By Jonty Ralphsmith
A barnstorming Joel Hillis produced a suffocating climax for Devon Meadows in its 11.13 79 to 11.12 78 loss to Edithvale-Aspendale at Regents Park in the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League.
Hillis kicked all five of the Panthers’ last quarter goals, his eight touches after three quarter time resulting in 5.2.
Built for the biggest of occasions, he took the club from the doldrums of a flattening defeat to the precipice of an inspiring comeback – before an Edi-Asp behind at the 27-minute mark sealed the narrow loss.
Dean Kent, moved into the midfield at three-quarter-time, won the first centre clearance of the fourth term and hit Joel Hillis just outside 50.
His shot sailed wide, but Jack Harmes was able to force a turnover from the kick in, with Hillis standing up in the contest.
He kicked another one shortly thereafter, levelling the scores five minutes into the last quarter after beating three opponents in the air, before finishing around the corner from 30.
“We know we’re fitter,” said coach Ryan Hendy at an extended three-quarter-time rev-up; it was certainly appearing to be the case.
Two minutes later, Hillis gave them the lead, taking a mark on the lead 20-metres out as Ryan Koo drilled it straight into his leading lane.
Too big, too powerful, too strong.
Isolated deep and with the licence to lead where he wanted, his opponent had no chance to match his explosive speed, clean skills and desperation.
His improvement from the high benchmark he has long set himself has had tongues wagging at Devon Meadows this season, and Saturday seemed to be the pinnacle of an unbelievable first month.
Until Edi-Asp arrested the momentum.
The hosts reclaimed crucial territory, following up a Tyrone Vickery goal from the ruck contest with Bradley Tagg converting a curling banana in front of a vocal supporter-base.
The Tagg goal increased the margin to 10 and was a dagger blow at the 14-minute-mark of the last quarter.
Hillis won a free kick for holding the ball in Devon’s goalsquare three minutes later and trimmed the margin to within a goal, and then got one out the back to level the scores at the 25-minute mark.
But that would be their last serious foray forward.
Dylan Gregson and Jayden Sullivan produced huge tackles in defence and Riley McDonald a goal-saving smother as Edi-Asp could not find space in their forward half – but, crucially, they had territory.
After a swarm of entries, Michael Meehan was able to take a big contested mark, and although his simple shot from 15 out missed, it would be the last score of the day.
Kent, who had lit a spark early in the last quarter turnaround, was off the ground late with a corked thigh and multiple players lacked composure as the Panthers looked to clear the defensive area.
The siren sounded deep in the Eagles forward pocket, spectators collectively exhaling after a chokingly tense finish.
Despite the loss, Devon Meadows’ ability to get so close was an excellent effort, given a poor first half.
Missing Patrick Ryder due to a minor Achilles concern, unable to generate its trademark quick ball movement on a small ground and with shabby mid-forward connection throughout the day, defeat seemed inevitable.
An 11-point halftime margin was a misrepresentation of the gulf between the two teams prior to the main break.
“He didn’t even look where he was kicking it!” retorted a Devon supporter on the sidelines in the second quarter.
His frustration was shared among the contingent of fellow Panthers travelling supporters.
Save for the last five minutes of the first half, Devon Meadows forward entries were often ill-directed, and mostly intercepted. They played like they expected Ryder to take a bail-out contested mark inside 50 when it Patrick Harmes playing as the deepest forward. The Eagles dominated territory and possession.
The disciplined and indefatigable backline kept the Panthers in the contest.
Sullivan was an intercepting force, youngster Nathan Drew blended contested marks, big spoils and bruising tackles and, after a worrying first 10 minutes, Gregson was matching it with former AFL man Vickery.
McDonald, too started the game with a bang, playing with toughness against bigger bodies and finding plenty of footy on the wing.
Koo was another who performed well, frustrating star Kurt Lo Po and limiting his impact after a strong start to the season.
A three-goal apiece third term started to turn the wave.
Canal scored two of those, but it was the one which was called a behind that caused jaws to drop and discussion to flow on the sidelines.
Jack Wilson spiked down a loose ball into Canal’s vicinity and he bicycle kicked it through the big sticks from 15 metres out, his and teammates’ faces sharing disbelief – but it was ultimately called touched off the boot.
Seeking to bounce back from its first loss of the season, Devon Meadows will be confronted with another big challenge on Saturday against Somerville, sitting at 3-2 but expected to qualify for finals.
