By MICHAEL HABER
EAST Sunbury went down to East Keilor 65 to 124 at Goonawarra Reserve on Saturday.
The Thunder kicked with the wind in an explosive first term.
East Sunbury poured on heaps of pressure against the undefeated Cougars and scored early through Ash Fleming.
The Thunder’s midfield was winning the battle in the middle of the ground and this was thanks to Kamen Ogilvie.
He was all over the field, providing explosive runs along the wing and setting up great plays and goals. The Cougars, despite the pressure, were able to stay in touch.
Their goals came through a lot of hard work but this would ultimately set them up for the rest of the game.
The Thunder lead at quarter time after an action packed term 40-26.
The second term started off like the first, tough and intense, with East Sunbury putting on heaps of pressure.
The Cougars however, pounced with a huge five-goal quarter.
They worked extremely hard throughout the whole term despite East Sunbury doing all that they could to stem the flow.
The Thunder, rebounded from the back 50 a multitude of times but East Keilor just kept coming at them.
Luke Conidi kicked two goals in the quarter to get his team up to a comfortable 22-point lead.
East Sunbury couldn’t get a major in that term and, despite all their hard work in the first, went into halftime facing a scoreboard that read 42-64.
The third quarter began like the others, gritty and gruelling.
East Sunbury attacked more in the quarter and had many inside 50s but the Cougars’ defence was dominant, repelling most of the attacks.
Despite the many inside 50s, East Sunbury just couldn’t get back into the game, scoring 1.5 for the quarter.
Their goal came from Jake Spiteri halfway through the quarter and was their first major in almost an hour of footy.
The Cougars only had one more scoring shot than East Sunbury in the third but managed four goals and two points.
Shaun Ujcich put the game beyond doubt later in the third with a great goal.
East Keilor led at three-quarter time, 90-53.
East Keilor did as they pleased in the final quarter.
They scored at will and controlled the play in the final quarter.
Their forwards were kicking goals from the pockets and Brendon Lucas got in on the action with a great snap goal.
East Sunbury were able to convert two goals in the last quarter but it was too little too late as East Keilor had yet another five-goal term to win the game by 59 points.
It wasn’t that East Sunbury were poor during the game, they played their heart out in the first quarter and had patches of dominance throughout the rest of the game – but East Keilor were simply too good.
Their players were able to work harder, convert, use the ball clinically and were just hungrier for the win.
They were also a lot fitter. Both teams visibly put in their all but East Sunbury just couldn’t keep up.
This match certainly puts the Cougars in contention to be the premiership favourite.
EAST SUNBURY | 9.11-65
No best players or goal-kickers provided
EAST KEILOR | 18.16-124
Goal Kickers: L. Conidi 3, S. Ujcich 3, G. Whelan 3, B. Lucas 3, D. James 2, V. Madaffari, M. Castaldo, P. Grampas, J. Madden
Best Players: S. Ujcich, D. James, W. Guest, C. Bryant, C. Roach, S. Eldridge
