WAYWARD EAGLES’ LAMENT
NEWTOWN & Chilwell has again been left to lament missed opportunities, this time in a thrilling loss to South Barwon.
The Swans led most of the day in blustery conditions at Elderslie Reserve, with the Eagles coming home with the breeze but falling five points short.
Eagle Jai Sheahan — who played exclusively at the city end as a loose man in defence or focal point in attack depending on the wind — had four shots at goal in the final term but only converted one.
He had a chance in the final minute to put his side in front but a long-range attempt rolled out of bounds.
“We had four set shots in 10 minutes (in the final term). We kick three of those four we probably win the game, we kick two of them we probably win the game,” Eagles coach Damien McMahon said.
“Our chase and tackle pressure was there but at the end of the day the game is decided on the scoreboard.
“A guy like Jai Sheahan can usually kick goals like those with his eyes shut and today he couldn’t.”
A crucial move in the third quarter to swing Brandon Verfurth onto Sheahan helped the Swans quell his influence in defence, with Verfurth kicking an important goal.
Despite missing chances late, McMahon said Sheahan had a big influence. “He was a very dangerous player for us and was instrumental to keeping us in the game when we were defending the breeze and was a good target up forward,” McMahon said.
South Barwon coach Dave Farrell praised “real competitor” Verfurth and his side for holding it together under pressure in the final moments of a 33-minute final term.
“When the game was there to be won I think the guys threw everything they had at it and it sounds a bit cliche but we trust our guys enormously,”
Farrell said. “The message to the boys afterwards was that if we apply ourselves like that and play that way for four quarters our best footy might be good enough.”
LARA v NORTH SHORE
NORTH Shore co-coach Nick Dixon has declared there is “no way” Liam McKenna should be suspended for a headbutt that saw him red carded in the first quarter against Lara.
After winning a free kick in the middle of the ground, McKenna stood up and appeared to lean into Lara big man Jack Borchard, with the top of McKenna’s head connecting with Borchard’s chin.
The midfielder was shown red and forced to watch on for the rest of the match from the bench.
“In my eyes it was something that was accidental and clearly not intentional, so I don’t think it should result in us being a man down all day,” Dixon said. “There is no way he should get weeks for that, I think he should be cleared pretty easily.”
The Seagulls were down by 22 points when they lost McKenna and didn’t recover, falling to the Cats by 62 points.
LEOPOLD v GROVEDALE
TOM Gillett enjoyed a day out as Grovedale smacked Leopold by 53 points.
The Tiger forward booted seven goals and was joined by Cam Delaney who kicked four as Grovedale used an eightgoal third term to kick away.
Ryan Abbott was dominant in the ruck against Trent West.
COLAC v GEELONG WEST
COLAC remains unbeaten after a dominant first term set the tone for a 18.16 (124) to 9.9 (63) win over Geelong West.
Enjoying his role up forward, Kane Leerson booted three goals for the match, with the Tigers kicking five goals to nil in the first term to effectively end the contest.
ST ALBANS v BELL PARK
THE Bright boys struck again as the Dragons made it two on the trot.
Paddy Bright booted five goals while Jackson kicked two and was named as the best Bell Park player as their side claimed a 67-point win.
The under-siege Supersaints were never in the contest after the Dragons booted seven first-term goals.
ST MARY’S v ST JOSEPH’S
ST MARY’S remains a pacesetter after a comfortable win over arch-rival St Joseph’s.
The Saints moved to 3-0 after winning every quarter of the night fixture, steadily pulling away to win 11.13 (79) to 7.9 (51). Cam Tudor continued his solid form with a bag of four for Joeys but it was matched by Saint Charlie Sprauge.
Skipper Jack Blood was named as the best for the winners.
Doyle Madigan gets a handball away.