MPNFL: Pines beats Mt Eliza in spicy encounter
The Pythons drew on one of their great strengths to knock off second placed Mt Eliza and edge closer to a top-five spot in MPNFL Division 1.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Pines made it five wins from their past six games with a ferocious display against a Mt Eliza side which included a bunch of VFL players on Saturday.
The Pythons’ tackle pressure was immense as they won by 26 points, 11.10 (76) to 7.8 (50), at Madsen Reserve.
A heated melee on the quarter time siren added spice to the contest — Mt Eliza captain Shane Tennant required a new jumper after having his No. 8 guernsey ripped to shreds in the scuffle.
Pines led by two points at half-time and made its winning move in the third qurter when it outscored the home side 3.1 to 0.1.
Guy Hendry, Russell Gabriel, Shane Savage and Jarrod Gatt led the way for Pines, with Noble Park recruit Mitch Backman kicking the sealer late in the last quarter.
Pines coach Paddy Swayn said the victory was one of his club’s best in years.
“We had to get back to a bit of our DNA because Mt Eliza’s been the number one tackle and pressure team in the comp to date, and that’s generally been our go,’’ he said.
“So we just made a point of getting back to that.
“I don’t know what the tackles were but we would have had 80 plus I reckon.
“We just made it a real contest which was good.
“I think we kicked 11 goals and had 10 goal scorers so that’s a real positive as well.’’
Mt Eliza’s side included new signing, Sandringham-listed Cody Henness, and VFL listed Fraser Phillips, Tom Small, Bayleigh Walsh and Finlay Bayne.
Mt Eliza’s Lachlan Williams drew gasps from the crowd when he soared high in the second quarter to take a spectacular mark over Pines’ Jacob Boyle.
In other games:
*A flu-ravaged Frankston YCW won its eighth consecutive game, beating Edi-Asp by 44 points, 13.12 (90) to 6.10 (46).
The flu went through the Stonecats during the week and coach Paul Goonan said several players were “well below 100 percent health’’.
But YCW still managed to pull clear after half-time, with Brenton Credlin, Luke Paynter, Jimmy Cahill, Kyle Hutchison, Dylan Roberton and Bailey Angwin showing the way.
Frankston YCW’s side included two Stonecat debutants, former Glenelg SANFL mid-forward Eli Owen and under-19 Lachy Bryce.
Owen has overcome a serious knee injury and is in good nick after a huge pre-season.
*Trent Dennis-Lane slotted seven goals in Bonbeach’s 13-point win over Dromana, 10.8 (68) to 7.13 (55).
Sam Gilbert, Jackson Casey, Tyson Milne, Calvin Lee and Shane McDonald were also influential as the Sharks set up victory with a 5.2 to 0.2 third quarter.
*Frankston Bombers improved their record to 6-3 with a resounding 71-point win over Rosebud, 17.10 (112) to 5.11 (41). Samuel Fox, Harrison Prior, Jason Kingsbury, Dale Sutton, Jarryd Amalfi and Mitchel Charles were named as the Bombers’ best.
*Sorrento climbed into fifth spot with a 40-point win over Red Hill, 10.14 (74) to 4.10 (34).
Ranked: The ex-AFL players who lit up local footy this year
From the bush to the ‘burbs, former AFL players thrilled local football crowds across all corners of the state this year. We’ve named the best – and ranked the top 15. See who heads the list.
Every signing of the EDFL off-season
The EDFL off-season has only just started but some clubs have already well and truly started making moves for 2025. Keep up to date with every signing in our signing tracker.