By TOBIE CHAPMAN
GREENVALE began 2016 with an 83-point demolition over Pascoe Vale at Raeburn Reserve for a perfect start to their season.
Key Forward Trent Shinners was dominant as he kicked eight goals in a Best on Ground performance, the Panthers defence seemingly helpless against his pace on the lead and ability in the air.
The Jets held their opponents at bay all day, consistently ahead by three to four goals before storming home in a 10-goal-to-none final term.
Greenvale could count themselves lucky early, a shaky start and poor disposal giving Pascoe Vale numerous chances at goal in the first 15 minutes of play.
However, they were unable to capitalise, kicking five behinds in a row before Giles Guest was able to kick their first major.
Greenvale began to settle slowly, and kicked the first goal of the game against the run of play 11 minutes into the first term.
Shinners’ first impact on the game was a neat checkside goal, but by the 26-minute mark he had kicked his third goal, Panthers defender Jesse Wells struggling to contain the forward.
The Panthers had dominated much of general play during the quarter, especially around stoppages, but found themselves unable to convert, kicking two goals from seven scoring shots to trail by 21 points at the first break.
They tidied up their conversion during the second term, a term which was the most even of the game as both sides kicked four goals.
Twenty points separated the sides at the main break, a sign of the tightening contest was a large fracas breaking out on the wing late in the term as both sides looked to assert themselves physically.
The third quarter proved costly for Pascoe Vale, as they again missed a number of chances.
A seemingly certain goal ended in a stray handball bouncing off Ben Warren’s knee two metres out for a behind.
Only minutes later Ryan Jackson was too selfless, passing from 30 metres out rather than going for goal and turning the ball over.
After a period of stalemate, it was the class of Greenvale’s midfield that broke it.
Fort and Nat Caruso had no problems fitting into a new side, asserting their influence on the game.
Samuel Zumbo was involved in seemingly everything and Matthew Vasilevski, two-time NFL Division 1 Best and Fairest winner, soon opened the game up with a moment of brilliance.
Taking a loose ball from the air, he managed to evade three Pascoe Vale defenders, steadying and goaling from 50 metres out to extend the lead to 25 points.
The last quarter was all one-way traffic.
A sixth goal to the unstoppable Shinners was followed by a goal to Jacob Thompson and with less than five minutes played, the lead was out to a game-high 47 points.
It got even uglier as the term progressed, the Jets relentless in attack as they piled on a further eight unanswered majors.
PASCOE VALE | 9.14-68
Goal Kickers: B. Warren 2, M. Ross 2, D. Soncin, G. Urquhart, B. Ross, G. Guest, D. Harris
Best Players: B. Ross, L. Raven, B. Warren, M. Ross, D. Soncin, A. Lewis
GREENVALE | 23.13-151
Goal Kickers: T. Shinners 8, J. Gazzo 3, J. Thompson 3, F. Caruso 2, N. Caruso 2, S. Zumbo 2, M. Vasilevski, N. Lower, D. Sardo
Best Players: F. Caruso, T. Shinners, S. Zumbo, D. Campisano, C. Farchione, M. Vasilevski
