By Ken Moore
CORA LYNN is eyeing second place on the ladder after smashing finals hopeful Poowong by 91 points on Saturday.
The Magpies were competitive until early in the third quarter, when they trailed by only three goals, but fell in a hole from then on.
Only one point separated the sides at quarter-time but four second-term goals by Mornington recruit Ryan Gillis and another two from classy assistant coach Matt Robinson, saw the home side surge clear.
Wingman James Bradshaw provided the Cobras with a springboard into attack all game, tight-checking defender Tim Payne seldom put a toe out of line, ruckman Dan Harders offered top drive and another newcomer this season, tallish Rowville recruit Matt Pierce, attacked the ball hard and drove it forward consistently from behind the centre.
Debutant Caden Slivarch hit off his senior career well, kicking two goals and sourcing many handy disposals.
For the Magpies, in the absence of ruckman Connor Cunningham, Callum O’Hare battled hard as a follower, debutant Tommy Wyatt showed plenty of speed and enthusiasm on the wing and defenders Gavin Notman and Alex Rose both offered stern resistance.
Poowong does not appear to have what it takes to be a bona fide top six candidate.
GARFIELD extended its winning streak to 10 games after a comfortable 54-point victory at Catani.
Versatile tall Shane Reid floated all over the forward line with intent, kicked two goals and created many other scoring opportunities.
Mudlarks Ben Marsh and Phil Burns revelled in the heavy conditions and ruckman Tom Marsh played another influential role, promising youngster Dylan Collis crumbed the packs well across the forward line and Ned Marsh proved to be a handful for the Blues defence.
Catani managed only one paltry goal, kicked by recruit Beau Ridgeway in the second term.
Midfielders Jake Delphine, Nat Rodda and Luke Tyrell all tried hard but had little to kick to up forward.
As usual, experienced warriors Luke McFarlane and Justin Evans burrowed in and refused to throw in the towel. It looks as though it is going to be a long season for Catani.
THREE goals each to Hadley Tomamichel, Kurt Batt and John Nicols paved the way for a convincing 71-point victory by Lang Lang over swampland neighbours, Kooweerup.
The Demons were more than competitive in the first half and trailed by only 20 points at half-time but buckled under the constant pressure applied by the Tigers in the second half.
For Lang Lang, half-backs Aaron Creasey and Dylan Mitchell, two of the most improved players in the league, blocked off many attacks and rebounded the ball well.
Kurt Batt was always a focal target across the half-forward line despite close attention from 17-year-old Demon defender Billy Willis and Alex Saraikin put his body into many contests.
In midfield Hadley Tomamichel and Bryce Tonks were busy and half-forward Troy McPherson, up from the under-18s, picked up some handy touches and laid a number of good tackles.
The performances of young fullback Matt Jackman, on-baller Jack Carson and wingman Max Longson provided a ray of light for the future for Demon fans and Sean Miller and half-back Craig Dyker put in workmanlike efforts that would have pleased coach Rhys Morgan.
NILMA Darnum celebrated its first victory of the season when it beat Nyora by 69 points. The Bombers have now moved off the bottom off the table and their form over the past month suggests they are unlikely to return there.
The Saints led by 11 points at the first break before the Bombers, with six second-quarter goals, took a stranglehold on the game.
Trent Hughes, a strong-bodied 16-year-old forward, kicked three goals in the second quarter and five for the game to stamp himself as a player of the future.
Half-backs Michael Mooney and Andrew Fyffe drove the ball forward frequently, as did James Hammill and Harley Lacunes. Brad Mumford and midfielders Darren Minto and Steve Hoskin all made significant contributions.
For Nyora, Nick Carrigy snared three goals, ruckman Nick Fairbank toiled well, midfielders Aiden Cumberland, Robbie Mulvahill and Adam Tagliaferro all had a go and backpocket Daniel Barton stymied a number of opposition forward forays.
NEERIM Neerim South smashed a lethargic Buln Buln by 122 points. The Cats set the pattern of the game in the first quarter with five goals to the Lyrebirds’ nil.
Neerim dynamo Chris Urie stole the limelight with eight goals, wingman Matt Ward exhibited plenty of skill and Brenton Cowell set up many goals across the forward line.
Mick Urie helped power the midfield, Kody Wilson kicked three goals and was lively around the big sticks and, when called into action, backpocket Gabe Marsden did little wrong.
For Buln Buln, ruckman Andrew Welfare competed well, rover Anthony Bernado got his hands on the ball a fair bit, Rick Hayes made his presence felt at centre-half-back and got solid support from Mark Symons and Luke Grabowski.
ELLINBANK copped a 77-point pounding from Warragul Industrials. The Dusties got the ball rolling with nine first-quarter goals to have the four match points all parcelled up by the first break.
Coach Shane Brewster, Jason Kennedy in his 100th game and Daniel Johnston, who bagged six goals, ghosted past the Bankers defence all afternoon. Ben Hobgen dominated the ruck contests and Rhett O’Hara used his abundant pace well off the half-back flank.
It was yet another mediocre performance by Ellinbank. Too many of its defenders appeared to have feet of clay on the day. Wingman Jake Harper, ruck-rover Nathan Paredes and centre-half-forward Chris Gardiner, who stepped up from the reserves, were some of the few players to win a nod of approval from club insiders.
