Mernda jumped out of the blocks and led throughout on their way to defeating top-of-the-table Kinglake by 35 points in their huge Northern Football Netball League Division 3 clash at Mernda’s Waterview Recreation Reserve.
The 9.9 (63) to 4.4 (28) win sees the Demons draw level with the Lakers on nine wins, and despite still being 16 per cent behind, it keeps Mernda’s top two hopes alive.
The 5.3 to nil first term by Mernda would prove crucial because it was the only quarter where the team with the breeze took full advantage. For the rest of the game, the teams with the wind scored one, two and one goal and after quarter time, the team kicking against the wind managed plenty of inside 50 entries.
Billy Morrison was certainly a best-on-ground candidate, booting his two majors in the first term, while again being dominant in all areas of the ground.
The Kinglake players got their hands on the ball regularly early in the game, but often turned the ball over by going short to a contest.
When the Lakers had the use of the breeze in the second term, they were able to keep the Demons goalless, but only scored a solitary goal themselves courtesy of Harrison Balazsy.
The local crowd was hoping that their team could put the game away in the third term with the wind, but Kinglake lifted after the long break and played extremely well into the breeze.
Kicking the first two majors in the third term through Rory McIntyre and Krystopher Douglas, the Lakers reduced the deficit to 15-points and the visitors suddenly looked a chance to run over the top, as their hunt for the ball and intensity had lifted markedly from their first half effort.
But Mernda was able to steady with the final two goals before three-quarter time through Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson and Matthew Bawden, giving the home side a 27-point lead at the last change.
Kinglake coach Andrew Fairchild urged his team to believe, take the game on and enjoy the challenge.
However, it was the Demons who controlled the game early in the final term, despite starting with three straight behinds. A goal to Christian Evans at the 10-minute mark saw the lead balloon out to 36 points and the game was done and dusted.
“We had to respond after last week’s loss to Laurimar as well as the poor showing against Kinglake earlier in the season,” Mernda coach Robert Fletcher said.
“We controlled the game against the wind and were good when we had it.”
As well as praise for Morrison, Fletcher also gave a tick to solid defenders Dayne Kellett and Kai Turner who have produced brilliant seasons.
Christopher Roussos, Riley Black and Nathan Baccega contributed well around the ground for the victors. At the same time, William Crouch was a good marking target forward of centre and finished with two goals.
Overall, the superior ability of the home team to transfer the ball from defence to forward 50 had a major impact on the game.
Both of the losses by the Lakers have come away from home against top-four sides.
“We got outworked and outplayed by a good team today,” Kinglake coach Andrew Fairchild said.
“We’ll lick out wounds and look to bounce back next week.”
Fairchild liked the work of defenders Riley Kennedy and Ben White, and also had praise for Krystopher Douglas and Bailey Robinson.
MERNDA: 5.3 5.4 7.5 9.9 (63)
GOALS: W. Crouch 2, M. Evans 2, B. Morrison 2, C. Evans, M. Bawden, R. Lovegrove-Hudson.
BEST: B. Morrison, K. Turner, D. Kellett, C. Roussos, N. Baccega, R. Black.
KINGLAKE: 0.0 1.2 3.2 4.4 (28)
GOALS: K. Douglas 2, R. McIntyre, H. Balazsy.
BEST: K. Douglas, R. Kennedy, B. Robinson, B. White, L. Adams, L. Hannah.
Why wait ’till Wednesday for outdated newspapers?
VicNews
First for local footy
