By DAVID NAGEL
THE calm before the storm!
This weekend’s round 16 of Casey Cardinia league football should provide smooth sailing for the premiership contenders before it’s hold onto your hats for a thrilling run into this year’s final series.
The top half play the bottom half this week, before some huge matches in the final two rounds of the season will decide the composition of the top five.
Round 15 had the potential to settle a few of those arguments but the stunning victory of Beaconsfield over Cranbourne, at Holm Park Road on Saturday, has left the debate wide open.
Narre Warren will finish on top, but the current pecking order of Pakenham, Cranbourne, Beaconsfield and Berwick could change dramatically in the coming weeks.
Pakenham moved to second place on the CCFL ladder after overcoming bog conditions and a competitive Doveton to score by 14-points at Robinson Oval.
The Lions controlled the stoppages in the first half, with Russ Lehman, Cory Lenders and Dean Blake holding their ground against a strong-bodied Doveton midfield.
Pakenham ruckman Kym Jones spent time forward, exposing the Doves’ lack of height down back, to kick three for the afternoon, while impressive youngsters Troy Toussaint and Michael Puts joined Lehman and Lenders as the best in the bog. Doves’ leader Shannon Henwood was once again best for his side.
Beaconsfield was far too good for Cranbourne, its 54-point victory built on a run of 13 goals to three after the visitors had the first two on the board early. Daniel Battaglin, Jack Brown, Jayden Gee and the under-rated Cleyton Bertoncello were magnificent down back for the winners, while the magic of ruckman Scott Meyer and skipper Daniel Mislicki was too much for the visitors’ midfield to handle. Mislicki, Troy McDermott and Josh Dodsworth kicked two each for Beaconsfield who shared the load with 10 goal-kickers for the afternoon.
Michael Boland never stopped trying for Cranbourne, while full-back Brandon Osborne stopped the margin from blowing out even further with a typical miserly display.
Berwick will be hoping to take some real belief from its gutsy 11-point win over ROC at a surprisingly muddy Starling Road on Saturday.
The Wickers led by just one point at the final break, but pushed aside a poor run in close finishes to kick three gaols to one in the final term to record a crucial victory. Midfielder Paul Vanschilt was magnificent with five goals for the Wickers, while Luke Sheppard and young gun Jake Wilson were others to shine. ROC defender Ben O’Loughlin had a great duel with Jordy Andrews, with Travis Woodfield and Adam Marchant joining him as the Kangaroos’ best.
Narre Warren hot-shot Kerem Baskaya had a day out, kicking 12 goals in the Magpies monstrous 188-point victory over Hampton Park at Robert Booth Reserve.
Baskaya has really tormented his old side this year, with Saturday’s haul identical to the perfect dozen he slotted in round six.
Liam Myatt and Josh Tonna both chipped in with four goals, while Kain Baskaya made it a big day for the family with three. Ruckman Steve Watson was another former Redback to dominate his old side, while skipper Michael Collins warmed up for his 200th game against ROC this week with a classy display.
A dominant 7.5 to 0.1 second term has set Tooradin on the right path to a 73-point win over Keysborough.
The Seagulls ticked over their 40th player for the season on the weekend, with under-17 regular Bailey Webb slotting a goal on debut, while Dylan Sutton, fresh from the under-19s, was also effective in his first game for the club.
But the real highlight, once again for the Seagulls, was the form of gun-midfielder Matt Wade, who added more votes to what is sure to be a competitive total at this year’s Norm Walker Medal count.
Jake Genoni and Julian Suarez kicked three each for the winners.
