AFL Outer East: Trent Cody kicks six as Narre Warren thrashes Doveton

Blitzed by Beaconsfield last week, reigning premier Narre Warren hit back hard against the promoted Doveton.

Classy Trent Cody kicked six goals for Narre Warren.

Stitched up by Beaconsfield in the previous round, Narre Warren handed out a thrashing of its own last Saturday, a demolition job on Doveton.

The reigning AFL Outer East premiers were pitted against the newly promoted second-tier champions, and stormed to a 97-point victory, 14.30 (114) to 2.6 (18) the final scores.

Magpies coach Shane Dwyer summed up his third game at the helm simply: “We played pretty well, didn’t kick straight, but we’re pretty happy.’’

With 30 behinds, it’s scary to think how the scores could have looked had accuracy been on Narre Warren’s side.

Regardless, the Magpies never looked back after a low-scoring first quarter which saw them lead 1.5 (11) to 0.2 (2).

The competition heavyweights were getting first use of the ball and their defence stood tall.

They were simply a class above.

Highlights were few and far between for the Doves, but the Dandenong Stingrays’ Kobi George was able to convert a tight set-shot late in the game having been swung forward, and was among their best players.

Trent Cody led the way for Narre Warren with a six-goal haul, including a stretch of four-straight either side of the main break.

Along with Lachlan Benson, who slotted three, the pair contributed nine of the Magpies’ 14 majors.

Dwyer was quick to praise the two.

“Cody played very well. Benson at full forward was good,’’ he said.

“Our backs were pretty good, we were pretty happy with everyone, and pretty happy with the back six. (Doveton) only kicked two goals six,” he said.

“The boys have been really good. Training numbers are good and socially everyone’s up and about, so everything’s positive.”

Having been dealt a 46-point loss at the hands of Beaconsfield last week, the significance of the response from his players wasn’t lost on Dwyer.

“To bounce back from last week is a giant positive … Beacy were too good for us, but we were up and about this week, it was good to bounce back with a big crowd here at home, so it worked out pretty well.”