By PEPPE CAVALIERI - Division 1 SENIORS
FOUR-TIME reigning premier Deer Park was forced to dig deep for an opening-round win against Altona, but the manner in which the Lions acquired the four points suggests they will remain a contender in 2017.
Despite kicking the opening two goals of the match - and three of the first four - Deer Park trailed for much of the afternoon against Altona, before a four-goal-to-one final term delivered a hard-fought nine-point triumph.
Shannon Byrnes was instrumental with four goals and managed to stand up in moments of great need for the Lions, while Max Bruin was prolific between the arcs and reigning Barry Priest medalist Kwame McHarg provided a consistent spark with three goals.
Ballarat Football League recruit Steven Kennedy was sprightly in his homecoming match for Altona.
His three goals came at crucial moments, as usual suspects Travis Lunardi and Jordan Robbins were busy, and Josh MacDonald impressed in his Division 1 debut.
Albion used a fruitful third term as the catalyst for its first-round win against recently-elevated Caroline Springs.
The Cats kicked five goals to zero in the third quarter to build a 29-point lead at the final change.
Inaccuracy in front of goal plagued the Lakers in the final term, as the reigning Division 2 premiers went down by 17-points.
Paul Cutajar-Milosev nailed three majors for Albion, as Josh Bench made an impressive start after a luckless 2016, and Sean Moyle managed a best-on-ground performance.
Five goals between the damaging duo of Jason Degabriele and Mathew Sutton were important, while the Lakers got plenty out of recruits Douglas Thomas, Jayke Ewer and Mitchell Bongiovanni.
A wasteful Sunshine missed a golden opportunity to upset Spotswood on Saturday afternoon, booting 0.8 with the breeze in the opening term.
Despite the early setback, the Roos worked their way to a four-point lead at the final change, but a seven-goal frenzy from the Woodsmen in the final term saw them scurry to a 14-point win.
Dylan Jones hit the scoreboard in a best-on-ground effort for Spotswood as Jordan Bennett booted three goals.
Liam Cavanagh was the Kangaroos’best while Jesse McInneny and Lachlan Langwell kicked three apiece.
A five-goal effort from Andrew Panayi and a classy display from Rhys Prismall led Werribee Districts to a comfortable win against Wyndhamvale.
The Tigers led by 37-points at quarter time, and merely cruised home thereafter to secure the 85-point victory.
The Falcons - who have lost plenty of class and experience in the off-season - were well served by Chris Jones, while former Tigers’big-man Bol Kolang played well.
Albion has a chance to make it two wins from as many starts when it hosts Sunshine on Saturday.
Despite differing results, neither the Cats nor Kangaroos were convincing in Round One, but if Sunshine can straighten up its kicking, it could be in store for its first win of the season.
Altona’s formidable start to the year will continue when it welcomes Hoppers Crossing in Round Two, and it might be the perfect chance to claim a big scalp - against a side that has not had a proper hit-out yet in 2017.
As good as Spotswood was late against Sunshine in Round One, the Woodsmen will need more than a home-ground advantage to upstage Deer Park. The Lions have too much class.
Werribee Districts should start 2-0 when the Tigers take on St Albans at home. The Saints will certainly offer more resistance than Wyndamvale did in Round One, and this could be a tight encounter.
The Falcons will certainly be challenged when they face-off with Caroline Springs in Round Two, which will be played at night at Dennis Family Oval. In what should be a hotly-contested match, it could well see the Lakers notch up their maiden Division 1 triumph.
By CONNOR PAIN - Division 1 Reserves
Sunshine signalled its intent to make the top four this season with a 9.20. 74 to 3.8. 26 win against Spotswood.
The Kangaroos were the better side all day, but 20 behinds kept the game from being a blowout.
The home side booted just nine goals in the win, but were strong defensively, holding the Woodsmen to three goals over the four quarters.
Aaron Searle led the way for Sunshine with four goals, kicking more goals than the entire Spotswood side.
The loss gets Spotswood’s season off to a disappointing start, as they’ll be looking to improve on its seventh placed finish last season.
The 48-point win sees the Roos jump to the top of the ladder after the opening round, a trip to Albion awaiting them in Round Two. The Woodsmen will host Deer Park this week.
Caroline Springs, one of the competition’s newest teams, got its season off to a positive start, a final term goal enough to earn the Lakers their first win in Division One this year.
It was a tight contest all day, as the biggest lead at any break was just six points. It set up the tense finish, in which the home side were able to prevail, 8.7. 55 to 7.7. 49.
The Lakers will battle fellow newcomers Wyndhamvale in Round Two.
Four goals in the final term was enough to keep Deer Park at bay and see Altona record its first win of the new season.
The Vikings came out of the main break and took the game by the scruff of the neck following a tight first half, kicking six goals to three.
The 11.14. 80 to 7.7. 49 win sets Altona up for a tantalising matchup with Hoppers Crossing in Round Two.
Two goals in the last quarter helped the Werribee Districts overcome a one-point three quarter time deficit, downing Wyndhamvale 7.9. 51 to 6.7. 43.
The low-scoring game saw both sides lead throughout the game, however it was the Districts who stood strong in the final term to earn a gutsy eight-point win.
Last Modified on 03/04/2017 13:03