Brendan Fevola bags 10 goals in Deer Park’s WRFL win over Hoppers Crossing

A MASTERCLASS from Brendan Fevola led Deer Park to a convincing victory over Hoppers Crossing in WRFL Division 1 on Saturday.

Brendan Fevola shone in his first game for Deer Park. Picture: David Smith.

A MASTERCLASS from Brendan Fevola led Deer Park to a convincing victory over Hoppers Crossing in Western Region Football League Division 1 on Saturday.

But a raft of soft tissue injuries are sweeping through the reigning premier at an alarming rate for coach Marc Bullen.

It didn’t stop the Lions, though, from flexing their collective muscle in a dominant second half against the Warriors at home on Saturday.

Fevola bagged 10 of Deer Park’s 15 goals in his first game for the club, spearheading the Lions’ 46-point triumph in front of a healthy crowd at John McLeod Oval.

Just four points separated the two sides at the main break before Wayde Skipper went down with injury, allowing the Lions to get on top through the midfield.

Ruckman Scott Greenough led the charge, and even had the wood over Skipper in the first half according to Bullen, while Adam El Houli and Jason Kennedy helped keep the Warriors to just two goals after the halftime.

Brendan Fevola kicks a goal despite some close attention. Picture: David Smith

But Fevola — who donned the No.17 guernsey — was the headline act, the Coleman medallist finishing with 10 goals including a snap from the boundary late in the game to seal a 15.8 (98) to 7.10 (52) win.

“They went head-to-head with him with (Braden) Ferrari, who I thought did a pretty good job at certain stages,” Bullen said.

“He (Fevola) was just too strong, with that time and space, there’s not many guys that could stop him. He’s only going to get better, too.”

But Bullen is already looking at the fixture to find the club’s first bye.

Jase Perkins, who kicked nine majors in Round 1, missed because of a sore groin, while Jack Purton-Smith and Chris Stewart were also sidelined with soft tissue injuries.

Ryan Houlihan is set to join them after suffering a major hamstring strain, while Trent Williams sustained a cracked wrist.

Bullen said Purton-Smith’s calf injury was the most serious, ruling the star midfielder out of interleague contention.

“It’s a bit concerning we’re getting those sort of niggling injuries,” Bullen said.

The club has employed a sports scientist from Carlton, who will keep track of the players’ workload at training.

In other results, Sunshine held off Albion to win by 15 points, 12.14 (86) to 11.5 (71), while St Albans fell short against Spotswood, 12.8 (80) to 9.18 (72).

In Division 2, Caroline Springs scored a narrow victory over North Footscray, 13.7 (85) to 11.12 (78).

In Division 3, Sunshine Heights upset Parkside, 10.10 (70) to 8.13 (61).