St Mary’s flexed their muscles in an impressive 46-point victory over Watsonia at Whatmough Park, keeping their spot in the top five on the Northern Football Netball League’s Division 2 ladder intact.
St Mary’s ‘The Burra’ trailed by 17 points at quarter time, and by a point at three-quarter time, before running rampant in the final term to finish 18.15 (123) to 11.11 (77) victors.
St Mary’s have now won four of their last five games and remain in fourth position while Watsonia drop to eighth, putting more pressure on them to keep up with the rest of the top five.
Burra defender Mitchell Green proved to be St Mary’s’ best as he dominated in their defensive half, taking numerous intercept marks and providing great vision to deliver efficient passes to his teammates.
The talented Tane Cotter played arguably his best game of the season, racking up countless possessions as well as three goals in the win.
But in terms of goals, it was Jeremiah Antypas who spearheaded the home side’s attack. He contributed four goals in his side’s final term blitz and finished with a season-high of six for the afternoon.
For the visitors it was competition-leading goalkicker James Lucente who converted four goals for Watsonia, taking many marks in his attacking 50 and providing many lead-up options for his half-forwards.
Julian Janev was able to provide plenty of run in the middle for the Saints and presented an option for Watsonia’s transition play-off half-back.
Kicking with the wind in the first quarter, it took less than a minute for the Saints to produce a shot on goal. Charbel Khoury kicked the first major of the match and from the outset, the visiting side looked cleaner with their possession, whereas St Mary’s looked more sporadic with the ball in hand resulting in turnovers.
Adrian Alfonsi unloaded a bomb from inside the square as he wheeled around on his right foot and Watsonia suddenly had two on the trot in this important contest.
William Dean responded with a classy snap for the hosts, as they looked to settle into the match.
Helping them do so was Green who was busy from the get-go, floating between full back and centre half back. He was crucial in racking up contested marks in defence but also positioning himself smartly, creating turnovers from the opposition.
But Lucente still found a way to produce two majors to help Watsonia take a 17-point lead into the first change.
A nice goal from Joshua Carelli on a tight angle looked to create a spark for the Burra in the beginning of the second term.
That spark grew courtesy of Nicholas Brennan who produced the goal of the day. After pilling a mark on the flank, he followed up by grabbing the ball and kicking across his body from 40 meters out, kicking the host’s third of the match.
A major soon after from Rory Hanlon suddenly put Fabian Carelli’s men in front 15 minutes into the quarter.
The goals kept coming for the Burra, Jeremiah Antypas slotted through his first of the afternoon with a thumping kick from outside 50 to widen the margin, before slotting an easier shot moments later.
Tane Cotter’s second made it seven consecutive majors for St Mary’s who looked incredibly strong over their opponents and despite a late Daniel Annetta goal for the visitors, the Burra were in total control with a 17-point halftime advantage.
The momentum shifted into the second half despite kicking against the wind, when Cameron Dowse kicked truly for the Burra, thanks to a brilliant centre clearance from Tane Cotter which was almost becoming a regular occurrence for the midfielder.
But it wouldn’t be long before Watsonia attempted a comeback. The dangerous Janev kicked the Saints’ sixth of the game, before later setting up Kobe Van Zwienen who boomed through a major from 55 metres out to give Watsonia two on the trot.
James Lucente quickly got involved again as the goals started to fall. He kicked two majors in the space of four minutes, one coming from a set shot goal from 35 metres out, and the other from a 50-metre penalty, to again gift his side the lead.
Despite Mitchell Green’s best efforts in the defensive half for the hosts, his side trailed one point at the final break.
With the wind in their backs, the Burra were quick to re-create their brilliant second-quarter efforts.
They produced nine of the last 11 majors of the game, kicking five goals in the first 10 minutes of the term to extinguish any chance of a fightback from the Saints.
Nicholas Dean was able to add to his tally of the afternoon with a quick goal from a great contested mark 45 meters out to give St Mary’s the lead with the wind at their backs.
It was a statement-making two terms from the Burra, who kicked 16 goals with the wind in their backs compared to eight from the Saints.
ST MARY’S: 1.4 8.5 9.9 18.15 (123)
GOALS: J. Antypas 6, T. Cotter 3, N. Dean 2, K. Abbott, R. Hanlon, C. Dowse, V. Loccisano, N. Brennan, J. Carelli, W. Dean.
BEST: M. Green, J. Antypas, R. Hanlon, J. Bergman, J. Bianchin, T. Cotter.
WATSONIA: 4.3 5.6 9.10 11.11 (77)
GOALS: J. Lucente 4, D. Annetta 2, A. Alfonsi 2, C. Khoury, J. Janev, K. Van Zwienen.
BEST: J. Janev, A. Alfonsi, M. Brownhill, J. Lucente, J. Boulton, H. Sinclair.
Why wait ’till Wednesday for outdated newspapers?
VicNews
First for local footy
