By Tyler Lewis
MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO – ROUND 17
Devon Meadows has been on the receiving end of a miraculous mid-season swing that has then translated into serious ladder ramifications.
Eight rounds ago, the Panthers walloped Crib Point by 125 points, but on Saturday, the Magpies completed a stunning 22-goal reversal to defeat Devon by seven points.
The result has now pulled the Panthers back, to not only now poised to miss out on a second-chance finals position, to now fighting for a top-five finish all together.
The Magpies led at every change in the 12.9 (81) to 10.14 (74) win – just their second of the season.
While Pearcedale thumped Hastings, 20.14 (134) to 13.10 (88), the Devon Meadows result creates a mouth-watering final round of the home-and-away season.
The Panthers, currently fourth on 40 points, travel to seventh-placed Seaford, which is ineligible to make finals, but did defeat the Panthers in their early-season earlier fixture.
Ryan Hendy’s men are still capable of making it into the top-three – and therefore earning a second chance – but they will need to defeat Seaford, and hope that Somerville stumbles to eighth-placed Rye.
Pearcedale, meanwhile, is currently fifth, with 40 points, just percentage ahead of its upcoming opponent Chelsea.
The Gulls kicked a goal after the siren to defeat the Dales earlier in the season.
In other results, Karingal defeated Chelsea 8.8 (56) to 6.10 (46), Langwarrin continued its winning-streak with a 19.15 (129) to 4.6 (30) win over Rye, Somerville thrashed Seaford 18.14 (122) to 6.7 (43) and Mornington embarrassed the now wooden-spoon favourites Tyabb, 28.22 (192) to 7.6 (42).
LADDER
Langwarrin 68, Karingal 48, Somerville 44, Devon Meadows 40, Pearcedale 40, Chelsea 40, Seaford 32, Rye 32, Mornington 28, Hastings 20, Crib Point 8, Tyabb 8.
FIXTURE – ROUND 18
Chelsea v Pearcedale, Crib Point v Karingal, Seaford v Devon Meadows, Hastings v Mornington, Tyabb v Langwarrin, Rye v Somerville.
