A big bag and bigger wins characterise Round 3, as the ladder begins to take shape

A near-perfect first quarter from coach Owen Lalor’s Parkdale Vultures side has condemned Beaumaris to a 1-2 start in Premier C. Parkdale’s clinical midfield led the Vultures to a 10.4 (64) to 1.0 (6) lead at the first change, eventually running out 21.10 (136) to 11.7 (73) winners, with Lalor now questioning just how to bottle his side’s early brilliance.

“We were really good around the footy – on top at stoppage and clearance, and our forward half pressure was terrific,” he said, while crediting unsung flanker Lloyd Bailey for his efforts in this space.

“He’s a barometer for us with his pressure – his tackling and smothering led to multiple shots on goal,” continued Lalor.

Others to draw the praise of the seventh-year coach were skipper Jack Edwards, and ruckman Jarrod Peake, who battled gamely against Sharks’ stalwart Callum Heath, who Lalor praised as one of the league’s best players. On the back of lace-out service, Ryan Macdermid kicked four goals, in a pleasing return to form.

Heath again found himself in coach Josh Bourke’s bests, alongside usual suspects like Josh Trew and Callum Linehan. Beaumaris’ next chance to square the season’s ledger comes against Parkside this Saturday, who are coming off a close win over Marcellin, in a game of shifting momentum.

After a strong opening quarter, Parkside squandered a three-goal lead in the second. It wasn’t long before a 5 goal to 1 third quarter saw them regain an advantage not to be relinquished, finishing 12.5 (77) to 10.7 (67) victors. Devils coach Rick Frost pinpointed a ‘lack of pressure’ as the catalyst for Marcellin’s second quarter outburst and was pleased by the uptick in this space after a half-time address that centred on it.

Max Balassone’s timely contested marks buffeted Marcellin’s charge in the last quarter, while Mitch Lawson, and skipper Michael Romano, playing his 150th game, were also afforded mentions for their performances in Frost’s postgame.

Marcellin coach Bernie Dineen, while impressed with his side’s second quarter, was left ‘pretty disappointed’ by his Eagles’ inconsistency, but believes there is plenty of growth left in his side, especially with the return of captain Matthew Capetola, imminent. The goals and explosiveness provided by James McArdle on-ball, the games of Tom Dennis and Ry Elphinstone on the wing and in the backline respectively, and the maturity and ball-use of the returning Shaun Tyquin, all yielded mentions from Dineen.

AJAX’s unbeaten start to the season continued, with the Jackas showing composure in shaking a plucky Prahran outfit. An undermanned Two Blues did well to be within five goals at the main break, before the class and size of the ladder leaders propelled them to a 16.19 (115) to 4.6 (30) victory.

Postgame, AJAX coach Lachlan Buszard said, “it was a very pleasing second half, and a game full of learning for our group.” The first-year coach expressed pride in his side’s ability to find avenues to goal despite the suffocating defensive tactics employed by his opposite number, which included rolling wingmen and half-forward flankers behind the ball.

Prahran coach Craige Milward was pleased with his undermanned side’s ability to implement some semblance of his system for two-and-a-half quarters and insists he’s ‘not fearful’ of how the rest of the season will pan out, despite a winless start.

“We’re excited to attack the last two-thirds of the season, after we get some significant contributors back,” he said. Luke Gorman’s broken foot, and boom recruit Patrick Marks’ hamstring injury are considered medium-term prospects, while the season of Josh Taylor is unfortunately over, after an Achilles injury. Milward is pleased with the depth the club’s recruiting has afforded them but is wary of ‘robbing’ his Reserves side of too many pieces.

Milward highlighted Riley Hogan’s effectiveness in his run-with role on the always dangerous Toby Sheezel and is excited to be back at Toorak Park this weekend, where the Two Blues will meet St Bedes/Mentone Tigers. After missing at the weekend, Noah Hura will make his second senior appearance of the season, after a seven-goal haul in the Reserves, in Round 1.

St Bedes/Mentone Tigers resounding 21.15 (141) to 7.14 (56) victory over Glen Eira/Old McKinnon was headlined by an emphatic 12-goal performance from Jack Behnk. Coach Brad Berry believes the haul is an excellent reward for Behnk’s off the ball efforts and credits his midfielders for deep entries that allowed Behnk’s bodywork to come to the fore.

“It was his patch in the second quarter that basically put the game out of reach,” explained Berry. “He really drives our team-first approach, so a day out for him was really pleasing.”

Matt Lehpamer’s late withdrawal, citing soreness, brought veteran Jack Hellier more game time, with Berry pleased with the glimpses, and leadership, the former Collingwood VFL captain displayed. The versatility of Dan Garside was also a feature of the victory, with the penetrating kick and bigger body of the habitual half-back, providing ample cover in the midfield, when required.

A relatively strong first quarter for the Gryphons was made possible by the ruck craft of Lachlan Mirams, who consistently provided first use. Youngster Nicholas Mavropoulos again found himself in coach Guy Martyn’s bests, with skipper Stuart Carey also leading the way in the loss. The Gryphons must now turn their attention to a clash with PEGS this weekend, who toppled Mazenod, in the wet, this past Saturday.

After the 6.12 (48) to 4.6 (30) result, PEGS coach Rob Kerr credited his side’s ability to take territory in the third quarter for the victory.

“It allowed us to set up better behind the ball,” he said. “Blake Roach had a strong game; (he) won plenty of contested footy as a mid, and also sured us up down back for a period. Andrew McDonald had his best game – conditions suited his strong body,” Kerr continued. The return of experienced duo Cameron Livori and Zach Genovesi was cited as ‘helpful’ by the first-year PEGS coach, while conditions bore the brunt of the blame for the inaccuracy of both sides.

The performances of Mazenod’s leaders ensured their nominations in coach Peter Banfield’s bests, but Banfield will look to rejig a Nodders’ forward line he says is ‘not operating at present’. His side’s meagre total score of 30 on the weekend exists in stark contrast with the scoring prowess of their next opponent, in AJAX.

Round 4 sees Marcellin head south to Parkdale, Prahran host St Bedes/Mentone Tigers, and Beaumaris head to Alphington, to face Parkside. PEGS will travel to Carnegie, where Glen Eira/Old McKinnon will be waiting.