O'Kearney Returns In Style As Blues Cruise By Roys
IT was a triumphant return to footy for Keilor star Nick O’Kearney as his Blues made light work of Glenroy on Saturday.
Last year’s Team of the Year wingman played his first game since seriously injuring his neck against the Roys back in August and was the best player on the ground at Sewell Reserve, kicking four goals in Keilor’s 60-point win.
Dean Galea again caused havoc in front of goal, booting eight in another dominant performance against a Glenroy back line that has struggled to contain him since returning to Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division.
The Blues kept Glenroy goalless in the second half and now sit on top of the ladder as a result.
GLENROY | 2.1-13 | 5.2-32 | 5.6-36 | 5.11-41
Goal Kickers: A. Kite 2, D. Riley, D. Ferraro, M. Walker
Best Players: J. McDonald, D. Riley, J. Bennie, T. Atwell, T. McIntosh, J. Thorogood
KEILOR | 4.3-27 | 9.5-59 | 14.7-91 | 15.11-101
Goal Kickers: D. Galea 8, N. O’Kearney 4, D. Isbister, J. Sadler, R. Ham
Best Players: N. O’Kearney, D. Galea, K. Barbuto, D. Isbister, R. Ham, D. Gourdis
Kyle Boots Three In Abers Defeat Of Mores
KYLE Reimers marked his return to senior footy with three crucial goals that helped the reigning premier defeat Strathmore in a dour affair at Clifton Park.
Only 16 goals were kicked for the day as Aberfeldie slowly took control of the game after quarter time, with defenders Luke Davis and Daniel Thompson both starring down back.
Scores were level halfway into the last quarter before Aberfeldie kicked clear late with three of the game’s final four goals, eventually running out 15-point winners.
The Mores will have this weekend off before gearing up to play Keilor at home on Good Friday.
FULL REPLAY - Click here
ABERFELDIE | 1.2-8 | 3.6-24 | 6.9-45 | 9.13-67
Goal Kickers: K. Reimers 3, Z. Hislop, J. Foster, J. Pound, J. Braddy, C. Hislop, S. Cattapan
Best Players: L. Davis, D. Thompson, V. Carboni, L. Blackwell, K. Reimers, J. Toy
STRATHMORE | 3.2-20 | 3.3-21 | 3.8-26 | 7.10-52
Goal Kickers: L. Baniowski 2, A. Vavra, K. Weightman, A. Grima, J. Saville, A. Horne
Best Players: A. Vavra, L. Jarrad, D. Mighell, L. Cavanagh, A. Horne, J. Saville
Jets Fly To Take Down Panthers
GREENVALE’S stars stood up when they needed to in their win over Pascoe Vale at Section Road.
Jacob Thompson booted four goals while former AFL pair Courtenay Dempsey and Addam Maric (who both missed large portions of 2018 through injury) each kicked two as the Jets kicked away from the Panthers after halftime.
Ruckman Fabian Deluca and new key defender Tom Cleary both starred in the 23-point win.
Pascoe Vale’s new two-pronged attack of Matthew Watson and Dean Clare yielded four goals, but the Panthers otherwise lacked scoring power and were unable to keep up the longer the game went.
The returning Ben Allan and highly-fancied recruit Liam Ogden both played well for the visitors.
GREENVALE | 3.1-19 | 7.3-45 | 11.8-74 | 11.12-78
Goal Kickers: J. Thompson 4, C. Dempsey 2, A. Maric 2, J. Bonello, N. Maric, K. Sanajko
Best Players: F. Deluca, R. Townsend, T. Cleary, J. Thompson, C. Farchione, N. Caruso
PASCOE VALE | 3.2-20 | 5.4-34 | 7.6-48 | 8.7-55
Goal Kickers: M. Watson 2, D. Clare 2, J. Polizzi, D. Soncin, L. Ogden, J. Cellini
Best Players: B. Allan, K. Economou, L. Ogden, L. Stredwick, D. Johncock, D. Clare
Cougars Make Early Season Statement Against Lakes
EAST Keilor was emphatic in its complete dominance over Taylors Lakes.
The Cougars made plenty of noise over the summer with new coach Pat Christofi not afraid to spruik his healthy recruiting haul and his side lived up to the hype in Round 1, beating the Lions by 135 points to sit on top of the Division 1 ladder.
New recruits Josh and Nick Grabowski combined for seven goals while former Aberfeldie player Lachie Langwell booted three of his own in a game that was over by halftime.
The margin had blown out to exactly 100 points by the final change, before the Cougars finished the job with seven goals to two in the final term.
Another recruit, Nathan Lyons, was named best-on-ground, while Ash Arrowsmith did not take the field despite being named in the Cougars' original squad on Friday.
EAST KEILOR | 4.11-35 | 9.14-68 | 17.20-122 | 24.26-170
Goal Kickers: J. Grabowski 4, N. Grabowski 3, T. Maiava 3, L. Langwell 3, E. Langwell 2, N. Lyons 2, C. Van Der Byl 2, V. Madaffari, W. Kett, T. Madden, C. Perry, D. Hill
Best Players: N. Lyons, N. Grabowski, B. Caluzzi, J. Carey, T. Maiava, W. Kett
TAYLORS LAKES | 2.1-13 | 3.4-22 | 3.4-22 | 5.5-35
Goal Kickers: J. Vassolo 2, R. Deacon, J. Vistarini, T. Larizza
Best Players: A. Crawford, N. Hrvatin, D. Reinmuth, M. Polycarpou, H. Tanner, J. Vassolo
Demons’ Third Term Flurry Downs New-Look Tigers
NEW Westmeadows captain Robbie Castello starred with two goals but couldn’t get his Tigers over the line against rival Tullamarine at Willowbrook Reserve.
