Mernda has produced a sixth consecutive win in the 2023 Northern Football Netball League’s Division 3 season after sneaking through for a seven-point triumph over Old Eltham Collegians at Waterview Recreation Reserve.
A highly anticipated clash came to fruition despite it being a wind-affected contest. Scores were tied well into the final term before the Demons produced some strong efforts to put the Turtles away and claim a 9.7 (61) to 8.6 (54) triumph.
Having now done the double over the Turtles in 2023, Mernda has created a three-win gap between them and Old Eltham Collegians and is also 16 points clear of fifth-placed Heidelberg West.
Billy Morrison was enormous for the home side, both in the ruck as well in the forward half leading all goal kickers with two majors.
He also played a pivotal role in the final term, taking multiple contested marks in crucial moments to help get his side over the line.
Riley Vincent too was solid in defence for the Demons and like many teammates, has maintained his consistency this season.
For the visitors, Eden Simpson was enormous in the midfield, especially in the second term when he won multiple clearances and kicked an outstanding goal from beyond the arc.
Timothy Ellis played well for Matt Sleeman’s side, winning plenty of possession throughout all areas of the ground.
Mernda had all the answers in the opening quarter and with the wind in their backs, they produced five goals for the term.
Robert Fletcher’s side were clean with the football, running all over the Turtles and putting them on the back foot, causing them to lack composure when exiting defensive 50.
Zachary Racovolis made a statement early in the match after kicking the first goal of the game as he gathered an intercept from the Turtles before running 30 metres and kicking an amazing goal.
Another highlight in the opening quarter was Bryce Kimuliatis, who set up the major immediately following Racovolis’ goal. His determination to create a rundown tackle was relentless, forcing the turnover and then hitting up Matthew Bawden who kicked truly.
The Turtles only goal for the term was from a fortunate 50-metre penalty where Nathan Byatt was able to get the handball receive and slot home the major. It gave the visitors some hope as they trailed by 25 points at quarter time.
Old Eltham Collegians were hoping to gain the full benefits of the wind in the second term, but the heavy rain made it a heavily contested game.
Although they still managed to kick four majors for the term, the first one coming halfway into the quarter, thanks to a set shot conversion from the returning Matthew Keys.
The Turtles worked hard to get back into the game, but Mernda managed to kick a goal against the run of play in the term. Riley Black became the benefactor of some ill discipline from the away side to keep the Demons’ lead intact at the main break, albeit it was only six points.
A scrappy start to the second half followed despite the hosts’ wind advantage.
Similarly, to the second term, we had to wait 16 minutes until a goal in the third quarter when Billy Morrison slotted through another major.
Old Eltham Collegians aimed to bring some of their second-quarter momentum into the third, forcing the Demons to kick laterally rather than forward, causing them to overuse the footy and produce turnovers as a result.
Mernda did well not to concede despite the pressure from Matt Sleeman’s side, however, an incredibly costly penalty saw Liam Rushton-McCoach kick a simple major to bring the deficit back to single digits.
With an eight-point lead at three-quarter time and having only kicked two goals since quarter time it looked to be a challenge for Mernda to maintain their lead against the wind in the last quarter.
But just as Old Eltham Collegians looked to utilise the wind in that final term, the rain came again, affecting their chances to be clean with the football.
A stoppage in the away side’s forward half saw Matthew Keys gather the ball from the ruck and put it straight on the boot to see his side trail by a point.
Only minutes later, Nicholas Milne had a set shot on goal with the opportunity to give the Turtles their first lead of the entire match, but he missed, levelling proceedings as a result.
The Demons had one final surge in them despite lacking momentum, with William Crouch taking a huge, contested mark in the goal square before snapping truly to regain the host’s lead.
Full of adrenaline from the advantage as well as the home crowd’s cheers, Mernda wrestled back control of the contest. A minute after Crouch’s great effort, Kimuliatis found the big sticks and suddenly gave his side a two-goal lead.
Old Eltham Collegians were desperate to find a way back into the match and despite a late major, it was too late for them to mount a comeback, with Mernda securing an eighth win in season 2023.
MERNDA: 5.1 6.2 7.5 9.7 (61)
GOALS: B. Morrison 2, R. Lovegrove-Hudson, W. Crouch, B. Kimuliatis, R. Edwards, Z. Racovolis, R. Black, M. Bawden.
BEST: B. Morrison, R. Vincent, D. Kellett, K. Turner, S. Bennett, Z. Racovolis.
OLD ELTHAM: 1.0 5.2 6.3 8.6 (54)
GOALS: M. Keys 2, N. Byatt, L. Rushton-Mccoach, N. Mcdonagh, E. Simpson, N. Milne, D. Hallett.
BEST: T. Ellis, E. Simpson, N. Byatt, J. Murphy, N. Mcdonagh, M. Keys
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