By Marcus Uhe
A six-goal haul from young starlet Connor Smith helped Wandin to a comfortable 47-point win over Upwey Tecoma to keep their unbeaten run in Outer East Premier Division alive after seven rounds.
The midfielder kicked four in the first half, including three in the second quarter, and had a hand in two others as the Bulldogs showed their class in the second term.
Already blessed for scoring options with three of the top-10 leading goalkickers in the competition, the absence of Aaron Mullett and Jordan Jaworski on Saturday afforded the opportunity for Nick Adam and his coaching staff to see what other tools they have at their disposal.
An even opening period meant Wandin only held a one-goal lead at quarter time before kicking the first six of the second quarter to establish a 31-point buffer at the long break.
The Bulldogs were at their savage best in the third term with another scoring burst to send shivers down their competitors’ spines.
Five goals in the opening 11 minutes of play, Smith’s fifth and sixth inclusive, was enough to kill the contest.
With Patrick Bruzzese and Cody Hirst running riot in the middle and the returning Drew Benson giving them excellent service out of the ruck, there was little the Tigers could do to stop the onslaught, battered by repeat inside 50s and collapsing under weight of numbers.
In addition to Benson, co-captain Thomas Hinds also returned to action, having missed the previous contest against Pakenham through injury.
Undefeated and with a percentage of nearly 200 after seven weeks, the Bulldogs will maximise the rest period afforded by the long weekend by getting two weeks rest, as their scheduled bye is slated for round eight.
With Aaron Mullett expected to be available upon return when they face Gembrook Cockatoo in round nine, expectations for the remainder of the season could hardly be higher.
Their main challenger, defending premiers Narre Warren, were tested against the big bodies of Mt Evelyn, but pulled-away in the second half of the contest to record their fourth-consecutive win.
The Magpies were down at quarter time and only lead by five points at the half, as the Rovers mounted a challenge that had not been experienced by the reigning premiers this season, outside of the loss to Wandin.
In 8.7 55, it was the third-highest point total the Magpies had allowed in a game in 2023, let alone a half of football.
12 goals to four in the second half, however, eliminated any chance of an upset.
Will Howe’s stellar form continued, kicking another six goals to lead the forward pack, followed by Riley Siwes on four and Lachlan Benson on three.
At Gembrook, the return of former Collingwood defender Matthew Scharenberg saw Olinda Ferny Creek claim their first win of 2023 in a six-point win over Gembrook Cockatoo.
The defender had an instant impact for his side, kicking three goals and named their best player in the nail-biting 16.12 108 to 16.6 102 win.
For the Brookers, a second consecutive bag of five for Myles Wareham and four for Michael Firrito wasn’t enough to notch a second victory in close circumstances.
With two wins by under a goal and one loss by six points, close games are becoming a familiar scene for Brad Coller’s side.
Gembrook Cockatoo joins Upwey Tecoma and Woori Yallock on three wins and three losses, but sit fifth on the ladder with an inferior percentage to the other two sides.
An inconsistent year has seen them fall into a win-loss pattern over the last month of football, and they’ll face a tough test against Pakenham at Toomuc Reserve after the long weekend.