The Tigers started well with eight goals on the board to the Demon’s four at the main break.
But with the breeze at their backs in the third quarter, last year’s runner-up came good in the third, kicking nine goals to one to lead by 23 points at the final change.
New recruit Ethan Hope finished with four goals for Tullamarine and Tim Barresi was best-on-ground as Tullamarine went on to win by 22 points.
Craigieburn coach Lance Whitnall was a keen observer at Willowbrook, with his side set to make its 2019 debut at home to the Demons for what is a mouth-watering clash in Round 2.
WESTMEADOWS | 4.3-27 | 8.8-56 | 9.10-64 | 12.15-87
Goal Kickers: B. Drummond 2, R. Castello 2, J. Flower 2, M. Abdul-Wahad, M. Church, O. Saad, D. Willcocks, T. Muscat, A. Evans
Best Players: D. Willcocks, A. Abdul-Wahed, J. Hale, R. Castello, J. Williams, D. Callegari
TULLAMARINE | 2.1-13 | 4.3-27 | 13.9-87 | 16.13-109
Goal Kickers: E. Hope 4, B. Allen 3, A. Prestia 2, K. Mulvaney 2, D. Devine 2, D. Bartrop, D. Simmons, R. Pretty
Best Players: T. Barresi, D. Devine, J. Bonnici, E. Hope, K. Mulvaney, A. Prestia
Roos Win Well In EDFL Debut
THE Sunbury Kangaroos were successful in their first ever EDFL game at Eric Boardman Reserve against the Northern Saints.
The Anthony Leydin-led Kangaroos were slow out of the blocks and only led by two points at the half, but managed to kick away from the Saints in the third quarter with seven goals to two.
That was enough to get the EDFL’s newest team over the line by a margin of 27 points.
Mitch Streiff, who kicked the historic first goal of the day, finished with six majors and was best-on-ground while fellow Sunbury stars Lachie Baddeley, Michael Spooner and ruckman Brenton Sutherland each booted two for the hosts.
Zakaria Farah was best-on for the Saints with two goals for the visitors.
This Saturday evening you’ll be able to watch the first ever Sunbury derby between the Kangaroos and East Sunbury live on the EDFL’s Facebook Page from 7pm.
SUNBURY KANGAROOS | 2.1-13 | 6.3-39 | 13.3-81 | 17.7-109
Goal Kickers: M. Streiff 6, L. Baddeley 2, M. Spooner 2, B. Sutherland 2, N. Caldone, J. Burgess, D. Tate, J. Young, M. Kilty
Best Players: M. Streiff, J. Corso, M. Quigley, B. Sutherland, N. Caldone, L. Baddeley
NORTHERN SAINTS | 2.6-18 | 5.7-37 | 7.9-51 | 12.10-82
Goal Kickers: M. Sabatino 3, M. D''Angelo 2, Z. Farah 2, M. Taleb, A. Taleb, N. Bruno, T. Abdallah, M. Macheda
Best Players: Z. Farah, T. Abdallah, H. Moustafa, M. Taleb, J. Mcswain, A. D''Cruz
Covelli Unstoppable In Bears’ Huge Win
BURNSIDE Heights sharpshooter Josh Covelli was an unstoppable force against Jacana in the EDFL season-opener on Friday night.
Jacana’s back line could do little as Covelli took contested grab after contested grab and rarely missed in front of the sticks, finishing the night with eight goals in the Bears’ cruisy 64-point win.
Burnside Heights played scintillating footy from the get-go, with Adam Sullivan (four goals) and Jordan Hughes (two) both providing Covelli with a fine supporting cast.
The Jaguars looked sluggish and were forced to throw their star player, Cameron Cloke, into the ruck to try to stop the Bears' forward flow.
Cloke ended the night with four majors, but simply didn’t have enough help around him and the Jags failed to keep up with Bears on the scoreboard as a result.
Burnside Heights enters Round 2 in second spot on the ladder and will take on Moonee Valley at Ormond Park this weekend.
FULL REPLAY - Click here
JACANA | 5.2-32 | 5.4-34 | 9.10-64 | 12.11-83
Goal Kickers: C. Cloke 4, C. McCawley 2, M. Siciliano 2, B. Kimuliatis 2, B. Dalgleish, A. Young
Best Players: S. Bennett, J. Cluney, C. Cloke, B. Kimuliatis, B. Dodge, L. Lucas
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS | 4.0-24 | 11.4-70 | 14.5-89 | 23.9-147
Goal Kickers: J. Covelli 8, A. Sullivan 4, M. Newport 3, L. Clegg 2, J. Hughes 2, T. Sapountzis 2, M. Peterlechner, V. Angelone
Best Players: A. Sullivan, L. Clegg, J. Covelli, J. Hughes, C. Patmore, S. Kenrick
