EDFL 2019: Aberfeldie scores comfortable win over Greenvale

Aberfeldie boasts an unblemished record after the opening month of the EDFL Premier Division season after overcoming a hot start from rival Greenvale on Saturday.

Ryan Allan produced another outstanding performance for Aberfeldie on Saturday. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Aberfeldie boasts an unblemished record after the opening month of the EDFL Premier Division season after overcoming a hot start from rival Greenvale on Saturday.

The home side booted 13 goals to four after quarter-time at Clifton Park to secure a comfortable 30-point triumph.

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Abers lost big man Mitch Andrews (knee) and Caleb Hislop (concussion) during the match, but they have enjoyed a positive run with injury this season.

Aberfeldie started slowly in 2018 with several of its best players forced to watch from the sidelines, but the powerhouse is enjoying the luxury of having close to a full squad available.

“We’ve actually got a real healthy list,” co-coach Luke Blackwell said.

“There’s only one or two injuries, so it’s a real competitive side to get into at the moment. I think that’s helping us. Hopefully we can keep a healthy list all year.”

Luke Blackwell praised Abers for their resilience. Picture: Hamish Blair

Greenvale landed some significant blows early, nailing four unanswered goals to establish a 27-point quarter-time lead.

But the reigning premier responded with four majors of its own in the second term to grab a two-point advantage at the main break.

The contest opened up in the third stanza, with Abers kicking five goals to four to lead by five points at the final change.

They then converted the only four goals of the fourth term to prevail 13.9 (87) to 8.9 (57), leaving them in second spot behind last year’s runner-up Keilor.

Aberfeldie’s much-vaunted defence of Ryan Allan, Luke Davis, Nick Cattapan, Josh Toy and Daniel Thompson produced an “unbelievable” display to restrict the Jets’ imposing forward half.

With Jayden Foster kept quiet and Kyle Reimers carrying a “corkie”, Josh Pound played an important role and contributed three goals.

Jaryd Cachia continued his impressive form in the middle of the ground and Jorden Braddy stood up in the absence of Andrews, who went down early in the first quarter.

“We really showed a lot of resilience I thought,” Blackwell said.

“It was a great effort by the boys to bounce back in the second quarter and then keep the foot down after that.

“They jumped out of the blocks and were pretty good. We weren’t really playing terribly, we were competing pretty hard, it was just we weren’t having great connection from our back half to our forward half in that first quarter.

“They really jumped on our turnovers to get those four goals. They made the most of their chances.”

Elsewhere in Premier Division, Essendon Doutta Stars toppled Maribyrnong Park by 14 points, with Charles Lill and Mitchell Day leading the way.

A nine-goal last quarter gave Pascoe Vale a 66-point victory over Strathmore, while Airport West remained winless after a 53-point loss to Glenroy.

Keilor recovered from a goalless opening term to hammer Avondale Heights by 75 points.

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