By JARROD POTTER
Southern Football League
NOT even a bag of eight from Peter Dye could help the Doveton Eagles fly to victory against Springvale Districts.
Dye was on fire up forward – snatching marks and rattling off goal-after-goal – but the Eagles struggled to halt the Demons in the 27-point loss.
The cross-town combatants struggled to keep it civil as jumper-punching and push-and-shove from both sides were as common as goals on Springvale Reserve.
The Demons surge started in the second term with Dylan Bramble and Brad Dight featuring strongly en route to three goals apiece.
Another six in the third term placed the injury-depleted Springvale Districts at an advantage, but Doveton Eagles started to run in the fourth quarter.
What little love between the two sides there was prior to the game was lost in the final term as Demons and Eagles alike went jumper-punching and pushing after Eagles’ Darryl Thomas was knocked down and had to be helped from the field.
Dye was integral for Doveton Eagles’ attack staying in the clash, with his eight-goals a surprisingly restricted effort from an entertaining battle against Springvale’s Justin Doust.
Gunning it through the midfield in his usual manner, Corrie Wilson received one of the nods for best on ground alongside Keith Dobson and the Graeskes – Nathan and Travis.
Eagles’ coach Clint Wilson – kept from playing by an inflamed tendon – said turnovers were too costly.
“We probably played better than them in the first half but I thought our skill level and turnovers cost us… they played pretty good footy in patches and when they did they hit the scoreboard,” Wilson said.
The reports and send-offs didn’t paint a pleasant picture but Wilson said it wasn’t all to blame on the Eagles.
“We’re trying to (keep the incidents out of the game) but today I don’t think you can blame any of ours,” Wilson said.
“A bloke went in to help get their trainer off one of our players so there’s nothing you can do about that.
“It looks like that as the game’s under pressure we’re retaliating… but it isn’t always the case.”
Falling back to ninth in SFL Division 2, a win against Murrumbeena on 14 June at home would go a long way to keep the Eagles in this division next season.
SFL DIVISION 3
Hallam fell away to concede a seven-point loss to Sandown. A goalless third term derailed the Hawks and despite their best efforts in the last, Hallam couldn’t catch up. Brandon Nolan kicked three while Jonathan Daly, Chris Molnar and Mitch Durham were best on ground.
The beatstick of Division 3 laid its wrath on Endeavour Hills as Mount Waverley buffeted the visitors with a 119-point belting. Bryon Hoe, Jarryd Burke and Daniel Batson could hold their heads as best faring Falcons on a sorry day for Endeavour Hills.
