DOVETON full forward Peter Greenstreet etched his name in to the black books of opposition finals coaches with a 12goal haul in his side’s domination of Cranbourne.
The match, touted as a potential danger game for the Doves, fizzled out to become a 175point embarrassment for the Cranbourne youngsters as Doveton’s obvious edge in class and strength combined to crush the visitors’ meek challenge from the opening bounce.
The Doves boasted another 12 goalkickers who backed up Greenstreet in attack and dangerous Doves including Robert Hughes, Brad Downe and youngster James Arundale did as they pleased.
Ryan Davey, Aaron Pike, Adam Wright and coach Brett McMaster battled it out for Cranbourne, but McMaster was at a loss to explain his team’s worst performance of the year.
“I’m still trying to get my head around it,” he lamented.
“We didn’t want to get a belting this year and until (Saturday) I was pleased with the way we had remained competitive, but it was a disappointing way to end the season.
“Doveton is a topquality side and they showed us how good they really are, but we were really poor,” he said.
His Doveton counterpart Steve Henwood praised his side for another top homeandaway season, but was surprised at the lack of competition from the Eagles.
“They were disappointing,” he said. “A few of our younger boys continue to improve and that was a positive and they are the ones that can create some big headaches for our finals opposition. Finishing equal second is a great effort and I congratulated the boys for that.”
TOORADIN players said thank you to coach Dan O’Loughlin in the best way possible with a thumping 112point result over Devon Meadows at the Western Port Oval on Saturday.
Unfortunately for O’Loughlin, he was carried from the ground in the opening minutes of the game after hitting his head on the cricket pitch area in a heavy clash, but he recovered and returned to the field to see out his final afternoon as coach of the Seagulls.
He later said that he was proud of the way his players had finished a season of both promise and disappointment.
Aaron Setford, Beau Miller and Tommy Hallinan were dangerous in attack and the Panthers had few answers across the ground in a game that had no bearing on ladder positions.
O’Loughlin was relaxed after the game ended a difficult season and said he was proud of the way his team finished the year.
“Tommy Hallinan was sensational and Adam Splatt and Tommy (O’Loughlin) were probably our best three, but everyone contributed and that was good,” he said.
“We approached it a bit differently and we were all in a good frame of mind and played accordingly.”
Panthers coach Wayne Briggs said the disappointing 2006 season was now a memory and he was more intent on looking towards the future.
“We were flat (on Saturday) and it tests your character, I suppose. The good thing about footy is that we can rebuild now and go again. Preseason starts now,” he said.
“We want to pick up some quality players and add them to our kids we’ve got. I’ve enjoyed playing firstgamers and now it’s up to them to commit to their footy and build the club.”
DINGLEY bid farewell to the MPNFL before its transfer to the Southern Football League next year with a spirited performance against premiership favourites Pakenham.
Despite the final scoreline showing a 132point margin in favour of the Lions, Dingley had minor victories in that it fielded a full reserves side for the first time in many weeks and played its best quarter of senior football for 2006, booting five goals in the third term.
Pakenham went into the game without star midfielder Lincoln Withers who was rested, while Jared Goldsack also missed again, nursing a knee injury.
The result of the topversusbottom contest was never in doubt but Lions coach Michael Holland praised the young opposition team and said the players had represented their club with pride in the game.
“They were very good early. They’ve got a few good young players but just lacked a little bit of class at times,” he said.
“They came down and presented well and just played football with nothing silly so that was good.”
Dingley coach David Barnes was philosophical at his side’s winless season and said the club would now move forward.
“We got through the year and plenty of people said we wouldn’t. That was a real achievement from where we are,” he said.
“A lot of work has been done behind the scenes and we’ll move forward now and start fresh in the new competition.”
