By Jonty Ralphsmith
Cranbourne made a statement of its finals credentials on Saturday, dispatching Port Melbourne 15.12 102 to 3.3 21 at Livingston Reserve.
The result is an important percentage booster for the Eagles, drawing them to within four per cent of sixth-placed East Brighton, which is equal on points and a competitor for the last finals spot in the Southern Football Netball League Division 1 competition.
It continues a momentum-building seven weeks for Cranbourne, across which time the club has had four wins, a draw with East Brighton, a tight loss to the undefeated Cheltenham and an anomalous loss to St Paul’s McKinnon.
Cranbourne now sit two points behind fifth-placed Port Melbourne.
The script was essentially flipped from the clash between the sides at JL Murphy Reserve earlier in 2024.
On that day, Cranbourne was unable to adapt to the smaller ground, kicked out of the game by halftime.
On the more expansive Livingston Reserve, Cranbourne kicked away in a seven goal second quarter.
“We wanted to use every part of the ground that we could and make it as big as possible to unsettle them and I think it worked,” said coach Steve O’Brien.
“We played some really good footy (in the second quarter). We were able to control the ball and impact the scoreboard which was pleasing.
Former Collingwood Brownlow Medallist played his first game in Colts colours on Saturday, finding plenty of the footy but well combatted by O’Brien’s troops.
“We were mindful of ‘Swanny’” O’Brien said.
“He sets them up well – we didn’t have a designated player for him but we were mindful of where ‘Swanny’ was when they got the ball.”
Harry Bird matched up on Tom Bellchambers and kept him to two goals, while Glenn Osborne and Michael Boland were also strong in the backline.
Cranbourne’s midfield dominance, spread of goal kickers and the continued progression of youngsters Tyler Finn and Calvin Peris Chong were other pleasing aspects of the victory.
“Our pressure was outstanding – I think that was the key to the game and it’s been good for a few weeks now,” O’Brien added.
“We’ve had an awful run with injury so we haven’t been able to settle the side at all but we’re hoping that eases up a little bit and we can get consistency there.
“We thought we were pretty consistent against Cheltenham (last week), and also on the weekend, so that’s the most pleasing thing.”
The Eagles will visit Dingley on Saturday and will move up to sixth with a win against a side that got them by just two points earlier in 2024.
