In slippery conditions on the first day of winter, Vermont has recorded a comfortable 67 point victory over bottom of the ladder East Burwood at East Burwood Reserve.
After a rather sub standard opening term the Eagles set up their win with an impressive seven goal to two second quarter to take a 32 point lead into the main break. From there on in the Eagles never looked troubled and could well have inflicted a much heavier defeat if not for some inaccurate kicking at goal.
Thirty eight scoring shots to eleven proved how dominant the Eagles were in forward forays. Midfielders Daniel Mendes, Lachie Johns and Tom Schneider excelled in the conditions with full forward Justin van Unen the beneficiary of some superb lead up work finishing the day with seven goals his best haul to date in a Vermont guernsey.
Van Unen may well have reached double figures as the inaccuracy bug hit his set shots at times but he was also outstanding in his forward pressure of opposing defenders and the ability to lay some crunching tackles.
But this match will be remembered for a van Unen special early in the third quarter when he kicked a scintillating over head goal doing it with some ease.
Once again the defence played its part with Dean Millhouse again all quality while David Barton has continued his rich vein of form with another accomplished display.
With Ash Froud, Ben Crowe, Robbie Ross and Tim Johnson all missing due to injury, shudders were also sent through the Vermont camp early into the last quarter when star forward Matt Greig was forced to leave the field in considerable pain with what appeared a finger injury.
Wingman Ryan Wilson got the Eagles off to a flying start in the first quarter when on two minutes in a nice snap from thirty five metres out had the goal umpire signal with two fingers.
With the conditions trying given it being the first wet conditions experienced this season, the Rams while an inexperienced unit looked to adapt better and were good value for their efforts.
Three unanswered goals from Daniel Gribbin, Jayden Durman and Michael Cosgrove had the home side out to a ten point lead 15 minutes into the quarter.
Vermont would have to wait till the 26 minute mark to register its only other goal of the quarter coming from an opportunist snap from Paul Chadwick.
Qtr Time: Vermont 2-5-(17) East Burwood 3-1-(19)
The Eagles looked to have more urgency when goals to Johns and Mendes in the opening five minutes of the second quarter saw an 11 point lead.
Durman’s second for the Rams was quickly cancelled out as van Unen brought up his first for the day 10 minutes in when he made no mistake from point blank range after a clever pass from Mendes.
The pocket dynamo Johns picked up his second goal when he converted after taking a strong mark and then made it three goals for the quarter 24 minutes in when he snapped truly from 30 metres out.
Nathan Henley then got his name on the goal scorers list at the 25 minute mark firing home from 40 metres with a quality set shot.
Within a minute it was a five goal lead to the Eagles when van Unen ran into an open goal for his second of the quarter having used the advantage rule to it maximum after the field umpire awarded a free kick to Greig for being unfairly restricted in a marking contest.
Half Time: Vermont 9-9-(63) East Burwood 5-1-(31)
Having arrived at Vermont with a reputation of being able to do conjure up magic, van Unen had the crowd in raptures at the four minute mark of the third quarter when he coolly kicked the ball back over his head from 20 metres out with what looked effortless ease.
A misdirected kick from Kris Bardon set up a goal for the Rams 10 minutes into the quarter as Gribbin reduced the deficit to 34 points making no mistake with a sweetly struck kick from 35 metres out.
Van Unen’s magician show continued when he brought up his fourth goal 17 minutes in when he slotted home a banana kick after some neat lead up work from Schneider.
Anthony Mariani kicked the homes sides seventh of the afternoon a minute into time on but Nick Johnson counted out that effort soon after to extend the lead out to 43 points when he left fly from 45 metres out.
Three Qtr Time: Vermont 12-14-(86) East Burwood 7-1-(43)
The Rams showed that they were not simply prepared to lie down and reduced the deficit to 34 points after goals to Cosgrove and Kilduff in the opening nine minutes of the last quarter.
The Eagles to their credit sprung back in to action and made sure the contest would be finished on their terms and conditions.
Van Unen made it number five on 11 minutes and when Henley and Schneider also kicked truly the lead moved out to 53 points.
Two goals in a matter of a few minutes saw van Unen move his tally to seven with both efforts carbon copies from the boundary line 35 metres out at the Burwood Highway end of the ground.
Final Score: Vermont 17-21-(123) East Burwood 9-2-(56)
Vermont Goals: J.van Unen 7, L.Johns 3, N.Henley 2, D.Mendes 1, T.Schneider 1, R.Wilson 1, P.Chadwick 1, N.Johnson 1.
Vermont Best: (Watson’s choice) J.van Unen, D.Mendes, D.Barton, D.Millhouse, L.Johns, T.Schneider.
Next Saturday due to the Queen’s Birthday weekend there is a bye. The Eagles will resume battle on June the 15th at home to South Croydon.
Last Modified on 07/06/2013 15:55
