Emotional start for season

By Stephen Walter,
SEASON 2009 is finally underway with High Mountain Spring Water Division 2 football and netball starting last Saturday 4 April.
It was an emotional start to the round with clubs getting together officially for the first time.
Many club members are still trying to re-build their lives and they should be congratulated for still finding the energy and effort to get involved with their sporting community.
Yea turned in the performance of the round with an awesome display of team football to defeat Belgrave at Belgrave by 17 points. Yea 11.20.86 d Belgrave 10.9.69.
If not for some inaccurate kicking, the winning margin may have been greater.
Yea had an awkward start to the season, with their ground only recently becoming available for training.
Patrick McKenna was a star performer in a best-on-ground performance. Patrick was well supported by Andrew Hunter with three goals in an equally devastating display of high-quality football.
Yea’s performance sends a clear message to their opposition that they are the real deal for 2009.
Belgrave are a better team than the score line suggests and will be much better prepared for next round.
It was the Brent Gallicho show at Kinglake on Saturday in a devastating performance that led Kinglake to an impressive victory over Emerald. Kinglake 22.14.146 d Emerald 14.8.92.
In front of a crowd of almost 4000, including leading dignitaries, Kinglake played like a team possessed and never looked liked losing.
Gallicho’s 10 goals stamped him as a big game player and he impressed the crowd with his prowess and accurate kicking.
Luke Nott also performed well with four goals. Michael Pateman was unstoppable on the ball and also contributed two goals.
Emerald will be disappointed with their performance and – on a day of high emotion – were possibly always going to find it difficult.
Emerald’s young guns just didn’t fire, but will no doubt learn from the experience in what can only be described as a grand-final-type atmosphere.
Kinglake was impressive and, although it is early days, bookmakers have already marked them as favourites for the flag.
Olinda ended up comfortably defeating Seville at home, but it wasn’t as easy as the score line may suggest. Olinda 18.16.124 d Seville 11.7.73.
At three-quarter time, it was a five-point ball game.
An inspired speech at three-quarter time fired up the Olinda boys who scored seven goals and four points to Seville’s zero.
Seville ran out of puff but did look winners for a large part of the day.
Olinda’s Nick Broomhall and Tom Millwood were best afield in a strong display.
Seville was well served by Shane Smith and Gary Tuenissen.
Seville will be better for the hit out and will be thereabouts at the end of the season.
Olinda will be pleased to have won, for their second victory in 12 months.
Powelltown disappointed in the loss to Yarra Junction. Yarra Junction 21.16.141 to Powelltown 6.14.50.
The Yarra Junction performance is in stark contrast to their matches last season and is a credit to club leaders who over the summer have turned their club’s fortunes around.
Yarra Junction’s Travis Barton and Gavin Edwards played brilliantly up forward with four goals apiece, while Gavin Lees was best afield with a dominant display all over the ground.
Powelltown may not have been on their game and Yarra Junction at their best, but there is doubt that Powelltown will improve and that Yarra Junction may just have something to say at finals time.
Yarra Glen upset Thornton Eildon by two goals in a close fought contest. Yarra Glen 12.7.79 d Thornton Eildon 10.7.67.
The contest was close throughout the day and only a last-quarter supreme effort saw Yarra Glen sneak away.
At one stage Thornton Eildon were two goals ahead during the last quarter but just could not sustain the lead.
Thornton Eildon was hit hard by the fires and their performance was outstanding given their circumstances.
Yarra Glen has improved from last season and they too will figure prominently at finals time.
Michael Ashton, an under-18 player was best on ground in an awesome display. Michael’s on-ball skills were a delight to see and he has clearly exhibited that he is a star of the future.
The next big week of YVMDFL football is 18 April and will include the start of the Compass Division 1 season.
For all the latest information, check out yvmdfl.com.au.