AFL Outer East: Berwick and Narre Warren maintain their grip on the top two spots
As the finals loom, Berwick and Narre Warren remain the teams to beat in the AFL Outer East’s top flight
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Berwick maintains its one-game lead at the top of the Premier Division ladder after a comprehensive win over third-placed Woori Yallock on Saturday.
The Wickers handled the conditions at Woori’s home ground with aplomb on the way to a 15.13 (103) to 5.9 (39) win.
Berwick led by 22 points at halftime and put the foot down in the third term with six goals.
Madison Andrews was again best afield while Jordan Andrews managed three goals.
Jake Matthews (three) and Zach Monkhorst (two) kicked Woori Yallock’s goals with Michael Batten the best of the Tigers.
Meanwhile, Narre Warren remains second after getting over Wandin in one of the games of the season at Clegg Rd on Saturday.
Wandin went within a couple of kicks of a clean sweep of the four former-SEFNL clubs on its home deck before a late surge from the Magpies saw them home 18.21 (129) to 19.8 (122).
Narre Warren was 21 points up at halftime and appeared well on the way to a solid win. But, led by Justin Van Unen (seven goals), the Bulldogs banged on 10 third-quarter goals to take charge by three-quarter time, 18 points to the good with a head of steam.
But Narre Warren found another gear in the final quarter and kicked 5.7 to nose in front by the final siren.
MORE FOOTY NEWS
BENCHLESS LILYDALE JUMPS INTO THE TOP THREE
THE LOCAL FOOTY CLUBS CHASING PERFECT SEASONS
FOOTY BATTLERS HOPING TO END LONG FINALS DROUGHT
Daniel Jackson kicked six for the Magpies while Michael Collins and Colin McNamara were Narre’s best.
Narre Warren coach Matt Shinners said his side had played pretty will until halftime but then started to lose control of the ball and Wandin’s attacking speed threatened to blow them away.
“We’d sort of controlled the game pretty well until then,” he said.
“(But) they were kicking them from everywhere. It’s such a small ground, it’s two kicks, if you lose the ball in the corridor you’re gone. You might as well kiss it goodbye.”
But, despite the momentum swing, Shinners said he was confident his side would get the job done.
“At three-quarter time we sent them out with the instructions to just take the game on, to play on at all costs,” he said. “It was whether we could wrestle the game back on our terms.
“You just have to have faith in your guys and that's when your experienced guys step up.”
With Wandin beaten, Cranbourne climbed back into the five with a 17.18 (120) to 4.8 (32) win over Healesville at home.
No fewer than 10 Eagles hit the scoreboard with Nick Darbyshire, Stuart Morrish and Cameron Angus Cranbourne’s best three.
Jake Roe-Duggan kicked two goals to be named best of the Bloods.
Beaconsfield moved to within half a game of Woori Yallock after a 17.22 (124) to 3.5 (23) win over Upwey Tecoma at Holm Park.
Olinda Ferny Creek had the bye.
Son of a footy gun joins Sea Lake-Nandaly
The North Central premiers of the past two seasons could be even stronger as they eye a third successive flag.
Ex-WAFL players sign at country club
A country club determined to make amends after missing finals for the first time in more than 20 years has gone on a recruiting spree landing a quartet of ex-WAFL players.