EDFL 2019: Kane Barbuto has 40 touches and three goals in Keilor’s win

Keilor coach Mick McGuane has lauded Kane Barbuto for his consistency after the Blues skipper returned some ridiculous numbers against Maribyrnong Park.

Kane Barbuto racked up 28 touches in the second half for Keilor. Picture: David Smith

Keilor skipper Kane Barbuto delivered a virtuoso display to lift his team to a percentage-boosting victory over Maribyrnong Park in EDFL Premier Division on Saturday.

The gun midfielder racked up 40 possessions and iced his performance with three majors in the Blues’ 101-point away win, 21.9 (135) to 5.4 (34).

The undefeated ladder-leader led by 17 points at the main break before piling on 14 goals to one in the second half to complete the rout.

“We talk about lifting when the bar needs to be lifted, and the game was still in reach at halftime for Marby Park to impact the scoreboard and close the gap,” Keilor coach Mick McGuane said.

“Our captain stepped up to the plate. He had 28 possessions in 60 minutes of footy.

“It was a captain’s game, there’s no question about that.

“He’s in strong form and a really good player at this level.”

Keilor coach Mick McGuane calls the shots. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Barbuto is enjoying another standout season, earning seven mentions in the best in nine games and contributing nine majors.

McGuane said he marvelled at Barbuto’s consistency.

“It’s built on his preparation,” he said.

“He’s got pride in his own performance. That’s why he’s captain.

“He’s got competitive attributes that we all live by … he can play a number of roles for us and he’s very selfless when it comes to that situation.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the way he conducts himself as a player wearing our colours every week. Not only this year, but for what he’s done over the last five or six years. He’s super consistent.”

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The Blues boasted 13 goalkickers in the absence of spearhead Dean Galea on Saturday.

Usual defender Jay White bagged five, while Matthew Clarke and Jackson McMahon kicked two apiece.

McGuane said the fact his side registered a big score without Galea, who has 36 goals from eight games in 2019, would have given his players “enormous belief”.

David Gourdis, a capable swingman, was also on the sidelines.

“He (Galea) had kicked 30 per cent of our goals up until Saturday, so we had to find a way,” McGuane said.

“We manufactured a couple of changes.

“To our boys’ credit, I thought we played dry-weather footy in wet, slippery conditions (in the second half).

“We looked pretty sharp. Our ball use was good. We got the balance right of when to kick and when to handball. It was pretty positive.”

The Blues will next tackle Glenroy this weekend.

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