MPNFL: Karingal storms home to beat Mornington in Division 2
It was an MPNFL win to savour as the Bulls’ key forwards flicked the switch and their skipper ran himself to exhaustion.
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Karingal coach Luke Forsyth says Good Friday’s come-from-behind win over Mornington was “the best win I’ve ever been a part of”.
The Bulls trailed by 27 points in the last quarter before kicking the last six goals of the game to win by 13 points, 14.9 (93) to 11.14 (80), in front of a 1000-strong crowd at Ballam Park.
Former Frankston Dolphins key forward Riley D’Arcy ignited Karingal with three goals in the last term, and young gun Seth Kelly also slotted three goals in the last 15 minutes.
Bulls skipper Dale Alanis (28 possessions and 2 goals) ran himself to exhaustion as he lifted his side in the last quarter.
“Dale couldn’t breath after the game, I think he left everything out on the field,” Forsyth said.
“The mids in that last eight minutes, I think a lot of them were just running around on adrenalin, like Sammy Glenn, Dale, Oscar Whitty...those boys didn’t rotate, they stayed around the footy and kept getting their hands on it and giving our big fellas up forward first use.”
D’Arcy and Darcy Hope, who kicked four goals, were twin towers up forward for the Bulls, D’Arcy sparking his side — “c’mon, boys, let’s go” — with exuberance each time a goal was scored.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s a pretty emotional fella,” Forsyth said of D’Arcy.
“Even at training…he’s emotional when we are doing a full ground drill on a Tuesday night which is great.
“He gives us that spark.
“I say to him, ‘every time you get a goal I just want you time celebrate it, it just drags blokes along with you, and it’s exciting’.”
Karingal defenders Cal Dixon and Matt Robinson had 32 disposals apiece and were vital in the comeback, turning defence into attack in a blink of an eye.
“Cal and Robbo off half back were super,” Forsyth said.
“They’re obviously good ball users and they tidied up a bit of our disposal deficiency I suppose that was letting us down in that first half.”
Jordan Pomeroy was also influential in the backline, providing a big, strong presence, and the classy and tenacious Sam Glenn was involved in several telling passages of play in the last quarter.
Mornington coach Simon Goosey said it was heartbreaking to see his side surrender a big lead in the last quarter.
“It was…they (Karingal) were full of run,” he said.
“We missed a couple of goals that would have nearly sunk them and then they got on a bit of a roll.
“Our blokes were cramping and a few mistakes, basic skill mistakes, allowed them to get the four points.”
Mornington lost skipper Adrian Speedy with a back injury in the first quarter.
Goosey said Speedy would be “touch and go’’ for the Bulldogs’ Anzac Day clash with Devon Meadows.
“But I won’t be risking him,” Goosey said.
Nathan Heath, Riley Welsh and Angus Rowler were named in Mornington’s best players.
Forsyth said it was a relief to win after Karingal lost its opening game of the season to Devon Meadows.
“Not that there’s a monkey on your back because it’s round two but you just want to get the ball rolling and get a bit of reward for effort,” he said.
“It feels like we’ve been doing a pre season for nearly two years, we’ve got a really good group and seeing the work they’ve put in, to get that win starts the season I think.”
Karingal hosts Langwarrin on Saturday.
Former St Kilda player Tom Curren, who hurt a knee in the opening round, is “fifty-fifty’’ to return to the Bulls side, although ruckman Laughlin Cowell, who missed under COVID protocols, and Jarrod Sullivan should be available.
In the other Good Friday game, Rye banked its first win of the season, beating Tyabb, 15.14 (104) to 7.6 (48), with Jarrod Richards, Dekodda Thomson-Irwin and Andrew Dean (5 goals) showing the way.
Thomson-Irwin has taken over as Rye’s number one ruckman this season and has been impressive, while Dean has kicked nine goals in two games since returning from Tooradin-Dalmore.
Round 3:
Saturday: Crib Point v Rye, Hastings v Rye, Karingal v Langwarrin, Pearcedale v Somerville, Chelsea v Seaford. Monday (Anzac Day): Mornington v Devon Meadows.
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