EDFL: Ozgur Uysal and Pascoe Vale too good for East Keilor
A Pascoe Vale star is starting to produce his best footy after two years away from the game as the Panthers took a big step towards securing finals footy.
Essendon
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We’re quickly being reminded just how good Ozgur Uysal is.
After missing several games through injury in May, Uysal is starting to flourish for Pascoe Vale as the Panthers push for a place in the EDFL Premier Division top four.
The former West Preston Lakeside star and Jack Raines kicked three goals apiece as the Panthers scored a crucial 15.13 (103) to 6.9 (45) win over East Keilor.
Pascoe Vale now sits third ahead of the Cougars on percentage with Strathmore a game further back in fifth position after a big win over Keilor.
Panthers coach Digby Morrell said he was excited to see what type of footy Uysal could produce in the second half of the season.
“He’s had a couple of years out of footy and then he sort of got going about round four or five then got injured and missed a couple of weeks,” he said.
“It’s about just continuing to build his fitness levels and his game day tank.
“He’s an exceptional player. He gets a lot of the ball and knows how to use it really well and we just think he’s going to get better as he goes along.”
Uysal’s goals proved to be decisive for the Panthers with leading goalkicker Matt Watson held goalless for the first time this season.
Ben Allan, Liam Forbes, Michael Ross and Nick Parthenopoulos also helped to shoulder the scoring load with two goals apiece.
It wasn’t a day for the power forwards with East Keilor star Nick Grabowski also being held goalless.
“We spoke about it after the game, that Matt doesn’t always need to kick goals as great as he does,” Morrell said.
“He still had an excellent game. I thought he gave us a great target forward of the ball, but it was a day where the other match-ups were more damaging and it was great to see us to get on the end of those and kick a few goals.
“Even Ross coming down from halfback and kicking a couple of goals.
“We’re really pleased as a coaching group to see that it gives us another stream onto the scoreboard.”
Panthers co-captain Matt Stillman was named the best player on the ground for the visitors in a dominant display across halfback.
Morrell said his “general” excelled in one-on-one contests throughout the game.
“He sets everything up so well for us in defence,” he said.
“At different stages we went 18-on-18 even when they had the win. We just backed our guys to do the job and Matty led the way with that.
“He was excellent.”
Rhys Smith, Ben Caluzzi and Frank Campisi battled hard for the Cougars.
Pascoe Vale will next take on Essendon Doutta Stars while East Keilor will aim to bounce back against Greenvale.
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