Officer hopped to back-to-back victories as the Kangaroos pieced together another four-quarter effort to handle business against Mount Evelyn in round 13 of the Outer East Premier Division.
The Rovers booted the first goal of the contest on their home turf through Michael Gibbons, but after Officer grabbed the next three, Mount Evelyn never saw the lead again.
The visitors were able to apply scoreboard pressure all afternoon, withstanding the Rovers’ advances and kicking timely goals.
At halftime, the Kangaroos held a 5.0(30) to 6.8(44) buffer.
A fourth-term charge from the hosts got them within four points before a mature and gritty response saw Officer boot three of the last four majors in the game to run out 10.6(66) to 12.12(84) victors.
“It was just another consistent effort,” Officer senior playing coach Nathan Allen said.
“To see how even we were across the board, we didn’t rely on anyone.
“As the game wore on, we might have had one kick to change the angle then go more direct and not let them (Mount Evelyn) set up the ground on a ground they know well.
“This week they adapted really well, kicked it once inside and looked forward and we benefited.”
Rising youngster Diesel De Santis impressed again with 17 disposals, nine tackles and a goal.
Key forward Mark Seedsman booted four goals, while Lachie Ward followed his three majors last week with three again this week.
“He’s been really consistent all year, he’s probably just a beneficiary of our ball movement being a little better the last few weeks to get on the end of it,” Allen said of Ward.
“He always works up and down the ground for us as a half forward but because we’ve been able to move the ball a bit freer, he’s been able to actually run end-to-end and get on the end of it.”
Interestingly, not a single Kangaroos player recorded more than 18 possessions but nine had between 14 and 18.
However, the pressure that was applied was immense as Officer dominated the tackle count 37-55.
The contrasting combination of youth and experience has been a tale for Allen’s side this year, with this week being more evident than ever.
Veteran senior players Ash Allen, Sam Hoghton and Kyle Hagger all missed the contest due to injuries sustained last week, so the Kangaroos were forced to bring in some more young talents.
“It’s such an interesting mix, I think we have one player on the list between 23 or 24 and 30,” Allen said with a laugh of the age demographic.
“There is such an age gap, but that’s the great thing about footy, you’re all out there doing the same thing and we’ve been able to mix it really well.
“Training has been fun and competitive, so just throwing them together and that belief and trust in each other has been huge.
“In the last 10 minutes of the last two games, the way we were able to set up and just play to what the game’s giving us and hold onto those leads, it’s massive from the older boys doing the right thing and leading and the younger boys just learning and taking it all on.
“It’s been really easy to coach the last few weeks because as soon as you say something the boys just do it.
“It’s tough when results aren’t going your way to keep pushing the structure and keep demanding they stick to it and the results will come, but now they have come.
“There’s an excitement around the group that we were able to do it and belief in each other and the structure and the plan, I’m really happy it’s all come together.
“The boys have learnt that if they continue to trust themselves and the confidence that has come from a few competitive games and a win the other week, they really believed they could still win.
“We just went out there and tried to play our game and tried not to confuse the young guys with different instructions and we were able to play consistently.”
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Aaron Mullett stole the show at Emerald in Bombers’ playing coach David Johnson’s 300th game as Mullett’s 10-goal haul boosted Wandin to a 6.7(43) to 18.19(127) victory.
Mullett now sits on 98 majors for the season and aims to bring up the ton this week at home against Olinda Ferny Creek.
But the Bloods will be entering that contest oozing with confidence as they dominated Gembrook Cockatoo at home 19.17(131) to 9.4(58).
Percy Hyett had a standout performance for the hosts with 33 disposals and a goal while Josh Tilly was at his usual best as he recorded 36 touches, six marks, five tackles and two majors.
Woori Yallock shook off last week’s stunner and rolled Healesville in the first term to claw out a 13.13(91) to 6.6(42) triumph.
The Tigers piled on the first seven goals of the match to lead 45-0 at quarter time and the Bloods were never able to overcome it.
Over at Monbulk, the Hawks came through in the clutch to win after the siren against Upwey Tecoma.
Lochie Beecroft marked in the dying seconds and calmly slotted his set shot to break Tiger hearts 9.9(63) to 9.8(62).
