EFL: Vermont cruises to a 62-point win over Rowville to move two games clear atop the Division 1 ladder

VERMONT dished out a harsh reality check to Rowville in the top-of-the-table clash, walking to a 62-point win to move two games clear at the top of the Division 1 ladder.

Liam Buxton flies for a mark. Picture: Valeriu Campan

THIS time it was Rowville to feel the fury of Vermont.

The top-of-the-table clash proved to be fizzer on Saturday as the Eagles strolled to a 62-point win, dishing out a harsh reality check to the Hawks.

Vermont extended its lead at every change at Seebeck Oval before finishing with a 16.16 (112) to 7.8 (50) win to move two games clear at the top of the Division 1 ladder.

Rowville, who remain in second courtesy of its percentage with a 5-2 record, was held to just one behind in the first term before Vermont took a 35-point lead into halftime.

While this @footyefl Division 1 season is regarded as a tight competition, it's probably fair to say @VermontFC is again the benchmark. The Eagles past four wins have been by an average of 15 goals, including yesterday's 62-point win over @Rowvillefc.

— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) May 26, 2018

The result was sealed by the final change when the Eagles kicked four goals to two in the third term to take a 52-point lead to three-quarter time.

After finding its feet in the opening few rounds of the season, Vermont coach Harmit Singh said his side was starting to click.

The Eagles past four wins have been by an average of 15 goals to again set the benchmark in 2018.

“We definitely wouldn’t have been expecting that (margin), Rowville has been playing some really good footy,” Singh said.

“I think the critical thing for us was our start, 20 first-quarter tackles, plus-seven inside 50s in the first quarter and just our pressure was really good across the board.

“Starts are crucial just to build some momentum and scoreboard pressure, we just chipped away over the course of the day.

“As a group we sent the ball inside 50 on 62 occasions and gave our guys a chance, probably could have connected a little bit better and finished off our work but all things being equal, ran the game out reasonably strongly.”

Star goalkicking trio Brett Eddy, Jake Best and Andrew Ainger combined for 10 goals in just their second game alongside each other, but Hawks defenders Mason Crozier and Steven Georgiou battled manfully to be listed in the Hawks’ best players.

Joey Fisher put in his best game for the season since returning from Box Hill, while wingman Brook Kainey was also among the Eagles’ top performers in just his eighth senior appearance.

Elsewhere in Division 1, Blackburn survived a mighty scare from Montrose to score a two-point win to record its third consecutive victory.