Official website of the Essendon District Football League

Pies Leap To Second In Win Over Fog

By LIAM McALLION


WITH a spot in the top two and a second chance on the line, the stakes couldn't have been higher for Moonee Valley and Roxburgh Park on Saturday.

Roxburgh Park started the game off with bursts of speed and immense pressure, gaining an emphatic eight-goal-to-three first quarter to stun the home crowd at Ormond Park.

Dominating in the clearances, the Magpies looked unstoppable.

Ferras Merhi used his size and strength in the ruck all day to will his side out of contests.

This damaging football by the Magpies continued through the most part of the first half and started on the back of their tackling all around the ground.

Luke Capuano was their catalyst.

Gaining many free kicks from tackles inside the forward 50 and having great goal awareness, he was able to slot a huge seven majors for the game.

Moonee Valley crowd favourite Cory McGrath was as exciting as ever on a tough day for the Fog.

With many contested marks and use of agility around defenders, he was able to finish with three goals.

Moonee Valley, although down on scoreboard, just kept hanging in the contest.

Effort and intensity was still present for the home side and shown through defender, Stuart Aberdein.

His pace on the rebound and repeated efforts in contests helped the Fog win the third quarter and although still trailing, brought some spirited belief back into the players and home crowd.

But the vocal home crowd was silenced and belief started to fade as Roxburgh Park showed its elite endurance in the last quarter, out-running Moonee Valley all over the ground.

Mark Sabatino was clean in the air and the ground all day with high disposal efficiency.

This along with Roxburgh Park’s many spoils in one-on-one contests down back led the way for a booming last quarter.

Keeping Moonee Valley goalless in the last, the Magpies were able to slot four more majors themselves, going on to score a huge 61-point victory and snatch second spot ahead of what will be a very competitive Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 Finals Series.


MOONEE VALLEY 12.7-79

Goal Kickers: C. McGrath 3, D. Royle 2, M. Brown 2, D. Rogan, J. Saragias, R. Potter, J. Adkins, L. Cameron

ROXBURGH PARK 21.14-140

Goal Kickers: L. Capuano 7, M. Sabatino 4, J. Elliott 2, J. Margariti 2, J. Colaidis, N. Mander, H. Farrelly, C. Ardon, F. Merhi, R. Kannegiesser

Best Players: M. Sabatino, L. Capuano, F. Merhi, H. Short, J. Hopkinson, C. Ardon

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