EDFL 2019: Sunbury Kangaroos hammer Northern Saints by 116 points
In the past fortnight, first-year EDFL club Sunbury Kangaroos has swept aside finals contenders Coburg Districts and Northern Saints by a combined margin of 253 points. Can they be beaten?
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How do Sunbury Kangaroos guard against the threat of complacency?
The first-year EDFL club is sitting pretty on top of the ladder with a 9-0 record and a handsome percentage of 278.31.
In the past fortnight, the Kangaroos swept aside finals contenders Coburg Districts and Northern Saints by a combined margin of 253 points and appear almost untouchable.
They have justified the pre-season hype and established themselves as a raging flag favourite.
“Anyone who gets a bit complacent, they’ll get found out pretty quick,” Sunbury Kangaroos coach Anthony Leydin said.
“There’s good pressure on for spots and we don’t think there’s anything really to be getting too carried away about at this point.
“The next couple of months will be what it’s really about. Admittedly, while you have one eye on that, the other eye is pretty much on what’s directly in front of you.”
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After the Kangaroos knocked off the Saints by 27 points in the opening round, Saturday’s fixture looked an intriguing one.
But by halftime, the margin was 55 points and any hopes of a close contest were erased.
The Kangaroos cruised to a 116-point win, 25.14 (164) to 7.6 (48), star midfielder Tierone Cuffe continuing his superb season with a best-afield performance.
Michael Kilty bagged six goals and Lachlan Baddeley five.
The Kangaroos have had plenty of impressive performers this year, but Cuffe has been a standout.
“He’s a good barometer for us and is in and under pretty much all day,” Leydin said.
“He takes a fair bit of punishment, but just keeps getting up and keeps going.”
The Kangaroos crossed from the RDFL over the off-season and, while it is only June, they are staring at promotion to Division 1.
They have an experienced group and are only getting better as the season progresses.
“We seem to be in a pretty good groove,” Leydin said.
“Obviously guys playing together for a longer period of time, the better understanding we have of each other and know what our capabilities are and play to our strengths.
“Obviously everyone’s got some injuries, and we do as well, but for the most pat we’ve had a fair bit of stability through our line up, and that’s made us be that little bit more predictable to each other.”
The Kangaroos will meet East Sunbury away from home this weekend.
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