By Lachlan Mitchell
The perils of season 2022 ripped through the Springvale Demons side for Saturday’s clash with the Cheltenham Rosellas at Jack Barker Oval.
A flurry of late Covid outs for Springvale caused a few reserves players to step up.
Former Tiger and Hawk Tyrone Vickery was set to be the guiding light in a make-shift Demons’ line up.
Springvale was feeling the full-affects of a strong Cheltenham side early on.
The Rosellas got off to a blistering start as they jumped out to a 38-point quarter-time lead.
The Demons struggled to get going in the first term and remained scoreless in the opening quarter.
A second term goal saw the Demons finally hit the scoreboard.
Cheltenham held a 71-point lead at half-time.
The Rosellas had everything their own way for the second half through Austin Johnson and Josh Fox who kept Springvale pinned to the canvas after the break.
The final quarter dash saw Springvale kick five goals to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
Cheltenham running out 122-point winners as Vickery finished with five goals.
Springvale coach Kris Thompson was disappointed with the result after facing a strong Cheltenham side.
“It was the perfect storm, we had a few Covid cases go through the club and we put our worst team on the park for the season,” Thompson said.
“Cheltenham put a very good team on the park and we played very poorly, and they played very well.
“They are clearly the best team in the competition with the way they played.
“There are not a lot of positives you take out of the day. There were a few who emerged from the reserves who held their own.
“There were a few guys who had to play different positions this week, to fill some gaps due to unavailability’s we had in the squad
“I suppose there’s a lot of little positives with them playing senior footy as individuals but besides that, it is a day to forget.”
Cranbourne continued its winning ways with a solid 40-point win over Port Melbourne at JL Murphy Reserve.
The Eagles had to shrug off a competitive Colt’s side for the best part of three-quarters, eventually kicking seven goals in the last quarter to sail away to victory.
Marc Holt was once again in fine form kicking five goals to move his season tally to 37, while Zak Roscoe also made his impression on the game booting four goals in the triumph.
The win keeps Cranbourne well and truly on top of the ladder ahead of Cheltenham, the only side to upset the Eagles this season.
St Kilda City rallied after a goalless opening quarter to run over the top of East Malvern.
Former Tiger and Kangaroo Aaron Edwards had everything going his way with six goals in the 62-point win.
St Paul’s McKinnon had to scrap to shake off a stubborn Dingley line-up.
The Bulldogs lead at every change to charge home by 24-points, with Matthew Kreymborg kicking five goals in the rousing win.
Bentleigh and Mordialloc played out a thriller on Saturday afternoon.
The Bloodhounds had to come from behind to chase down the Demons.
The Hounds overcome a 24-point quarter-time deficit to march over the Demons in a spirited performance.
Bloodhounds Brett O’Hanlon and Harrison Edwards kicked four goals each in the nine-point win.
SOUTHERN DIVISION ONE
RESULTS – ROUND-3
St Paul’s McKinnon 13.13.91 v Dingley 9.13.67, East Malvern 5.8.38 v St Kilda City 14.16.100, Port Melbourne Colts 13.10.88 v Cranbourne Eagles 19.14.128, Cheltenham 26.13.169 v Springvale Districts 7.5.47, Bentleigh 11.7.73 v Mordialloc 12.10.82.
LADDER
Cranbourne Eagles 28, Cheltenham 24, St Kilda City 24, St Paul’s McKinnon 24, Dingley 16, Mordialloc 16, Port Melbourne Colts 12, Springvale Districts 12, Bentleigh 4, East Malvern 0.
FIXTURE – ROUND 4 – SATURDAY, 4 JUNE
Mordialloc v St.Paul’s Mckinnon, Cheltenham v St Kilda City, Cranbourne Eagles v Bentleigh, Dingley v East Malvern, Springvale Districts v Port Melbourne Colts.
