By RORY O’NEILL
NEIGHBOURING rivals Oak Park and Glenroy played off at JP Fawkner Reserve on Saturday.
In the first quarter the teams traded skill errors, which led to each team scoring only two majors for the term.
The possession count was very even and the intensity was high. At quarter time, the visiting Roys led 2.3-15 to 2.0-12.
For most of the second quarter the respective defences were on top.
The Kangas looked to Dean Clare as their forward target, whilst up the other end, Glenroy forward Adam Delbusso took some good grabs.
It wasn’t until late in the quarter that the goals started to flow at both ends with Glenroy kicking four for the term, including Adam Winter who came into season with two in two minutes.
Oak Park kept within range with three for the term, including a late goal from a centre clearance to Blair Cronin.
Glenroy’s accurate passing inside 50 saw them go into the clubrooms leading 6.6-42 to 5.4-34.
In the third quarter, the Roys maintained their attack.
They kicked another four goals for the quarter, including a helicopter from Zac Polizzi, whilst Winter iced another two, bringing his total to four for the match.
Danny Rajab was proving dangerous and out-marking taller Glenroy defenders and kicked one after a chain of handballs, and with another to Ryan Harris after a controversial decision, the Oakers found themselves trailing by 20 points, 7.6-48 to Glenroy 10.8-68.
The home side began well when the biggest player on the ground, Rhys Bloomfield, roved his own spilled ball and kicked truly.
Paul Tripp ran from the half back flank and kicked another, and suddenly the deficit was only six points.
After a goal to Kangaroos Luke Howard, scores were level pegging, but Matt Walker was tripped and converted in front of goal that allowed Glenroy regain the lead.
Rajab took another overhead mark and put one through from 45 degrees.
In the last 10 minutes of the game both teams kicked minor scores but Oak Park managed the last two points of the match.
Despite the game ending with the ball inside Glenroy’s forward 50 and with only a kick separating the two, the final siren revealed Oak Park the victors 11.13-79 to 11.11-77.
A frustrated Glenroy coach Ross Terranova was disappointed that his team couldn’t hold their three-quarter time lead, but was pleased that his boys could match it with a team most likely to be playing finals.
He also praised his team’s second half of the season, including the win the previous week over ladders leaders Craigieburn.
Oak Park assistant coach Steve Vernon had to deputise at short notice for regular coach Ben Chapman, who was ill on the day.
He felt his team had made many skill errors, especially during the second and third quarters but played cleaner football, particularly in the last.
He believes that if Oak Park are to stay in the finals race, they need “to bring closer their best and worst footy” to perform more evenly.
OAK PARK | 11.13-79
Best: L. Howard, R. Harris, P. Tripp, C. Hare, D. Clare, M. Dalrymple
Goals: D. Clare 2, D. Rajab 2, J. Pascu 2, P. Tripp, R. Bloomfield, L. Howard, R. Harris, B. Cronin
GLENROY | 11.11-77
Best: M. Walker, A. Winter, T. Dulic, D. Bailey, L. Sullivan, S. Gilliland
Goals: A. Winter 4, M. Walker 2, A. Flavel 2, J. Ksiazek, Z. Polizzi, D. Bailey
