By David Nagel
Garfield appears set to continue its gradual improvement of the last two years after the Stars ground out a confidence-building 7.11(53) to 7.5(47) victory over Dalyston on Saturday.
Beswick Street became a revolving door ‘of exiting players only’ at the end of the cut-short 2021 season, after finishing with a 7-4 record under then coach Hayden Stanton.
Paul Carbis then took over a very young list, which won one game in 2022 and grew that to a respectable four wins last year.
But those wins were expected – two each against Bunyip and Korumburra-Bena – where this one against the Magpies feels a little different.
It feels like the young Stars are finally starting to blossom, with co-coaches Rhys Murphy and Lachie Schreurs benefitting from their first pre-season with the group; and the efforts of Carbis and his young list over the last two years.
There’s still a long way to go…but the Stars are on the right track.
This was a win built on pure hard work, with defensive pressure causing turnovers to be a major feature of the match.
Brad Monson opened the scoring for the Magpies in the first term, before full-forward Lachie Spinks and Ben Tenace-Greenall answered for the Stars.
Hayden Wallis then equalised for the home side, before late goals to Jack Tenace-Greenall and Murphy gave the Stars a 13-point edge at the first break.
Dalyston responded strongly to a quarter-time grilling from Mitch Hallahan, with Wallis cutting the margin to single figures before two goals to Blake Carew gave the Magpies a four-point lead at half time.
Michael Harris was holding the backline together for the home side, while the lively Dino Karamoshos was proving a handful for a sturdy Garfield defence.
The third quarter was a grind, with Murphy converting after a great tackle on Hallahan, before Karamoshos produced something special off his left foot to give the Magpies a three-point lead.
Garfield then kicked five consecutive points to finish the third quarter; taking a two-point lead to the final change.
With the game on the line, the game lifted a cog at the start of the final quarter.
Ben Tenace-Greenall took a spectacular grab for the Stars, and Jett Pickering another, before Jaxon Foon then took to the sky for the Magpies.
A dull and dreary game – kept engrossing by the closeness of the scores – all of a sudden became exciting.
Spinks slotted a fantastic set shot from the left half-forward flank after some great work from Jett Pickering up the ground.
Magpies’ ball-magnet Curtis Murfett then tied up the scores at the 14-minute mark with a fabulous goal on the run.
Ben Tenace-Greenall then converted a long bomb, after receiving a ruck-infringement free-kick, before a point to Callum Tyler made it seven points the difference.
Will Clark then hit the post for the Magpies, who had the ball in their forward line – six points short of the Stars – when the final siren sounded.
The Stars had 18 shots to 12, so thoroughly deserved their victory.
Will Cole was sensational for the Stars across half-back and through the midfield, with his trusty left-foot causing damage, while Will Pickering, Beau Scamporlino and Joel Batson were all effective contributors down back.
Jack Tenace-Greenall, along with Murphy and Schreurs, was terrific in the clinches, while Jett Pickering played a fantastic game on centre wing.
The Magpies were okay, but just lacked the class to get the job done.
Carew and Wallis kicked two each, while Karamoshos and Murfett looked most likely when the ball entered the front half.
The Stars host reigning premier Inverloch-Kongwak this Saturday, in a credibility test of the highest order, while the Magpies should chalk up their first win of the season at home against Korumburra-Bena.
It’s hard to know what to say about Nar Nar Goon’s mind-boggling 40.22(262) to 0.3(3) victory over Bunyip on Saturday.
Driving the 13 kilometres from Bunyip to Nar Nar Goon involves driving past the Pakenham racecourse; and the Goon was Pride Of Jenni-like in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as it sprinted clear of the Bulldogs from the moment the barriers were opened.
“Well, Pride of Jenni, we expected her to lead by a long way…but seriously…30 lengths; this is unbelievable,” said Racecaller Darren Flindell.
Well substitute Pride of Jenni with Nar Nar Goon, and 30 lengths with 43 goals, and Flindell – unknowingly – summed up this game of footy perfectly.
We knew what was going to happen; but the severity, well it shocked.
The Goon had 15 shots at goal in the first quarter, then 18, 14 and 15; with the 14-shot effort its best in a 12.2 third term.
The Bulldogs were rendered helpless as the Goon continued its very impressive start to the season.
Dermott Yawney helped himself to 10 goals in a best-on-ground display, while six to Matt Gentile, four to Jed Smith, and three each to Jacob Keysers and Jake Smith highlighted a big day in front of the big sticks.
