, the focus came from an experienced group of players who will be getting a little excited as the business end of the season comes around. Daniel Fry was the best forward on the ground, taking his season tally to 39, with a five-goal haul, while Cory Lenders led and marked well on his way to three. Smith kicked two on debut while Dean Blake, Steve O’Bryan, Anthony Young, and evergreen defender Nathan Brown were others to shine.
Pakenham host ROC this Saturday at Toomuc Reserve.
Cranbourne slept through the first-quarter of its clash with Berwick before springing to life to score a gutsy 34-point win at Edwin Flack Reserve.
Berwick started brilliantly against the Eagles, with 5.7 on the board before the visitors scored their first point of the match at the 31-minute mark of the first term. Nathan Waite was dominating up forward, but the home side’s inability to capitalise on its opportunities – to hurt the Eagles where it counts – well … it soon came back to haunt.
The Eagles responded with nine of the next 10 goals, to take an advantage that they held through the third quarter, and then built on, late in the final term. Michael Theodoridis was the best player on the ground, kicking four for the winners, while skipper Marc Holt and Tim Smith booted three apiece.
Mitch Johnson kicked three for Berwick, while Madi Andrews and Jake Gains were once again solid four-quarter contributors.
Narre Warren has typically shown no mercy, having a remarkable 23 shots at goal in the last quarter on its way to a thumping 233-point victory over Keysborough.
The back-to-back champs’ 15.8 final term was their second 15 goal last-quarter of the season, backing up a 15.7 effort against ROC in round seven, that’s just plain scary isn’t it?
Kerem Baskaya and Toby McLean bagged eight each, and Aaron McIver seven for the Magpies, while regular full-back Ryan Morrison relished a stint on the wing, kicking two goals in a best-on-ground performance.
Beaconsfield has ended the faint finals hopes of ROC with a 33-point victory at Starling Road. The Eagles struggled to break free of the Kangaroos in the first half, but a 5.3 to 1.1 third term put the result beyond doubt.
Brent Heus and Tyson Mitchem chimed in with three goals each for the Eagles while defenders Jayden Gee and Daniel Battaglin were other standout performers.
Ben O’Loughlin and Billy Carlyle were best for the Kangaroos who wasted the chance to join the Eagles on seven wins each for the season.
Doveton has made it five wins on end, recovering from a slow start to defeat Hampton Park by 45 points at Robert Booth Reserve. The Doves were a bit flustered during a fiery first term as the Redbacks kicked an efficient 6.0 to 4.3 to lead by nine points at the first break.
The Doves soon turned things around however, with Taylor Rainey and Ricky Hayes kicking three goals each and Michael Henry and Shannon Henwood playing great games through the midfield.
Matt Cox was terrific for the Redbacks, slotting five goals as a lone-hand up forward.
