Above: Warburton-Millgrove’s Jamie Lawrence looks downfield for a target.By Ben O’Brien, CEO – YVMDFL
FINE but cool conditions greeted players and spectators alike for the opening round of the 2006 season in the Commodore Press Second Division in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League.
For three of the eight clubs competing, Saturday’s match was their first taste of second division football.
In the three matches played in the south, the favourites were all successful, although the winning margins were perhaps surprising to some.
Warburton-Millgrove has been the preseason favourite for the flag, and did little to dissuade many of that opinion, racking up 30 goals to account for Seville, 20.25.205 to 5.4.34.
After an even first quarter, the Warburton-Millgrove Burras put the foot down, kicking 17 of the remaining 18 goals in the game.
In a performance reminiscent of the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League, 12 individual goal kickers troubled the scorer, with coach Vincent Muccitelli the stand-out with 10 goals.
Dean Troyahn played a lone hand all over the ground for Seville, but the efforts of Burras Noorman, De Graaf and Grant Newing, among others, simply overwhelmed the Blues.
Warburton wasn’t the only side to notch up 30 goals, with Yarra Junction kicking 30.14.194 to account for Yarra Glen 7.5.47.
The Eagles have been tipped to have a better season this year, and with Darren Sharp and Leigh Newstead leading the way with seven and six goals respectively, they certainly got off to a positive start.
Last year’s runners-up South Belgrave travelled to Emerald to take on the Bombers in the clash of local rivals, and it was the visitors that prevailed.
The Saints have lost a few big men over the preseason, but one who remained – Alex Bakens –kicked seven goals.
He was ably assisted by Evendon, Szabo and Kerger, while Simon Bergin and Wes Wright battled hard for Emerald.
Key forwards in all three matches proved too much for opposition sides to handle, as big totals were kicked.
A large total could also have been kicked at Thornton, but for some inaccurate kicking from the Shinboners, who hosted arch rival Alexandra, and eventually got over the line by 18 points 8.18.66 to 7.6.48.
Both sides will be better for the run as, while the physical commitment of both sides could not be faulted, the disposal by hand and foot looked rusty.
As a result, the prime beneficiaries were the defences as the delivery into the forward lines was often wide and haphazard, hence Thornton-Eildon’s high number of behinds.
Alexandra was more direct and efficient, but couldn’t get enough of the ball to capitalise fully on the scoreboard.
In the end, 26 shots to 13 told the story, but it was one of those games where the victors wouldn’t be overjoyed and the losers would not be disheartened.
Netball
In the first round of netball to be played in second division, the lightning premiership form line proved a good guide, with Emerald, led by Holly Kuys and Bev White, proving too consistent for a determined South Belgrave, winning 21 to 13, and Yarra Junction continuing its good form over Yarra Glen, 36 to 15.
Up at Thornton, the Rebels got away to a good start, and, despite a margin of only two goals at half-time, 10 goals to three in the final quarter saw the team run out a 12-goal winner, 37 to 25.
The competition takes a break next week over Easter, and returns, along with its division one counterpart, the following week.
Round 2 (22 April): South Belgrave v Thornton-Eildon, Seville v Emerald, Yarra Junction v Warburton-Millgrove, Alexandra v Yarra Glen.
