MPNFL: Lachlan Williams and Ryan Gillis kick six goals apiece in Somerville win

A Somerville star had plenty to say to the Mornington bench as the Eagles continued their hot start in MPNFL Division 2.

“He played one of the best games of local footy I’ve seen,” Somerville coach Brad Canavan enthused after his co-captain Lachlan Williams’ dominating performance against Mornington.

Williams, the former Frankston Dolphin, racked up over 30 possessions and kicked six goals as his team trounced the Bulldogs by 63 points in the MPNFL Division 2 match at Alexandra Park on Saturday.

The Eagles scorched to a 37-point lead at half-time and ended up winning 19.15 (129) to 9.12 (66).

“Lachie Williams was ridiculous yesterday,” Canavan said.

“I watched Devon Meadows versus Mornington and Brandon White was ridiculous that day. I thought, ‘wowee, what a player’, and Lachie Williams had a ripper yesterday. I think he had mid 30 touches and kicked six playing mid forward. He was electric.”

Lachlan Williams playing for Frankston. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Williams’ teammate Ryan Gillis was also in eye-popping form, booting six goals, including four goals in a five-minute burst of brilliance in the third quarter.

The heavily tattooed “G-Man”, complete with mohawk hairdo and lime boots, is the Eagles’ barometer; when he’s on, Somey sizzles.

“Ryan Gillis has been phenomenal all year,” Canavan said.

“Against the odds, what he does as a forward, against the odds, if you know what I mean…he gets nothing, mate. He gets nothing.

“And he’s kicked six yesterday. His work rate is phenomenal, his repeat efforts are phenomenal, his marking is strong. I’ve never seen a forward get nothing but create so much from it.”

One of local footy’s great characters, Gillis engaged in banter with Mornington’s bench in the second quarter.

“He kicked a goal and was rah rah at the Mornington box and the Mornington young fellas behind the goals were getting stuck into him,” Canavan said.

“He loves it but it puts him off his game. I called him over at one of the breaks and said, ‘when you go like that you start kicking points and you are of no value’. He’s an intelligent footballer and he goes, ‘yeah’… he then kicked four in about four minutes in the third quarter, he just went ballistic.

“He and Williams kicked seven goals between them in about 10 minutes

“What he (Gillis) does, I just couldn’t wrap him up enough.”

Jake Haskett, Nathan Gillis, ruckman Tom Roberts and defender Tom Beckett, who did a good job on Mornington skipper Adrian Speedy, were also named in the Eagles’ best.

Somerville players at quarter time.

Somerville, which last won a flag in 1986, is 5-1 and enjoying its best start to a season in years.

The Eagles’ only loss was to Langwarrin last week when it led the Kangas by five points at the last change but were overrun.

Canavan said he was proud of the way his side bounced back on Saturday.

“We had some really good patches of dominant footy and then some very quiet periods where Mornington controlled the game,” he said.

“In the end it was a good response to falling in a bit of a hole the week before in the last quarter. Proud of the boys’ response.”

Somerville is a serious side and many believe the Eagles are capable of challenging for the title.

Canavan said the Eagles’ core group that has played under him since 2019 had “galvanised” the club.

“We played our sixth and seventh debutants (this season) yesterday,” he said.

“We’re really pleased we’ve been able to debut some young guys. We’ve played nine of the under 19s from late last year. We think that’s pretty significant. And they’ve all come in and had an impact which has been pleasing.

“The Gillis brothers, Luke Burton, Tom Roberts, the Haskett brothers, Mitch Mantell, Patty Nagel, those guys who have been there since I took over have been the glue which has kept us on the straight and narrow.”

Mornington, which is 1-5, lost key players Riley Welsh and Nathan Heath before the game.

“We had a very inexperienced side,” Mornington coach Simon Goosey said.

“I went across the board and I think we had seven guys who have played 50 games. The rest have played under 20.”

Langwarrin’s Joel Bateman (left) and Blake Peach. Picture: Valeriu Campan

In other games:

*Undefeated Langwarrin overcame a scoreless opening quarter to beat Devon Meadows by 60 points, 13.14 (92) to 4.8 (32), at Glover Reserve.

Langy lost ruckman Matt Naughton with a corky in the second quarter and he didn’t take any further part in the game. In his place youngster Cooper De Merlo stepped up to ruck for the remainder of the game, and did it well.

“Probably the scoreboard flattered us a bit because we kicked away in the last quarter,” Langwarrin coach Josh Beard said.

“But it was actually a bloody good hit out.”

Langwarrin’s best included Billy Rolfe, who is relishing his new role in the backline, Mitch Cuthbert down back and Nick Tuddenham.

“At the moment we’re 6-0 so we can’t complain but the challenges will come, sides are doing their homework,” Beard said.

Langwarrin young gun Chad Mulvogue made his VFL debut with Collingwood on Saturday and kicked a goal.

*Chelsea was plagued by inaccurate goal kicking but still was good enough to beat Tyabb by 34 points, 9.19 (73) to 5.9 (39).

Mitchell Viney, Todd Gardiner, David Barton, Jacob Spasevski and Mat Baxter (three goals) were named in the Seagulls’best.

*Former AFL man Ryan Bastinac turned in another best on ground display to help Pearcedale to a 27-point win over Crib Point, 14.14 (98) to 10.11 (71).

Kaolan Thornton, Archie McGuiness, Luke Settineri, Finn Jakstas and Will Dalgleish were also named in the 4-2 Dales’ best.

*Darcy Hope fired off six goals in Karingal’s 70-point win over Hastings, 19.8 (122) to 7.10 (52).

Callan Dixon, Josh Bradley and Sam Glenn were also in mint form for the Bulls, who have won three in a row.

*Seaford made it three wins on the bounce with an impressive 74-point win over Rye, 24.16 (160) to 13.8 (86). Tigers ruckman Macklin Raine was the dominant man on the ground, while Damien Rayson and Brodie Scully kicked five goals apiece and Luke Kranzbuhler and Matt Kennedy kicked four apiece. Jess McManus, Joel Filippone and Ishak Bashir were also among the Tigers’ best.