A PASSIONATE crowd down at Keilor Park Reserve built as they knew their home team always put up a fight and match up well with Moonee Valley.
It was a scrappy start as both teams found it hard to capitalise on the scoreboard… until Moonee Valley’s midfield fired up.
Using the wind to their advantage with deep forward entries out of clearances, the Fog were able to get a few quick majors to end the first quarter and seemed in command.
Moonee Valley’s Richard Potter was very valuable with his legspeed, setting up goals and even bombing some long-range goals for himself finishing with three.
Despite that, the Devils seemed to rise to the occasion in the second term and kicked seven goals to two.
Sparking this Keilor Park run was Ryland Head, who showed his class in a goal from distance and on a very tight angle.
He not only electrified the home fans but was the ultimate team-man, pressurising the opposition all day and giving it all for the orange and green.
Solid contrast of size and style definitely created for a good match-up with Devil Pete Corredig using his powerful leaping abilities and versatility in the ruck, which lifted the home side.
Meanwhile young leg speed and controlled use of the footy off the deck by Matt Wenlock for the Fog caused match-up nightmares for the Keilor Park coach Marcus Barclay.
With nothing to lose and exquisite clearance work by the underrated Devils, they stayed in the game almost until the very end.
Moonee Valley seemed at times their normal self but certainly lifted after a reminder in the huddle by coach Peter Gleisner that “every game we have finished stronger than the opposition, you have it in you to do it again”.
That message got through.
Gleisner’s men showed a lot of heart in the final term and eventually got over the line by 23 points.
KEILOR PARK 11.5-71
Goal Kickers: K. Wintels 3, C. Koulouriotis 2, J. Ravanello, R. Head, J. Wilson, M. Wilson, S. Gamble, D. Monello
Best Players: J. Gatto, K. Thomas, R. Head, J. Wilson, D. Monello, J. Garita
MOONEE VALLEY 14.10-94
Goal Kickers: J. Faba 4, R. Potter 3, L. Cameron 2, R. Halabi 2, T. Gleisner, J. Adkins, C. Needs
Best Players: S. Taylor, L. Cameron, R. Gleisner, R. Potter, C. Needs, M. Wenlock
