EDFL: Moonee Valley score stunning upset over Roxburgh Park

Moonee Valley coach Ian Denny has hailed the “powerful” impact of a 16-year-old young gun who produced a stunning final quarter to lift the Fog to an upset win over Roxburgh Park.

Zayas Leonedas is quickly becoming a fan favourite at Moonee Valley.

The 16-year-old young gun has shown he has a bright future after a “powerful” final quarter display as the Fog upset Roxburgh Park 10.13 (73) to 8.8 (56).

In just his second senior game, Leonedas kicked his side’s only two goals of the last 30 minutes into a strong breeze including a left-food checkside from the pocket after receiving a handball from Roushed Halabi under significant pressure.

They were goals which lifted Moonee Valley off the foot of the EDFL Division 1 ladder, one game clear of Sunbury Kangaroos.

Even Moonee Valley coach Ian Denny admitted he was left a little stunned by how his teenage sensation rose to the occasion.

“He had his initiation against Airport West and did okay to be in our better players,” he said.

“but he took it to another level — it was a great experience for him. That first goal, the checkside or banana whatever you want to call it, really lifted the club, not just those players on the ground.

“It was awesome. Costa Detsikas kicked two goals in the third quarter from about 45m out on angles as well and they never looked like missing.

“All of those efforts were really powerful especially to come from players who are a little lesser known outside of our four walls.”

Ned Wilson finished with two goals. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Despite kicking with the wind in the opening quarter, Moonee Valley found itself on the back foot after kicking 1.6 to 2.0.

But they were able to remain in the contest after holding the Magpies to just two goals in the second, an effort Denny described as “enormous”.

Some restructuring at halftime allowed the home side to kick clear after the main break before having to “hold on” in the last.

“In the first quarter, we kept turning the ball over going forward,” Denny said.

“We were asking our forwards to roll up and that’s when Roxburgh Park’s defenders held back. But they weren’t just kicking the ball back to us, they were running and spreading to hurt us on transition.

“We changed that up after halftime and it had the right impact for us.

Moonee Valley celebrated the game with an Indigenous jumper. Photo: Facebook.

“I think we deserved that win. The scoreboard hasn’t always reflected how we’ve played this season.

“We finally got a reasonable side out there on Saturday and were able to come away with the win.”

The Fog will next take on the Sunbury Kangaroos in a game which will go a long way to deciding which side will go down to Division 2 next season.

But Denny only sees it as the next challenge for his side.

“There had been a lot of talk about that being the game,” he said.

“But before the weekend we made a concerted effort to focus on the last five games and we’ve shown our best is good enough. It was a perfect start for us.”

Matt Patane finished with three goals for Roxburgh Park while Travis Cooke was named his side’s best.