Ryan Bromley dominated play between the arcs, while ruckman Eamon Trigg thoroughly enjoyed the run as he prepares for bigger and broader questions moving forward.
The Goon looks hungry – with a real killer-instinct – and will look to inflict maximum pain on a visiting Kooweerup this week, while the Bulldogs might be in store for more of the same against Nathan Gardiner and Cora Lynn.
Will Gardiner top Yawney’s 10? That appears the only relevant question heading in.
Kilcunda-Bass is celebrating a first-ever WGFNC victory over Tooradin-Dalmore after the Panthers survived a goalless last quarter to win a 12.6(78) to 10.14(74) thriller at Tooradin on Saturday.
The Panthers can tick the Seagulls off a shortening list of teams that they haven’t defeated since the competition began in 2017; with Cora Lynn (0-10) and Warragul Industrials (0-4) the two remaining targets.
Lee Rowe and his team were 0-7 against the Seagulls heading in; but made the running in the opening term.
The Panthers were just more efficient in the first quarter, leading by 16 points despite having just one more scoring shot at goal.
Gun-recruit Matt Buntine opened the scoring for the Gulls, but replies from Ash Grenness, Anthony Daraio, Lochie Scott and Owen Thomas saw the Panthers settle well.
With Travis Tuck and Nathan Foote complementing each other beautifully through the midfield, and Jo West and Dean McRae filling valuable key-post roles, the Panthers shook off their ‘underdog’ tag early.
The Seagulls controlled the tempo much better in the second stanza, but wasted opportunities with a 4.5 to 4.0 quarter.
The Panthers couldn’t miss and took an 11-point lead to half time, with Tuck opening up that margin with a late goal.
Jayden Goumas extended the advantage early in the third, before goals to Brad Lenders, Piva Wright and Brad Butler saw the Gulls take a one-point lead midway through the third.
The Panthers needed to stand tall, and Tuck answered the call, before McRae kicked two more to kick the visitors out to an 18-point lead.
Adam Oxley reduced the margin to 11 points at the final break, and when Connor O’Riordan kicked the only goal of the last…we had a one-kick game on our hands.
Both teams had their chances to claim the four points, but the Panthers fierce desire to defend got them across the line in the end.
McRae kicked three, and Tuck and Goumas two each for the winners, who had Jayden Graham and Cam McKenzie also play fine games.
The Panthers appear in the best shape they’ve been since splitting their season nine-and-nine in 2017, and face a blockbuster clash this Saturday when they welcome Phillip Island to Bass.
As for the Seagulls, well they’re in a little bit of trouble after early losses to Cora Lynn and the Panthers and face their biggest challenge since entering the competition in 2019.
They’ve definitely lost the ‘aura’ that they once had, but can console themselves with the fact that they’ve had more scoring shots in both losing games.
They could quite easily be two-zip; and we’re talking a different ball-game.
Lenders, Butler, Buntine and Lewis Hill will take good form into a ‘standalone’ Anzac Day clash against Warragul Industrials.
It’s a massive game for both clubs; who look likely to be side-by-side at season’s end!
Warragul Industrials enjoyed a brief respite from a very tough start to its season with an even 100-point victory over Korumburra-Bena at Western Park.
The emphatic 23.9(147) to 7.5(47) victory comes off the back of consecutive losses to last year’s grand finalists; Phillip Island and Inverloch-Kongwak, and sandwiches in between their next two games against Tooradin-Dalmore and Nar Nar Goon.
Talk about tough…that’s a very rugged start to the season!
Throw in the absence of key players such as Todd Beck, Mason McGarrity, Brayden Fowler, Will Gibson and Anthony Munkara and the Dusties are only going to improve as the season rolls on.
Lachlan Bambridge kicked five on the weekend; his best haul at the Dusties, in what is another wise make-shift forward line.
Regular half-back Luke Walker kicked four, with Tex joined by midfielders Michael Debenham and Matt Herbert who kicked three each.
Those players will be able to disperse to their normal positions in the coming weeks, as soldiers return for the Dusties.
Joel Cuman and Paul Fermanis booted two each for the Giants, who had coach Josh Hopkins and the impressive Kye Benson in good form around the ground.
The Dusties now head to Tooradin – off a five-day break – while the Giants head south to Dalyston, two days later on Saturday.
