AFL Outer East 2021: Cranbourne champion Marc Holt kicks 19 goals in three games

A goal guru with over 1000 majors has made a blazing start to the AFL Outer East season, bagging three big hauls already.

Marc Holt kicks his 999th goal for Cranbourne in 2018 . Picture: Valeriu Campan

His kicking for goal is still gun-barrel straight.

And that insatiable appetite for a goal remains.

But champion full forward Marc Holt has returned to Cranbourne a slightly different player to the one that last played for the Eagles in 2018.

“He probably doesn’t jump like he used to,’’ Cranny coach Steve O’Brien, who coached Holt in 2018 when he booted his 1000th goal for the Eagles, said.

“But he just figures out different ways to do it.

“I think that’s the biggest thing about him; people don’t really understand how smart a footballer he is.

“He just works out different ways to be able to be able to impact that scoreboard against different types of opponents. He’s a really intelligent footballer.”

Marc Holt on his way to seven goals against Upwey Tecoma on Saturday. Pic: Cranbourne FNC

Holt, who kicked 85 goals for Karingal in 2019, fired off seven goals in Cranbourne’s thumping 128-point win over Upwey Tecoma on Saturday.

He has 19 goals in three games to lead the AFL Outer East Premier division goal table, ahead of Woori Yallock’s Josh Neal and Zach Monkhorst, both on 13.

A fourth goal century could be on the cards for the 35-year-old.

Holt has quickly formed a potent partnership with Matthew Alister in the Cranbourne forward line.

The pair kicked 12 goals between them on Saturday, Alister slotting five.

Alister has overcome a series of knee injuries to get back to a good standard.

“He’s got himself really fit and he’s a big strong boy,” O’Brien said.

Cranbourne hurried to a 6.2 to nil lead at quarter-time and went on to rack up 23.12 (150) to 3.4 (22).

O’Brien said he was pleased with his side’s consistency over the four quarters.

“Everyone expected us to win and sometimes on those unfamiliar grounds it can be a bit harder so we had to get off to a good start,’’ he said.

“And we maintained it for four quarters so that was the most pleasing thing.’’

Mitch Tharle capped a best-on-ground display with three goals, while Jake Carosella, Rylan Smith, Jake Stephens and Bailey Buntine also ran rampant.

Cranbourne, which has won two of its first three games, plays its first game on its new home ground at Livingstone Reserve when it hosts Wandin on Saturday.