By AKSHAY KAPADIA
THE first round of the 2016 season had finally come around, and for Tullamarine and Glenroy, a night game was first up at Leo Dineen Reserve in Tullamarine.
Tullamarine got off to a fast start.
Within the first few minutes, the Demons already had a handful of inside-50s and a goal.
They proved to be most useful through the centre corridor as Anthony Liberatore kicked Tulla’s second major for the game.
By the 10-minute mark, the Demons were up two goals to one.
Tullamarine had a lot of the scoring in the later stages of the quarter, but could not capitalise strongly with inaccurate kicking in front of goals.
As the siren sounded, Glenroy were able to pull one goal back to be trailing by nine points at the first break.
In the second quarter the Demons were able to pull out to a comfortable lead with three straight goals - two coming off the boot of Colin Laurie.
The play of the game started in the Tullamarine back line, in which the Demons ran the ball through a series of handballs along the boundary line resulting in a goal to Dean Simmons.
Dean Bartrop kicked another goal and soon after the Demons had a comfortable 40-point lead closing in on halftime.
But thanks to a free kick in the centre circle, the Roys were able to pick one back before the siren.
The Demons got the first clearance of the second half with a free kick from the centre bounce, and things looked like they wouldn't get better for Glenroy after the long break.
Laurie kicked another brilliant goal midway through the quarter, slotting one from the forward pocket in what was a magical night for him.
The remainder of the quarter was a much closer tussle, but as the scoreboard clearly showed, the damage was already done.
Goals were harder to come by in the final term as tiredness and fatigue started to set in.
Goals did come, but Tullamarine squandered a few chances near the end of the game that could have put it even further in front and boosted its percentage.
The game was not as close as first expected, and this was evident throughout the game as Tullamarine took charge.
This week, Tullamarine have the week off while Glenroy will play the Northern Saints, who went down to Westmeadows.
TULLAMARINE | 16.18-114
Goal Kickers: C. Laurie 5, A. Liberatore 2, S. Doyle 2, W. Becker, D. Simmons, D. Bartrop, J. Port, J. Sims, J. Flanigan, J. Williams
Best Players: J. Port, C. Laurie, S. Doyle, C. Burns, J. Marcy, W. Becker
GLENROY | 13.6-84
Goal Kickers: A. Winter 5, J. Trembearth 3, M. Coomans, J. Adams, T. Dulic, S. Gilliland, J. Wallace
Best Players: T. Strachan, A. Winter, J. Trembearth, A. Delbusso, M. Walker, T. Fisher
