By Brad Kingsbury
DOVETON continued its impressive recent form, cruising to a 73point victory over Tooradin at the Western Port oval on Saturday.
Seagulls’ coach Dan O’Loughlin announced his resignation from the post after the game, effective after this weekend’s final homeandaway game.
After a competitive, open and highstandard first half from both sides, there was only 11 points between them at halftime, with Doveton leading, and anticipation of a real dogfight after the break was high.
That did not eventuate and while the Doves stepped up a gear through forwards Ryan Hendy, Justin Hill and Peter Greenstreet, Tooradin unexpectedly fell away and allowed the Doves to kick 10 unanswered goals in 24 minutes to seal the result.
The Seagulls showed some fight in the final term and had as much of the ball as their talented opponents, but the game was gone and it ended as another disappointing result for the home side.
On the positive side the performances of Tommy Hallinan, Clint Walker and top under18 prospect James Morrish were outstanding and O’Loughlin said it was concentration lapses that had cost the side all season.
“We served it up to them in the first half and then we had our usual quarterly lapse and that cost us in the third quarter,” he said.
“We’re just not mentally strong enough to go with a side like Doveton for a whole game and that has been proven.”
Doveton mentor Steve Henwood said the group was playing well and almost at full strength at the right time of the season.
“We were fairly positive all day, but they were good until halftime,” he said.
“After half time they definitely stopped, but we picked up our game and made the most of turnovers and the loose ball.
“Our tackling improved and I was particularly happy with the fact that our, for want of a better term, ‘big guns’ are playing well and really presenting. That’s always a good sign.”
NARRE WARREN pumped Dingley in its last home game in the MPNFL, winning the onesided affair by 240 points.
The writing was on the wall early with the Magpies booting their first goal in 19 seconds and having four majors on the board in the first three minutes.
Star spearhead Lee Clark looked set to break all records after bagging six majors in the opening 15 minutes, but a combination of inaccuracy and the keenness of regular defender Steven Kidd to prove he was really a forward, saw Clark’s tally for the afternoon finish on 14.8.
Kidd booted 9.6 from centre halfforward, while talented teenager Nick Scanlon also made his mark with five goals.
While the news was good for nuggetty midfielder Brett Wadelton, who got through his first senior game for the year after a serious ankle injury, the Magpies’ injury list is a worry with key players Brett Evans, Clay Peresso and Michael Collins in doubt for the finals.
The Dingoes had absolutely no answers and did not penetrate the Magpies defence until late in the final term when Jason Wallis kicked truly and scored the side’s only goal.
The game was the last home fixture for the Dingoes in the MPNFL before they transfer to the Southern Football League next year.
PAKENHAM did what was required to comprehensively triumph over an undermanned Devon Meadows at the Glover Reserve.
Despite losing star playmaker Lincoln Withers, who was dazed after a clash early in the first term, the top side demonstrated just why it is where it is with a methodical 147point win.
Pakenham coach Michael Holland used the opportunity to rotate his players through the interchange bench and across the field in often unfamiliar positions in an effort to keep them fresh and increase versatility with finals in sight.
Devon Meadows mentor Wayne Briggs had few options with the Panthers’ season winding down to a disappointing end.
Kris Holdsworth, Scott Young, Matt Walters and Justin Corrigan battled the game out, but found the Lions’ class edge too great.
Positive news for Pakenham was the form of interleague defender Nathan Brown who returned from a broken collarbone, together with Joe Allen, Simon Ponter and John Atwell.
Holland said he was just happy to get through game unscathed.
“We rotated a few and a lot of players were tried in different positions, but we came through without a problem and didn’t get any injuries so that was good,” he said.
He added that with sides like Doveton starting to play at their top, it would be important to have a full compliment of players on the deck available when finals started in two weeks time.
