By Marcus Uhe
Narre Warren capped a day of celebrations at Kalora Park on Saturday with a comfortable 70-point win over Monbulk in the Outer East Football Netball League.
The Magpies used the fixture to honour both the heroes of their 2013 premiership side and the feats of 2022, unfurling eight premiership flags won last season in their first home game of the 2023 campaign.
The reigning premiers held the Hawks goalless in the first quarter before kicking eight-goals-to-two in the second to open an unassailable 57-point lead at the long break, finishing 15.11 101 to 4.7 31.
Nine players hit the scoreboard for the Magpies, with Jesse Davies and Jake Richardson leading the way with three each.
At Gembrook, five goals to powerful forward Jay Verhagen meant Gembrook Cockatoo are ahead of the win-loss ledger, having overcome Mount Evelyn at home by 23 points.
Verhagen did it in the air and on the ground for his side, who took the lead in the second quarter and never looked back.
Brad Coller’s side were the beneficiaries of accurate goalkicking from their forward-line group, registering 12.10 (82) to Mount Evelyn’s 8.11 (59).
At Olinda, a fast start from Wandin put a gap between them and their opponents that was never overrun.
The Bulldogs shot-out to a 28-point lead at quarter time and maintained a comfortable buffer for the remainder of the contest, finishing 11.12 78 to 7.9 51 winners.
While in Woori Yallock, both the home side and visiting Upwey Tecoma were dogged by inaccuracy in Woori Yallock’s 11-point win.
Woori Yallock’s 23 shots on goal resulted in only six majors and Upwey Tecoma’s 17 resulted in only five.
Both sides were locked on 38 at three-quarter time, but last year’s runner-up kicked two goals in the final term and held their opponent goalless, to win 6.17 53 to 5.12 42.
For more detailed coverage of this weekend’s footy results, be sure to grab a copy of Wednesday’s Pakenham Gazette.
