EFNL Premier Division: Sam Lowson boots seven as East Ringwood mauls Vermont by 91 points

A VFL Kangaroo kicked a bag as East Ringwood defeated Premier Division powerhouse Vermont for the first time in more than a decade on Saturday.

A VFL Kangaroo led the onslaught as East Ringwood handed Vermont a 91-point drubbing in the Eastern league’s Premier Division on Saturday.

North Melbourne state leaguer Sam Lowson filled his boots with seven majors in the 25.10 (160) to 10.9 (69) rout, with an 11-goal-to-none second term putting the result beyond doubt.

It’s East Ringwood’s first victory over Vermont since Round 15, 2011.

‘Roos senior coach Ben Osborne couldn’t help but marvel at his side’s second-quarter dominance, as Lowson and Trent Farmer (six goals) headed a line of 12 individual goal-kickers for the match.

A VFL bye allowed Lowson (right) to play for East Ringwood on Saturday. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“It was pretty impressive to watch from the coaches box, to be honest,” Osborne said of the second term.

“I think he (Lowson) might’ve kicked a few in that quarter obviously, and Trent kicked six (for the game) as well – they were sort of having a shoot-out at one stage.

“Outside of those two, we had heaps of goal-kickers which was really pleasing, which is what we’re looking for.”

Osborne lauded the handiwork of former VFL ruckman Adam Swierzbiolek and premiership ‘Roo Hannin Mundy as the pair turned the tide in the second term.

Midfielders James Belo and Mitch Farmer got to work as a four-point quarter-time buffer blew out to 75 at the main break.

“‘Swierz’ and Hannin were coming up a very experienced and competitive (Vermont ruckman) Robbie Ross, and they found it quite difficult to ruck against someone like that, and as soon as they started giving us a chance in there, our midfielders just got on top,” Osborne said.

“The boys had a really good look to a nice, open forward line – Trent (Farmer) and (Sam) Lowson were the beneficiaries of some really good, clean ball-use.”

Trent Farmer kicked six on Saturday. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Osborne said “running machines” Sam Walsh and Stuart Donnelly stood out on the wings, driving offensive forays while also repelling numerous Eagles forward attacks.

East Ringwood sits third on the ladder with a 2-1 record in its opening month back in the league’s top division, while Vermont (1-2) occupies sixth.

“We feel like if we bring our contest work and our defensive work, we’ll be in every game and it’s just about execution and offence,” Osborne said.

“On Saturday, we kicked straight and put scoreboard pressure on the opposition and we weren’t able to do that in the first two rounds.”

And the feat of knocking over the Eastern league’s most successful club for the first time in more than a decade certainly wasn’t lost on many of the rusted-on East Ringwood faithful.

“There were a lot of elder statesmen there that were pretty keen to knock Vermont off after many years of being done by them … there were a lot of happy elder supporters on Saturday night,” Osborne said.

East Ringwood is away to Doncaster in Round 4 while Vermont hosts Balwyn.

East Ringwood 4.1 15.6 19.7 25.10 (160)

Vermont 3.3 3.3 5.7 10.9 (69)

East Ringwood

Goals:

S. Lowson 7, T. Farmer 6, A. Swierzbiolek, J. Belo 2, H. Mundy, M. Kane, S. Ali, S. Walsh, T. Naughtin, C. Preston, D. Collier, S. Donnelly

Best players:

S. Walsh, S. Donnelly, S. Lowson, T. Farmer, A. Swierzbiolek, D. Delaney

Vermont

Goals:

A. Kalcovski 3, Z. Hanlen, D. Furey, Z. Thiessen, N. Bourke, L. Johns, L. Vassis, C. Daraio

Best players:

C. Daraio, M. Arnot, L. Vassis, L. Johns, R. Ross, T. Johnson