By Matt Fotia
Footy returned – again – and the weekend’s action set things in motion, with Ringwood flexing their muscles, Wantirna South and Donvale make moves, Norwood wobble and Surrey Park all but lock in Finals action.
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1.Wings beneath their win
Ringwood went to a 7-1 win loss record on Saturday, remained undefeated at home, held onto top spot and re-claimed the Parker Family Cup, with a 20 point win over local rivals Heathmont.
The Redbacks grew into the game and were visibly in better condition than Heathmont as the day wore on, with the more mature Ringwood side stretching the Jets defence and running over the top of them.
The Redbacks use the full width of Jubilee Park to spread opposition defences and their wingmen – Jack Blyth and James Parker – are key to this system.
Blyth was best afield, providing plenty of dash on the far side of the ground, whilst Parker kicked a late goal and was dangerous all day. Blyth has been named in the best players five times this season, whilst Parker has three majors to go with his three appearances, showcasing both their talent and importance.
Jimmy 'The Porpus' Parker | Ringwood Football & Netball Club's James Parker played a strong hand on Saturday, including this goal which rotated 0 times on its way through – much like Jason 'The Porpus' Porplyzia back in 2007 v the Hawks! pic.twitter.com/ol0LPnuR2u — Eastern FNL (@Eastern_FNL) June 21, 2021
Both hold their structure well, ensuring the Redbacks always have the option to go wider, and provide a consistent outlet when exiting defence. Blyth in particular is very good at kick-starting attacks from the defensive side of centre, using his superior fitness and strong kicking game to catch defences off guard, whilst Parker gets into dangerous positions inside forward 50, working hard to find himself in pockets of space and finish off attacks.
Having strong wingmen is not only handy for the way the Redbacks move the ball, it also gives them confidence to commit numbers to both the contest and in defence, knowing they’ve got a safe, instinctive option out wide.
2. The Devil you don’t
Wantirna South went into this weekend knowing it would play a massive part in where their season would end up, hosting Mitcham the most vulnerable team in the Division One top four.
The Devils had a trio of reasons to be up for their clash with the Tigers.
1 – Make up for their Round One loss
2 – Score a win against a side higher than them on the ladder
3 – Keep that finals dream alive
And they played like a side whose season was on the line.
The Devils jumped out of the blocks with a six goal to one first quarter, before repeating the dose in the last after Mitcham responded in the second and third terms. They notched up their 4th 100 plus score of the season and showed signs of it all starting to come together, with three big name recruits putting their names up in lights once again.
Ex Knox man Marcus Jordan booted five majors and was best on ground, whilst former Vermont pair Patrick Wallis and Brook Kainey continued to show their best footy as they settle into their new home.
In even better news for the Devils, results elsewhere went their way as Montrose fell to Bayswater in a tight tussle at Bayswater Oval, bringing the Devils to 5th. With a game against Mooroolbark in two weeks and a pair of fixtures against Croydon in the last month of the year, it could be a case of better late than never for the Devils in 2021, as they look to put their fate in their own hands.
3. Wobbly Wooders
Not again.
Since 2015 Norwood have missed finals every single season, and on more than one occasion it’s been the defeats to sides lower on the ladder that’s bothered them, rather than being unable to mix it with the big boys, and it happened again on Saturday.
Norwood blew a massive chance to create a two game gap between them and 5th placed Blackburn, and a chance to go equal top, with a loss to previously bottom placed Doncaster. The Wooders had 31 less disposals than their hosts, went at 48% by foot and allowed the Sharks to have 60 uncontested marks in a low scoring tussle. Norwood have quite the run home too.
They still have to play Blackburn twice in the run home and also cross paths with Balwyn – who shot back into finals contention – Vermont, South Croydon and Noble Park, compounding the magnitude of Saturday’s loss.
Norwood also lost to Doncaster at the same venue in 2019, in a similarly low scoring fixture and missed the 2019 finals on percentage.
Let’s hope for their sake it’s not a case of Déjà Vu in 2021.
4. Delightful Donvale
Donvale completed the double over Waverley Blues on Saturday and added more fuel to their premiership fire.
It was the second time this year on of the division’s best defences in Donvale have managed to put the clamps on the competition’s number one attack, this time conceding just 56 points. The Blues could manage no more than six scoring shots in any quarter, with a break down below.First QuarterSecond QuarterThird QuarterFinal Quarter6 – 4.2 (4.2)3 – 1.2 (5.4)4 – 1.3 (6.7)3 – 2.1 (8.8)
The Magpies themselves were better to watch than they have been in recent times, booting 14 majors themselves, with premiership ruckman Zac Haig the star booting seven majors.
Haig’s role looks to have changed in the short two week break into a new more forward thinking one, given he’d slotted just two goals in the time before the break. If he can provide another option in attack for the Magpies it’ll allow Nick Murphy off the leash, a tantalising thought for any local football fan.
The Magpies take on East Burwood and then have the bye before hosting Ferntree Gully – a massive few weeks for Magpie fans.
5. Then there were two
Surrey Park’s convincing 51 point win over Silvan has simplified the Division Four finals race, with the Panthers all but locking in their place in the top four.
The Panthers jumped out of the blocks – as they tend to do – and survived a third quarter scare by slamming home seven goals to two in the last quarter. It takes the Panthers to outright third on the ladder and is the second time they’ve done the business against the Cats.
Matt Pollock booted four and took his season total to 23, whilst George Haynes and Oliver Anderson kicked three and debutant Callum Garvin was impressive. With the Panthers now two games clear of Silvan and one game – and 80% – clear of Chirnside Park, the only way they could possibly miss finals would be to drop games to one of the bottom three, and given the way they’ve dealt with them so far in 2021, that’s hard to fathom.
It’s another step forward for Surrey Park, building on their 2019 finals appearance with some consistency.
As for Silvan, it’s all about that Round 12 clash with Chirnside Park, in the closest thing to a win or go home game they could get.