By Jonty Ralphsmith
Doveton’s polish and class proved too slick for Endeavour Hills in Division 2 of the Southern Football Netball League, running out 15.14 104 to 7.12 54 victors.
The result makes it four losses on the trot for Endeavour Hills, which jolted the competition to start 3-0, but now sits two wins outside the top five.
Despite a trying month, coach Matt Peake has seen clear improvement in the last fortnight after being comfortably outplayed by East Malvern and Hampton Park.
The home clash with East Malvern highlighted the importance of winning the contested footy as the visitors’ got on top at stoppage and were able to put the ball on a platter for Isaac Morrsiby, who kicked eight goals.
Against Hampton Park, Endeavour Hills were never able to play their style of footy, going down by 34 points and never truly in the game.
“There were holes in how we played that day overall,” Peake said of the East Malvern game.
“Our young midfield got a real lesson and I’ve seen a huge improvement in the weeks after that.
“I think it’s realising you have to play four quarters and you can’t have lapses.
“It might not be a complete quarter, but a period where we’ve been flat or made some errors, or the concentration hasn’t been up, and going up a Division you get punished with those.”
Gun on-baller John Rafferty has led the midfield improvement, while Liam Hasler is adapting well to the higher standard and Bailey Baumann’s return in the last two weeks has added an important big body to the mix.
Alongside that trio, interceptor Luke Peters and defender Ricky Boccari are starting to become leaders for a young group looking to find its feet.
The improvement against Caulfield was clear as Endeavour Hills fought it out until the final siren, succumbing to a six-point defeat but not before a four-goal-to-one last stanza which created a tense climax.
Against Doveton, there were again several positive signs of the Falcons’ will to run it out: Ben Virgona’s overlap run; the indefatigable Peters on the last line; Baumann’s aerial presence; and Travis Hall’s pressure.
All of that helped them stay competitive in the last quarter once the result was clear, speaking strongly of Endeavour Hills’ spirit.
For Doveton, Will Smith kicked four goals, with the result keeping them in third spot, ahead of Hampton park and Caulfield on the same number of points, and with a better percentage than East Malver which sits a win better than the Doves.
Elsewhere in the SFNL on Saturday, Hampton Park went down 9.13 67 to 11.10 76 against Caulfield at Robert Booth Reserve.
A five goal to one last quarter was the blueprint for the Redbacks style of footy as they threatened to come from 34 points down at three-quarter-time.
Winger Declan Brunell came through with pace at the first centre stoppage of the term, putting it to his captain Liam Myatt’s advantage inside 50 which set the tone for the term.
Brunell kicked a trademark crumbing goal at the five-minute mark of the last quarter to open the Redbacks’ account for the term as they played free-flowing footy while the Bears looked to protect the lead with tempo footy.
In between that goal, though, were three other shots that, if converted, would have caused genuine fear for the Bears, as Hampton Park had eight of the first nine inside 50s of the fourth quarter.
Jesse Naylor and Brunell goaled in quick succession as the Spiders closed in but Caulfield stabilised and were ultimately able to hold on.
Bailey Mayworm was also brilliant up forward with three goals, while Jye King continued his terrific season.
In Division 1, Cranbourne banked a crucial 11.19 85 to 8.15 63 win against Bentleigh, to move to within a win of fifth-placed East Brighton, with this Saturday’s fixtures likely to see the Eagles draw to within two points of the five.
Halfback Andrew Green was named best on ground, finishing with 29 disposals at 93 per cent, to go with eight marks as he looks to push his case for inclusion in a Casey lineup which currently sits at 2-6.
