By Blair Burns
Pearcedale is undefeated in the Mornington Peninsula Division 2 competition after pumping a winless Hastings by 82 points on Saturday.
The Dales have gone from strength to strength in the first month of football, setting themselves up for a huge season and passing each challenge with flying colours.
After a strong pre-season under Peter Bastinac and a 4-0 start, there is no doubt that Pearcedale is one of the premiership favourites this season.
The opening month of football hasn’t been easy for the Dales, but their ability to continually rise to the challenge against quality sides says a lot about the team.
Bastinac said the strong pre-season had carried into the regular season and was really pleased with the way the side had been performing.
“It gives us great confidence that we are one of the best teams in the competition and we have given ourselves a really good chance (at success this season),” he said.
“Especially considering the tough draw we’ve had, our performances have put us in a really good position.”
Hastings was the first team that the Dales have faced who didn’t make finals last season, but that didn’t stop the Blues from putting up a fight in the first half.
“Up until half time, I thought it was a pretty even game, we had a lead on the scoreboard but their second quarter was good and they controlled the game a little bit,” Bastinac said.
To their credit, the Blues put up a fight in the first half with the quarter time margin sitting at only 10 points, before it was extended to 27 points at the main break.
But it was the third quarter where Pearcedale put the visitors to the sword and piled on a barrage of goals to push the side towards a percentage-boosting victory.
The home side kicked 8.2 for the quarter, almost doubling its score as it blew the Blues out of the water.
“We just had to hang in there in the first half. The way we’ve been playing is when we’ve been able to get the game on our terms, we have controlled it very well,” Bastinac said.
“In the third quarter, we put the ball in areas where it was going to be easier to score and we were able to execute that.
“Our midfield was super dominant, and they really set the tone for us, allowing us to put some good scoreboard pressure on and kick straight.”
Despite missing star midfielder Ryan Bastinac (suspension) and Tom Schneider (dislocated finger), the Dales made light work of Hastings as Jordan Bastinac stood up (37 disposals, one goal)
“We needed to find another midfielder and Jordan has played there a lot over his career, he teamed up really well with Kaolan Thornton, Archie McGuiness, Luke Settineri and Luke Daniel,” Bastinac said.
“All of our midfielders kicked goals which was great and our forwards keep scoring, but it is a credit to our defence which has held up really well.”
Cruiz West (19 disposals, three goals), Brett Eddy (12 disposals, four goals) and Luke Daniel (13 disposals, four goals) led the way in the victory.
Hastings’ Jake Hewitt was a shining light with 27 disposals and one goal.
Pearcedale’s tough draw doesn’t get any easier as it takes on Frankston Bombers, who are also undefeated, at Baxter Park in a top of the table clash.
In the MPFNL, three Round 4 matches were played back on Easter weekend, so only two other games took place last weekend.
Frankston Bombers continued its winning ways as it smashed Crib Point by 53 points thanks to a first-quarter blitz.
Ex-Bulldog Jarrad Grant booted five majors, while captain Khan Haretuku kicked four. Kane and Liam Tyrell were among the best performers for the losing Magpies.
Hawthorn premiership player James Frawley is one of the biggest signings in the competition and despite Devon Meadows keeping the star signing quiet, his eight-goal haul drew some attention this week.
Frawley kicked eight goals in the victory and was named the Panthers’ best player as they thumped Somerville by 42 points in a statement win.
Dean Kent (22 disposals, one goal, seven marks) and Nick Battle (24 disposals, one goal) were key performers in the big victory.
MPFNL DIVISION 2
SCOREBOARD
PEARCEDALE 5.0 8.7 16.9 21.13 (139)
HASTINGS 3.3 4.4 6.6 8.9 (57)
Pearcedale Goals: Luke Daniel, Brett Eddy 4, Cruiz West 3, Benjamin Duncan, Lachlan Hinde 2, Jordan Bastinac, Kian Benwell, Mitchell Davis, Archie McGuiness, Luke Settineri, Kaolan Thornton. Best: Jordan Bastinac, Archie McGuiness, Luke Settineri, Luke Daniel, Robbie Arnott.
Hastings Goals: Kade Foster, Kevin Lylak 2, Jake Hewitt, Bradley Kovac, Thomas Muscillo, Aaron Vinson. Best: Kade Foster, Jack Slocombe, Thomas Muscillo, Louis Connard, Logan Paunov.
SOMERVILLE 4.4 7.5 8.8 9.11 (65)
DEVON MEADOWS 4.0 9.3 13.5 16.11 (107)
Somerville Goals: Joel Vincent 3, Benjamin Kaddatz 2, Luke Burton, Jordan Hammock, Kai Suparta, Jai Triep. Best: Josh Young, Benjamin Kaddatz, Lachlan Gill-Renouf, Joel Vincent, Lachlan Haskett.
Devon Meadows Goals: James Frawley 8, Bailey Phillips 2, Nick Battle, Joel Hillis, Dean Kent, Cody Ray, Jack Wilson. Best: James Frawley, Nick Battle, Joel Hillis, Ky Williams.
Other Games – Rd 4: Frankston Bombers 14.10 (94) def Crib Point 5.11 (41).
Ladder: Frankston Bombers, Pearcedale 16, Seaford, Devon Meadows 12, Somerville, Bonbeach, Chelsea, Crib Point 8, Tyabb, Rye 4, Hastings, Karingal 0.
Fixture – Rd 5: Chelsea (7) v Somerville (5), Devon Meadows (4) v Karingal (12), Frankston Bombers (1) v Pearcedale (2), Hastings (11) v Crib Point (8), Rye (10) v Bonbeach (6), Tyabb (9) v Seaford (3).
