EFL: Park Orchards produces 10-goal second quarter to score a 76-point win over Mitcham

A SCINTILLATING third quarter helped Park Orchards to a 76-point victory over Mitcham but the next month will prove if the Sharks are a finals contender.

Park Orchards coach Jarrod Bayliss. Picture: Mark Dadswell

A SCINTILLATING third quarter helped Park Orchards to a 76-point victory over Mitcham on Saturday but the next month will prove if the Sharks are a finals contender.

Leading by just 19 points after a dour first half against the winless Tigers, Park Orchards produced a stunning 10-goal third quarter to lead by 82 points at the final change.

Mitcham was held scoreless in the third term as the Sharks ran away with a 22.9 (141) to 10.5 (65) victory at Domeney Reserve.

The result improved Park Orchards’ record to 3-2 ahead of fixtures against premiership fancy Doncaster East and finals contenders Bayswater and Mooroolbark in the next four weeks.

Park Orchards coach Jarrod Bayliss said belief was growing in the group but Sharks needed to start stringing performances together: their formline reads W, L, W, L, W.

Tom Feher was among Park Orchards best players. Picture: Mark Dadswell

“We’ve come from fourth to third (division) and a lot of those boys have been a part of it, they’ve just got to think a little bit quicker,” Bayliss said.

“It’s going to take us a few weeks to adapt to what the standard is and just keep drumming it into them but we’ve shown some good signs, which is really pleasing.”

Bayliss also pointed to Park Orchards’ reserves and under-19s as a sign the Sharks had made a seamless transition into Division 2, with both sides sitting inside the top four.

“We’ve already played four or five under 19s this year just because they are a crop of talent,” he said.

“The kids are playing better footy than our genuine senior footballers who have been there for a few years.

“Our kids have got poise, use the footy well whereas some of our better players have just struggled to adapt to that next level.

“If we can stay in the contest for long enough, we’ve got enough firepower and enough talent to win more games than we lose.”