A 10goal haul from Ryan Donaldson put paid to Devon Meadows chances and provided the spark for Berwick’s 95point victory at the Edwin Flack Reserve on Saturday.
It was the Wickers first win of the season and Donaldson’s effort went a long way to answering last week’s persistent rumours that the temperamental star was unhappy at the club and looking for a change of scene.
The fact was that he, together with several other Wickers, had been out of touch and needed to lift and coach Ronnie Burns had been forthright in telling his players his thoughts.
“To see some of the blokes who have been down like Dan O’Hara and Ryan Donaldson and Chris Mizzi play well was really good. For Donaldson to come out and kick 10 goals was sensational,” he said.
Devon Meadows travelled to Berwick with newfound confidence after recording its first win, but that was soon dented with the Wickers coming out hard and fast to lead by 14 points at quarter time and extend that advantage to 39 points at the main break.
Berwick’s set up was different to previous weeks, with George Gorozidis playing wide at halfforward and Donaldson deep in the true fullforward position.
It became an easy assignment for the Wickers after halftime and they moved 70 points clear at the final change and continued on to run out comfortable victors.
“The last couple we’ve been playing two or three quarters, but we finally played four quarters and the boys were good,” said Burns. “It was a great result for the club.
“I knew it was there, but with new blokes to the side, it just doesn’t happen. It’s a matter of adapting and some players have to learn a new style.”
The late inclusion of another Aboriginal recruit from Darwin in Stewart Warlipinni caused comment in local football circles, but Burns said he had seen him play and stood by his decision to rush him into the senior side.
“I took a punt and got him to come down on the Tuesday and I played him. I’ve seen him and knew he could play, so it was good it worked out,” he said.
“I think he’s already become a bit of a cult figure down here.”
Burns also praised Gorozidis for sacrificing his game to help Donaldson, saying the multiple century goalkicker was superb and had nothing to prove in football.
KEYSBOROUGH fought hard for three quarters against a solid ROC combination, before the Kangaroos experience and fitness took hold to see it record a 39point win.
The small confines of the Officer Recreation Reserve suited the visitors and the game was tough early with neither side gaining a clear advantage.
ROC made five changes to its side from the previous week and led by nine points at quarter time, but the Burra hit back with the assistance of the breeze in the second term, to take a 10point advantage into the long break.
The second term was marred by an incident which resulted in the report of Keysborough’s Matthew Witherden (by three umpires) and ROC’s David Main both for striking, together with Kangaroo Ben Waite for involvement in a mellee.
Keysborough again took it up to ROC in the third term with spearhead Luke McGuinness looking dangerous and defender Corey Wilkinson playing solid rebound football.
The Burra held a threepoint edge at the final change, but it was not enough and the Kangaroos lifted a gear in the final term to score nine lastquarter goals and bolt away to a comfortable victory.
The fact it took ROC so long to work its way on top, demonstrates how much Keysborough has improved.
However, the class of Kevin Quinn with five goals, together with Dean Blake, David Main and Brad Jones was enough to provide a matchwinning edge.
ROC jumped to the top of the ladder with the win and face secondplaced Doveton in a showdown for the position this week.
ANOTHER impossibly hard day at the office resulted in Dingley being kept goalless for the second week running, this time by Hampton Park.
The Casey Cardinia League is no wiser about how the Redbacks are travelling after the game, because Dingley is simply uncompetitive and the 155point result was not unexpected.
The Redbacks were without several key players including spearhead Kerem Baskaya and Linden Fredericks, but livewire forward Josh Taylor found touch around goals, booting nine for the day, while lanky centre halfforward Dane Rawlings finished with six.
The day started well for Hampton Park and badly for the Dingoes, despite playing at home, with the visitors booting 15 goals in the first half and threatening to break all records.
Dingley applied itself to the best of its ability after the long break and kept Hampton Park to only eight goals in the second half.
Hampton Park’s best included Brett Armitage, Daniel Langley and Pat Clish, while Daniel Turcarelli, Tony Lavars and Darren Andrews battled it out for the home side.
