MPFNL 2023: Langwarrin’s youngsters fire to ease relegation fears

The Kangaroos had an “oh, no” moment before clinching a vital win over Bonbeach in MPNFL Division 1.

Langwarrin’s Blake Peach (left) was among his side’s best players in its win over Bonbeach. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Langwarrin has celebrated a lot of wins in recent seasons but few were as sweet as this.

With the threat of relegation hovering, Langy rallied late to beat Bonbeach by 12 points in MPFNL Division 1 on Saturday.

The Kangaroos booted the last four goals of the game at Peter Hogan Oval to win 10.8 (68) to 8.8 (56).

Langwarrin is still second last on the ladder, but it has now opened up a six-point buffer between itself and bottom side Bonbeach.

“It gives us a little bit of breathing space,” Langwarrin co-coach Josh Beard said.

Beard said the bottom-of-the-ladder clash was packed full of intensity and had a finals feel to it.

Langwarrin co-coach Josh Beard. Picture: Valeriu Campan

With scores knotted at the last break, the heat went up a notch in the last quarter, especially when Bonbeach kicked the first two goals into the breeze to burst clear.

“I thought, ‘oh, no’,” Beard said.

“The crowd really got involved.

“We were kicking to the far end and we answered pretty quickly with two and then got two more and all of a sudden they’re kicking into the breeze and we’re two goals in front.

“It was a nice way to finish.”

Beard heaped praise on young Jack Orchard, nicknamed “Apples”, who went into the ruck in the last quarter after Nick Hammill, who had been outstanding, was sore.

“He (Orchard) was fantastic, he gave us an extra player with his leg speed and he had some critical clearances in some big moments,” Beard said.

“For a 19-year-old kid to come in and do that was fantastic.”

Langy forward Curtis Bywater kicked two big goals in the last quarter and young Ben Charles rolled forward and kicked two.

Josh Bateman also slotted an important goal.

Langy ball magnet Zach Andrewartha was named best-afield while Blake Peach’s leadership shone.

“He stood up when the chips were down,’’ Beard said.

Teenager Max Poulios debuted for Langwarrin and did an excellent job down back.

Langy’s young side belted out the club song in the rooms after the win, with survival in Division 1 looking likely — nine months after winning the Division 2 premiership, undefeated.

“You come from a season where you don’t lose a game to being challenged every week,’’ Beard said.

“We’re not blaming injuries or unavailabilities — we haven’t had much luck this year — particularly with players who are tall.

“But to stand up when we were challenged and win the game of footy…you go away from winning premierships and the small things become probably bigger achievements. Yeah, I was just proud of the boys.’’

Former AFL-Saint Sam Dunell kicked four goals for Bonbeach, with Jake Kovacic and Calvin Lee also impressing.

The Sharks (1-11) face Red Hill and Rosebud in the next two rounds.