EDFL 2021: Cleary brothers star as Avondale Heights scores first win
The EDFL Premier Division club is eyeing one of the competition’s biggest scalps after taking down Maribyrnong Park.
Essendon
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Avondale Heights is eyeing the big scalp of powerhouse Aberfeldie after scoring its first victory of the Essendon District Football League season on Saturday.
The Heights toppled Maribyrnong Park by 20 points away from home, 16.12 (108) to 13.10 (88), despite a seven-goal haul from Lions star Brandon Ryan.
The success came after they went down to Pascoe Vale by six points in their Premier Division season opener.
The visitors broke the game open with a blistering seven-goal-to-three third term after they trailed by a point at the main break.
“We probably got some dominance from the midfield on the inside,” first-year Avondale Heights coach Paddy Byrne said.
“We got some pretty deep entries and having an extra tall allowed us to play Tommy Russell forward.
“We got it in good spots and got the score on the board.”
Russell, Danko Bzenic and Sean Bolger provided constant headaches for Maribyrnong Park in the attacking half, booting three goals apiece.
Coburg-listed Donnacadh Cleary starred in the midfield after a quiet showing in Round 1, while Ruairi Cleary marshalled the backline.
Josiah Garisto shone as an intercept defender in the absence of skipper Matt Darby, while stand-in skipper Justin Morris and Liam Byrne also impressed in the middle of the ground.
“We probably let the one the week before get away, so we were fairly keen to get on the board,” Byrne said.
“It was a good result.”
After an encouraging start to 2021, the Heights will face Abers and 2019 premier Keilor in the next fortnight.
Aberfeldie defeated Pascoe Vale by 13 points on Saturday, leaving Byrne hopeful his team was capable of causing an upset.
“Abers are as gettable as they have been to be honest since I’ve been around,” he said.
“It was a pretty tight game against Pascoe Vale, so it shows they’re beatable. We’ll see how we go.”
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