EDFL scores: Lynden Dunn stars with six goals for West Coburg

Marquee recruit Lynden Dunn produced his best performance of the Essendon District Football League season to lead his team to an emphatic win.

Lynden Dunn was best afield for West Coburg. Picture: Hamish Blair

West Coburg’s star off-season signing delivered a commanding performance as his side swept aside an Essendon District Football League finals rival on Saturday.

Lynden Dunn booted six goals in a best-afield display for the Burgers, with the home team cruising to a 54-point win at Shore Reserve, 17.6 (108) to 8.6 (54).

West Coburg extended its advantage at every change to improve its record to 5-1, leaving it equal on points with East Keilor and Tullamarine.

Dunn has been prominent in the past month after signing on as a playing assistant coach following 198 games for Collingwood and Melbourne at AFL level.

“He’s a very good mark of course and a very, very accurate kick,” president David Gloury said of Dunn.

“I didn’t see his stats, but I can’t recall him missing a shot on goal.

“If we can get it into his hands, he does convert very, very well.”

Dunn has not kicked less than two goals from his four appearances in 2021 and has 15 from four games.

He is likely to cause myriad headaches for defenders in the second half of the season as he adjusts to life in the suburban ranks.

“I think there’s always an adjustment (period) for anyone who comes down from a higher level back to local footy,” Gloury said.

“Obviously the game doesn’t move as quickly and the delivery isn’t as good as what it is at that higher level.

“But Lynden gets himself in the right spots, is very vocal on field, so I think he’s really settled in exceptionally well. It’s showing with him building with his performances each week.

“I thought he was terrific on Saturday, not just with what he kicked on the scoreboard, but just his general organisation on field as well was just first class.”

Jesse Martini booted three goals for the Burgers. Picture: Steve Tanner

In more positive news for the Burgers, Jesse Martini, Steven Mete and Patrick Martin contributed three goals apiece.

With Daniel Archer sidelined and Liam Bowkett goalless after impressing in the ruck, the second-placed side showed it has plenty of options in attack apart from its headline act.

“When you’ve got eight, nine, 10 goalkickers every week, that’s exactly what you want to see,” Gloury said.

Reigning best-and-fairest Abdikhane Fitaax continued his red-hot form off the half-back flank, while youngster Emilio Rinaudo also fired in defence.

“Because of his work, he probably wasn’t able to get to as many sessions during the pre-season as he would have hoped,” Gloury said of Fitaax.

“It’s probably taken him a little but longer to get into his footy, but the last two weeks he’s been terrific and back to his best-and-fairest winning form of 2019.”

West Coburg will face Rupertswood, East Keilor and Airport West in a testing three weeks before the halfway mark of the campaign.

Archer is chance to return this weekend in a boost, but Gloury said the club “did not have too many excuses” injury wise.

“I think we’ve been building nicely, but we’ve got some real challenges coming up over the next three weeks,” he said.