James Dwyer best afield with four goals in Strathmore’s Essendon District Football League win over Avondale Heights

AN UNLIKELY figure spearheaded Strathmore’s vital Essendon District Football League victory over Avondale on Saturday.

Tyson Mitchem was one of Strathmore’s best on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

AN UNLIKELY figure spearheaded Strathmore’s vital Essendon District Football League victory on Saturday.

Medium-sized forward James Dwyer bagged four majors in the Mores’ 42-point Premier Division win over Avondale Heights, 14.11 (95) to 8.5 (53), to stake his claim for a regular spot in Nathan Grima’s team.

Dwyer made only one senior appearance last season and spent the opening rounds in the reserves before earning a call-up against Maribyrnong Park in Round 5.

“He’s been around the club for a while and predominately played reserves,” Grima said.

“He’s done a power of work through the pre-season, played well in the reserves in the first four games, got an opportunity and got a good reward for effort.

“We don’t expect four goals from him every week, but just for him to come in and apply the manic pressure that he does … he really leaves nothing out there.

“That’s why, as a coach, you’re really happy for those blokes when they have some success because they work so hard. He’s done that.”

Strathmore trailed by 19 points at the first break before piling on 13 goals to four in the remaining three quarters.

Former Essendon-listed midfielder Nick O’Brien, Tyson Mitchem, Andrew Horne and Luke Jarrad led the revival as the sixth-placed Mores improved their record to 3-3.

“I thought from quarter-time onwards was the best three quarters we’ve put together consistently,” Grima said.

“We played with a bit better method and structure than we had the previous four or five weeks.

“We didn’t start that well and were getting cleaned up in the midfield and stoppages.”

Strathmore has a chance to gather some much-needed momentum with clashes against West Coburg (eighth) and Essendon Doutta Stars (10th) in the next fortnight.

“We haven’t played anywhere near our best and we’ve got a lot of guys to come back,” Grima said.

“But if we’re good enough to win the next two and you get to 5-3, you’re thereabouts.”

Elsewhere, unbeaten ladder-leader Maribyrnong Park was dominant in a 51-point victory over Keilor, while Josh Pound (eight goals) and Jayden Foster (five) combined for 13 majors to lead Aberfeldie to a 67-point win over Glenroy.

Essendon Doutta Stars went down by 42 points against Pascoe Vale.

In Division 1, Airport West is sitting pretty on top of the table after toppling Hillside by 42 points, while East Keilor slipped to 1-4 with a 50-point loss to Tullamarine.