KEILOR 19.13 (127) def. STRATHMORE 12.6 (78)
MATCH CENTRE
It was a grand final rematch on Good Friday at Joe Brown Oval where Keilor picked up from where they left off with a dominant second half propelling the Blues to a 49-point victory over Strathmore.
Friday’s game followed an eerily similar trajectory to this very fixture in 2023 where the margin stood at around two kicks at the main break before Keilor kicked away in the second half to run out comfortable victors.
It was still very much a game of ebbs and flows in the first half with Keilor becoming the more controlled side with their ball movement earlier, finding themselves four goals up at the first change.
That reversed in the second quarter with the Mores settling into the game and slowing down their ball movement.
Strathmore managed to work the ball end-to-end unimpeded, minimising the defensive half turnovers that were hurting them in the first quarter.
This allowed them to slowly chew into the deficit, kicking three goals to one in the second term to find themselves just 13 points down at the main break.
Like they did to many sides in 2023, Keilor accelerated in the second half and kicked 11 goals to six to run out 49-point victors.
Chris Kosmas was the key difference in the second half kicking four third-quarter goals to make the margin too steep for the Mores to overcome in warm conditions.
Kosmas finished the day with six goals and worked hard in each third of the ground looking dangerous inside Keilor’s forward 50, and was pivotal as a link player from their defensive half.
The Blues were without a recognised ruck with Blair Wyllie starting in the centre bounce, but it was Jermarl Daly who played a handy role in Keilor’s engine room.
Making his club debut, Daly held his own in the ruck contests and proved quite handy at ground level with his follow up work, hitting the scoreboard late in the game as a reward for effort.
It was a typical team performance that we’ve come to expect from the Blues while Strathmore were led by young gun Carlos Egan and club debutant Trent Dumont.
Dumont was everywhere for the Mores while Egan provided many moments of individual brilliance, kicking five goals in a day dominated by smaller forwards.
ROXBURGH PARK 6.11 (47) def. by CRAIGIEBURN 12.16 (88)
MATCH CENTRE
Craigieburn got their season off to a strong start with a 41-point win over Roxburgh Park at Lakeside Oval on Good Friday.
These two sides have been close to finals action over the last couple of seasons and were on par with each other for much of 2023, but the Eagles have gained early ascendancy.
It was a low-scoring first half with neither side able to get ahead in the game, each kicking four goals to half time.
Roxy were controlling general play but having lost two key pillars in their forward half – 77 goals from Cooper McPharlane and Nathan Carroll – they were unable to take the advantage on the scoreboard.
It was one-way traffic in the third quarter with Craigieburn kicking to the end slightly aided by the breeze, adding four unanswered goals.
The Magpies were unable to cut into the deficit as the Eagles added a further three goals in the final term to take out the 41-point victory.
New recruits Zane Terranova and Ethan Xerri each kicked two goals for Roxy with familiar faces Travis Cooke, Thomas Baker, and Jamie Grant named among their best.
John Bellino and Brent Gordon finished second and third in Craigieburn’s 2023 goal kicking tally and each kicked three goals.
Bellino will again find himself a valuable asset in their forward half with Jake Carlisle splitting time in the ruck and Sam Rexhepi leaving the club, providing just what coach Shane Jacobs would’ve been after.
Gordon is one of the more damaging goal-kicking midfielders in Division One booting a goal a game or more in each season since 2018 – and at 36 years of age, continues to be a vital member of this Craigieburn outfit.
Jacob Aquilina, Anthony Righele, and Jamie Gorgievski were among Craigieburn’s top contributors as they look ahead to a Round One clash with Hillside.
KEILOR PARK 1.3 (9) def. by HILLSIDE 11.23 (89)
MATCH CENTRE
Hillside enjoyed a dominant 80-point win over Keilor Park in a twilight clash on Good Friday.
Their prized recruits showed out with Robbie Castello kicking two goals against his former side, as Nat Caruso booted two goals of his own.
Zain Yamak and Nicholas Fluke also hit the scoreboard in their first game in black, white, and teal as the Shark peppered the goal face with 34 shots on goal, ending with 11.23.
Keilor Park were restricted to just one goal which came in the third quarter off the boot of Ned Young.
Jordan Filakis, Ben Chisholm, and skipper Daylan Kempster were named in the Devils’ best while Hillside and their troupe of new faces provided an early glimpse of what they can do.
