By MICHAEL HABER
IT WAS a beautiful day for football at Lakeside Oval as first-placed Roxburgh Park took on third-placed Moonee Valley.
The visitors got the ball rolling with a perfect set shot from one of the most accurate kicks in the comp, Joshua Covelli.
The quarter was intense and very physical, with both sides struggling to get it out of the middle.
Kajanithen Gnanapragasm was proving himself in defence, seemingly getting the better of Covelli in contests.
The Fog’s Stuart Taylor was also solid in the first quarter. Moonee Valley seemed more switched on than their opponents which gave them an eight-point lead going into the first break.
Luke Capuano opened his account for the day with two quick goals at the start of the second quarter.
The two then went goal for goal.
Moonee Valley were showing that they would not get blown away like they did the first time these two teams played.
Covelli finally got the better of his man and managed a few goals in the quarter.
Reece Tarczon’s attacking pressure, though, was the difference as Roxburgh Park’s midfield slowly took over.
Three goals late in the half saw the Magpies go into halftime with a 17-point lead.
The intensity lifted in the third quarter. The tackling pressure of both teams rose immensely and each defence worked hard to get the ball out of danger.
Harley Short did what he does best as he snuck around the stoppages and provided his fantastic running play, helping give his forwards more opportunities to score.
Moonee Valley had to work hard to get their ball inside 50 and goals to Covelli and Corey Needs, kept their side in the game.
Two goals from Capuano however made things difficult for Moonee Valley, as the Magpies went into three-quarter time with a 25-point lead.
It took a while for Moonee Valley to nab the first goal of the quarter through Covelli, finally shaking off some threatening Roxburgh Park attacks.
A second goal to Covelli saw Moonee Valley lift to a gear unlike any other they have reached so far this season.
They played with passion and determination, backing their teammates in contests.
Roxburgh Park had no answer for this and were ultimately doing their best to keep their lead but it wasn’t enough.
Rhys Gleisner proved the difference between the sides.
His marking and intercepting play helped his team immensely and a final snap on goal from Zeke Bunge saw Moonee Valley steal the victory in what was an amazing game.
ROXBURGH PARK | 13.7-85
Goal Kickers: L. Capuano 5, R. Tarczon 2, D. Rigby, J. Caruana, S. Dawson, R. Kannegiesser, T. Blacker, R. Mekari
Best Players: H. Short, R. Kannegiesser, J. Blackley, J. Austin, R. McGill, A. MacKinnon
MOONEE VALLEY | 14.5-89
Goal Kickers: J. Covelli 7, T. Wilson 2, B. Padmore 2, J. Noonan, C. Needs, Z. Bunge
Best Players: R. Gleisner, J. Covelli, N. Wilson, M. Wenlock, K. Tankard, B. Fennell
