EDFL 2021: Hillside’s Hisham Kerbatieh bags five goals on Good Friday

A VFL-listed player booted five goals as the new-look Sharks knocked off an EDFL Division 1 rival.

Hillside star Jackson Volpato was among his team’s best. Picture: Jamie Morey

Hillside’s recruits produced eye-catching performances as the Essendon District Football League Division 1 outfit toppled rival Taylors Lakes in their Good Friday season opener.

After losing several key players since the end of the 2019 campaign, the Sharks scored a 36-point win on their home turf with their inclusions proving influential.

VFL-listed forward/midfielder Hisham Kerbatieh booted five goals, including three in the third term, and was a class above despite failing to earn a mention in the winning side’s best players.

Kerbatieh, who has signed with Northern Bullants, showed he will have a significant impact in the second tier when available as he spent most of the match in the attacking half.

Hisham Kerbatieh during his days at Avondale Heights. Picture: Jamie Morey

“Some of his pressure, his chase-down efforts, really kept us in the game early, and he was just chipping away hitting the scoreboard,” Hillside coach Charlie Denaro said.

“He got a fair bit of heat from Taylors Lakes as expected … and he got some really good reward in the second half.

“He looked like our most likely forward, so until someone else stepped up, I was bit reluctant to get him out of our forward 50.

“He had a couple of spurts in the middle, his fitness is fantastic, but we just needed to use him a bit more forward obviously with the scoreboard pressure we needed to apply.”

Denaro rated midfielder Zak Wunhym, who featured in Keilor’s 2019 premiership side, as best afield.

“He gets to every contest. His workrate is enormous,” he said.

Rusiate Komaitai, who has returned to the club, also impressed in the ruck after Shannon Ball went down with injury in the opening term.

Former Glenroy player Josh Trembearth was also among the best, while another new face in Lachlan Henson bagged three goals, along with Bailey Ryan.

Star skipper Jackson Volpato was also important as the Sharks overcame injury concerns on a 30-degree day to kick off their season with a win.

Ball (hamstring) is set for a stint on the sidelines, while Jake Camilleri (blood blister), Joel Bonnici (groin) and Stephen Syme (shoulder) are all expected to be fit for their team’s clash with East Keilor on April 17.

Hillside booted 12 goals to six in the second half to prevail 16.14 (110) to 11.8 (74).

“I think we overused the ball in the first half. We weren’t hitting targets and our turnovers were incredibly high,” Denaro said.

“It definitely contributed to keeping Taylors Lakes well and truly in the game. They were able to convert from our mistakes.

“In the second half, we just went a bit more direct and used the ball a bit smarter.

“We had five players making their senior debuts and four players making their first appearances for our club.

“We’ve got a long way to go and we’re under no illusions about that, but we played 20 minutes of football and were able to score relatively easily.

“We know we’ve got a long road, but there were enough good signs after a really shaky first half.”