Monty Magpies swoop Greensborough

Montmorency has now gone nine consecutive games without a loss in the Northern Football Netball League’s Division 1 competition after a 30-point triumph over Greensborough at Montmorency Park North Oval.

After conceding the first goal of the game, the Magpies showed no signs of slowing down, as, despite the Boro’s best efforts, the hosts proved too strong in an 11.18 (84) to 8.6 (54) victory.

The Magpies, who have now defeated every side in the competition, still sit in second position on the ladder and are still two points behind next week’s opponents Heidelberg.

Greensborough however have dropped out of the top five after two straight losses and have re-entered the battle for a finals spot with Hurstbridge and North Heidelberg.

Liam Wale-Buxton was a force to be reckoned with in the ruck for the Magpies. He constantly won the ball against the visitors’ duo of Nathan Howard and Jamie Smith, always finding ways to make it easy for his side to retain possession of the football.

Marcus Lentini was at his dangerous best again, exploding from the middle on multiple occasions to create opportunities for his forwards.

Competition-leading goalkicker Patrick Fitzgerald was strong in the forward line, kicking three for the day to take his 2023 tally to 52 goals, while Corey Sleep and Jarrad Seiter both kicked two apiece and each made major contributions to the Magpies’ ability to remain competitive.

Greensborough’s Rayden Garrard was the top goalkicker for the game with a career-high four majors, whilst teammate Angus Sievers was another highlight for the visitors, assisting his side with fierce determination and want for the ball in the defensive end.

In the middle, Charlie Bowes was critical and took part in multiple efficient passages of play for Greensborough.

Despite a slow start to the opening term, Garrard was able to get a boot to the ball four minutes in getting things underway for the visitors.

The Boro then established the early momentum, with efficient passages of play leading to three consecutive inside 50 entries before Montmorency could hit the scoreboard with any real impact.

Bowes was on show throughout the period, with some big tackles and an ability to win the ball in contested situations.

The Magpies did get on the board eventually through Fitzgerald and once they did, the contest shifted towards the host’s favour.

A second from Fitzgerald as well as majors from Mitchell Honeychurch and Blake Murphy quickly built a comfortable lead for Montmorency.

The shift was also assisted by the tireless work of Sam Binion and Marcus Lentini who helped give the Magpies a 17-point advantage at the first change.

Saade Ghazi’s side came out of the first break with a drive to match Montmorency’s momentum, but as the rain started to come down, so to did the efficiency of both sides.

A lack of inside 50 marks and super high pressure from both teams meant that the first goal didn’t come until the 17-minute mark, courtesy of Garrard, who had his second for the game.

Andrew Stellas then kicked a second major of the term for the Boro, shrinking the margin to a goal.

Montmorency was kept goalless for the quarter, and inaccuracies plagued them, as they kicked three behinds, however, they still managed to hold a five-point lead at halftime.

And still with the lead intact, they produced a high-scoring third term to blow the game right open.

Jarrad Seiter was the main attraction for Jonathan Manzoney’s side in the quarter, dominating around the ground and kicking two of his side’s four goals for the term.

Benjamin Crick was another highlight for the Magpies, with impressive ball movement assisting in moving the play from post to post.

Greensborough could only manage one goal for the quarter, courtesy of Ethan Luke, but it was the home side who had all the answers, going into three-quarter time with a healthy 31-point advantage and a clear determination to not have a repeat of the Round 2 result between these two teams.

The Boro kicked four goals to three in the final term, highlighted by an awesome effort from Ethan Luke to help set up an unlikely major from captain Jack Johnston.

But the Magpies never gave up control of the game and despite kicking 3.6 and finishing the match with an inaccurate 11.18, they finished 30-point victors to push their unbeaten run into another week.

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MONTMORENCY: 4.2 4.5 8.12 11.18 (84)
GOALS: P. Fitzgerald 3, J. Seiter 2, C. Sleep 2, B. Murphy, J. Jones, M. Honeychurch, R. Gardner.
BEST: L. Wale-Buxton, J. Robinson, B. Crick, C. Sleep, J. Seiter, M. Lentini.

GREENSBOROUGH: 1.3 3.6 4.6 8.6 (54)
GOALS: R. Garrard 4, E. Luke 2, J. Johnston, A. Stellas.
BEST: R. Garrard, A. Seivers, B. Pannam, J. Ayton-Delaney, D. Lawler, B. Money

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