By Ken Moore
POOWONG dynamo Kael Bergles provided the highlight of round two in the EDFL, kicking 13 goals in the Magpies’ 63-point victory over Kooweerup on Saturday.
Bergles terrorised the Demons’ defence, proved impossible to beat one on one and threatened all sorts of goalkicking records by scoring 10 first-half goals.
Ruckman Connor Cunningham showed good skill and judgment and Cranbourne recruit Troy Aust provided shrewd defence.
Another backman, Alex Rose, who cut his teeth in the reserves last season, played a composed game and midfielders Glen Attenborough and Ryan Dunn fed the forwards in a superb team effort.
To stem the bleeding, Kooweerup dropped players behind the ball in the second half to curtail the brilliance of Bergles, who played at Tarwin Lower last season but is well known to EDFL fans, after kicking 98 goals and playing in Nilma Darnum’s premiership team in 2009.
Half-forward Steve Greaves and on-ballers Rhys Morgan, Jack Carson and Max Longson tried hard to lift the Demons. Debutant Chris Morrell from Devon Meadows took some good grabs and looks a likely type.
Another youngster, Matt Jackman, put in a noteworthy effort to keep the dangerous Bergles to only three goals after half-time. With the game as good as over in the first quarter, when the home side led by 45 points, the Demons did well to stop the end margin ballooning out to three figures.
FIVE goals to one in the last quarter by Neerim Neerim South fended off a determined Ellinbank by 41 points.
Chris Urie bagged five goals, played a sensational second half and proved to be the difference between the two teams.
He was lent terrific support in and around the midfield by coach Leigh Sheehan and Cam Hinkley, while Danny and Brenton Sheehan and Brenton Cowell offered good drive out of defence.
Ellinbank started with intent, notching the first three goals, but could not hold its early form over the ensuing quarters. David Scott Smith and Jake Hogan, three goals each, gave the Banker midfielders a target, Andrew Quirk provided resolute defence and Ash Wallace was his ever-reliable self off the half-back line.
Midfielder Beau Ridgeway had a crack and 16-year-old wingman Nathan Paredes played with a confidence that belied his inexperience. The Gippsland Power under- 16 squad member looks a real prospect.
WARRAGUL Industrials kicked the sweep and in the process creamed Nyora by 92 points.
The two-pronged attack of coach Shane Brewster (nine goals) and tall Dingley recruit Stephen Pitt (eight) menaced the Saints’ defence and youngster Dean Johnson curbed the usual output of prolific Nyora ball winner Corey Wilson.
Narre Warren recruit Dale Williams, who missed last season through injury, and fellow half-back Sean Lewis, pumped the ball forward regularly, while Kooweerup recruit Ayden Mills was lively across the half-forward line.
In the latter part of every quarter, Nyora struggled and did not look match fit. Saints coach Corrie Wilson could not be accused of going missing, but simply did not have a support cast around him for his side to mount a serious challenge after quarter-time.
Somerville recruit Geoff Hibberd impressed once again, steering through six goals, Poowong recruit Michael O’Flaherty and Billy Hessels enjoyed a productive game across the half-back line and Matt Leyton was the best of the Nyora forwards.
FUELLED by a strong last quarter, Lang Lang turned an 11-point lead into a convincing 32-point victory over Buln Buln.
For the second consecutive week, Dylan Mitchell and Hadley Tomamichel generated plenty of attack from behind the centre, Kurt Batt (three goals) used his body strength to good advantage and Hastings recruit Billy Hayes had a busy midfield presence.
Veteran defender Stuart Casey kept close tabs on Lyrebird go-to man Ricky Hayes and tall spare parts man Chris McCurdy lined up on the wing and acquitted himself well.
Buln Buln coach Daniel Charles had 37 possessions, new recruit Anthony Bernardo and Brendan Santurini stimulated the Lyrebirds midfield and Gormandale recruit Adam Jaensch and 17-year-old Doug Black played assured games in defence.
LONGWARRY had little trouble against Nilma Darnum after quarter-time, winning by 86 points.
Berwick recruit Adam Pavlovic (11 goals) and Luke Serong (nine) caused mayhem among the Bombers defence.
The Crows had a plethora of contributors, led by on-ballers Tye Holland, Jason Garritty, Leigh McDonald and wingmen Casey Wells and Ben Cuckson.
Aaron Serong provided steadfast defence and Tim Milner did well to restrict Mal Michael to two goals by three-quarter-time before the former AFL star escaped his clutches to drill through four last-term majors.
Nilma captain Harley Lacunes floated all over the ground, stymied many attacks and set a number of forward thrusts to be the most valuable Bomber.
Up forward, James Hamill presented well and Josh O’Brien and Shane Youngman found plenty of the ball.
