By Blair Burns
After starting the season with a loss Devon Meadows has now won two consecutive games after it defeated Tyabb comfortably by 37 points in round three of the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League (MPFNL) Division 2 competition.
The Anzac Day clash promised to be a big one at Glover Reserve as the Panthers hosted the Yabbies, with the home team also welcoming ex-Hawthorn premiership player James Frawley to pull on the special Panthers’ guernsey for the occasion.
Devon Meadows lost by 30 points against Pearcedale in round one but have since recorded two huge victories against Rye (62 points) and now Tyabb (37 points).
The Panthers bowed out in the semi-final last season after finishing third on the ladder and when they lost to Pearcedale in the season opener, questions were asked of them.
But they bounced back last weekend, with the final score 11.17 (83) to 7.4 (46), but the Panthers could’ve added a bit more percentage had they kicked straighter at the big sticks, but coach Dean Kent will definitely be happy to bank the win.
Devon Meadows was on top around the stoppage from the opening bounce as it took control of the first quarter and quickly established a lead.
The home side was first to the ball and created most of the play, but the Yabbies managed to make their opportunities count when they went inside 50.
At the quarter time break, Devon Meadows had a 15-point lead as it kicked to the big target of Frawley at every opportunity.
It was all starting with co-captain Nick Battle in the engine room as he gathered 32 disposals and got the ball deep inside the Panthers’ forward 50 time and time again.
However, Tyabb outscored the home side in the second quarter and was determined to get its second win of the season, going into the main break trailing 37-26.
In games like these, all eyes are on the third quarter, well-known as the premiership quarter, to see which side can break the game open.
The Panthers started the second half well, but failed to convert on their dominance kicking 3.6 to 1.2, which left the door ever so slightly ajar for a Yabbies comeback with a three-quarter margin of 27 points.
But when Devon Meadows kicked the first goal of the last term, it was over and the Panthers were racing away to their second victory of the year.
They continued to dominate the last quarter, conceding just two shots on goal as they pushed further in front, to win by 37 points.
The disposal count tells the story with Devon Meadows +85, while the side also controlled the ball (+31 marks).
Frawley was the focal point in the forward line with 15 disposals, three goals and six marks, as he troubled the Yabbies defenders.
Co-captain Joel Hillis has been ultra-impressive in the opening three rounds and played more midfield time with Frawley in the side.
Hillis is averaging 23 disposals per game and has scored five goals this season, accumulating an average of 128 ranking points per game.
Other strong performers for the Panthers were Patrick Sinnema (22 disposals, 11 marks), Daniel Hellyer (14 disposals, eight marks) and Alex Canal (18 disposals, two goals).
While Tyabb duo Corey Buchan (34 disposals, 12 marks, six tackles) and Bradley Williams (34 disposals, seven marks) combined for more than a quarter of their team’s disposals on the day.
Matthew Clark and Ryan Marks-Logan kicked two goals each for the Yabbies.
In other games across the MPFNL Division 2 competition, Pearcedale took another step forward as it defeated last year’s preliminary finalists Somerville by two points in a nail-biter.
The Dales had a narrow lead all day but to hold off the Eagles who flew home in the last quarter, showcased their great resilience.
Pearcedale has had challenges thrown at them in the early part of the season but have passed with flying colours, winning against three of the remaining top four sides from last season.
Peter Bastinac will be happy with the early performances his side has put together, but will be determined not to let the hard work stop there.
Pearcedale key forward and co-coach Brett Eddy set the tone for the side kicking four goals in the win, while young star Cruiz West delivered again with three of his own.
Ex-AFL midfielder Ryan Bastinac has had the football on a string this season but could be in a bit of doubt to get up for next week … as he suffers with leather poisoning.
Seaford defeated Chelsea by just four points as it claimed its third win of the season to jump into second position on the ladder, while the Seagulls are now 2-2.
Chris Buttner, Seth Kelly and Brodie Scully kicked two goals each for the Tigers while Anthony Beale (three goals) led the way for the Seagulls.
Crib Point had another important win as it defeated Rye by 24 points in front of its home crowd last Saturday, moving to a 2-1 season record.
Will Stewart was the best player for the Magpies, while Lachlan Croad impressed for the Demons.
Bonbeach made light work of Karingal as it thumped the Bulls by 115 points in Anzac Round jumping into sixth spot on the ladder with a 2-2 record, while Karingal is yet to register a win.
Dimitri Fasoulis had a day out with eight goals, taking his season tally to 12, while Joseph Fisscher and Liam Hulett (three goals each) also found the middle of the big sticks.
Frankston Bombers remains undefeated as it smashed a winless Hastings side by 66 points, thanks to four goals each from Tyson Barry and captain Khan Haretuku.
MPFNL SUMMARY
DEVON MEADOWS 4.4 5.7 8.13 11.17 (83)
TYABB 2.1 4.2 5.4 7.4 (46)
DEVON MEADOWS GOALS: James Frawley 3, Alex Canal, Lucas Thompson 2, Joel Hillis, Riley McDonald, Bailey Phillips, Cody Ray.
BEST: Nick Battle, Patrick Sinnema, Daniel Hellyer, Joel Hillis, Alex Canal.
TYABB GOALS: Matthew Clark, Ryan Marks-Logan 2, Cooper De Haas, Kyle Hurlstone.
BEST: Jon Watson, Ryan Marks-Logan, Lachlan Cox, Corey Buchan, Bradley Williams.
SOMERVILLE 1.5 4.9 7.10 10.14 (74)
PEARCEDALE 3.4 7.5 8.9 11.10 (76)
SOMERVILLE GOALS: Corey Battams, Jai Triep 3, Mason De Wit, Lachlan Gill-Renouf, Kai Suparta, Joel Vincent.
BEST: Lachlan Haskett, Jai Triep, Jordan Hayter, Lochie Fewster, Kai Suparta.
PEARCEDALE GOALS: Brett Eddy 4, Cruiz West 3, Ryan Bastinac, Will Dalgleish, Luke Daniel, Benjamin Duncan.
BEST: Huw Jones, Brett Eddy, Kian Benwell, Mitchell Davis, Benjamin Duncan.
OTHER GAMES – Rd 3: Seaford 8.11 (59) def Chelsea 7.13 (55), Crib Point 15.6 (96) def Rye 10.12 (72), Bonbeach 24.11 (155) def Karingal 6.4 (40), Frankston Bombers 16.22 (118) def Hastings 7.10 (52).
LADDER: Frankston Bombers, Seaford, Pearcedale 12, Somerville, Devon Meadows, Bonbeach, Chelsea, Crib Point 8, Tyabb, Rye 4, Hastings, Karingal 0.
FIXTURE – Rd 4: Crib Point (8) v Frankston Bombers (1), Pearcedale (3) v Hastings (11), Somerville (4) v Devon Meadows (5).
ALREADY PLAYED – Rd 4: Chelsea 12.10 (82) def Bonbeach 5.13 (43), Rye 12.19 (91) def Tyabb 11.15 (81), Seaford 13.22 (100) def Karingal 5.6 (36).
