EDFL 2018: Strathmore hammers Greenvale by 58 points in Essendon District Football League Premier Division
AN UNDERMANNED Strathmore delivered a defensive masterclass on Saturday to score a crushing win over Greenvale and keep its EDFL Premier Division finals hopes alive.
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AN UNDERMANNED Strathmore delivered a defensive masterclass on Saturday to score a crushing win over Greenvale and keep its Essendon District Football League Premier Division finals hopes alive.
With coach Nathan Grima, Nick Lower, Andrew Horne, Hamish McIntosh, Tyson Mitchem and James Dwyer on the sidelines, the Mores mauled their opponents at Greenvale Reserve.
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While the Jets were without Addam Maric and Courtenay Dempsey, they were outclassed from the start as Strathmore powered its way to a 58-point victory, 15.7 (97) to 5.9 (39).
The Mores remain in sixth spot with a 7-4 record but are only half a game behind fourth-placed Aberfeldie and one game astern of second-placed Keilor.
The fact they have knocked off Abers and Greenvale — last year’s grand finalists — suggests they deserve to be rated as a contender.
Grima lauded his team’s stingy defence, with Greenvale kept goalless in the first half and registering just two majors in the first three quarters.
“It was a great win. We went in with probably the youngest team the club has fielded for a few years,” Grima said.
“Unbelievable effort to keep them to such a low score.
“They kicked three goals probably in the last 10 minutes of the game.
“By that stage our young guys had tired a little bit, which didn’t affect the result, but I was rapt with the guys. We played four under-19 kids and then there were a couple who played under-19s last year.”
Strathmore kicked the only five goals of the first half and killed the contest with a six-goal-to-two third term.
Adam Iacobucci, Nick O’Brien and Luke Jarrad starred for the winners, while Thomas Condon (four goals), Joshua Helliwell (four) and Kyle Weightman (three) combined for 11 majors.
“We went in there with a game plan to try and make sure we had a style that would work with a lot of small, younger guys,” Grima said.
“To the guys’ credit, from the first bounce they played the style that we envisaged.
“As a coach, it’s always good when young guys can get a bit of success. It makes it a little bit more rewarding as a coach, that’s for sure.”
The Mores are likely to have some pleasant selection headaches ahead of their Round 12 clash against rival contender Pascoe Vale at Raeburn Reserve.
“We might have a few available and we didn’t get any injuries out of the day,” Grima said.
“Then you have that tough conversation as to how many changes, if any, you make.
“The big ground suited the runners we brought in. Next week we’ve got Pascoe Vale, who have some bigger bodies, on a smaller ground. It’s horses for courses a little bit.”
Aberfeldie, Keilor, Maribyrnong Park and Glenroy also prevailed in Premier Division in Round 11.
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