MPFNL: Karingal had plenty to celebrate at the weekend with milestones galore

A father-son duo played for the first time while another member of the integral Bulls family reached a milestone of their own. See all that happened across Division Two of the MPFNL.

Burke Day

By about 4:30pm, Saturday was quickly renamed “Burke Day” in a fairy-tale afternoon for one of the Bulls’ most important family’s.

Rising Bull Jackson Burke was given the opportunity to run out with father, and club legend, Mick for the first time on Saturday.

This was all after club president Sara Burke broke through for 200 Bulls’ netball games.

Bulls’ coach Luke Forsyth said the day quickly had a title adjustment as the celebration grew.

“Burkey (Mick) is obviously a club legend, he played a couple of games in the twos this year and he was coming back from a calf injury,” he said.

“He was booked in to play in the twos this weekend but then a couple of the boys pulled out on Thursday night, Friday afternoon, so we looked at it as a good opportunity to let the father and son combo happen.

“It was our last home game and I am one for a bit of a fairy-tale, so I thought if anyone deserved it, it was the Burke’s.

“On top of that, it was Sara’s 200th game for netball, so it was a club-first as well.

“We renamed the day ‘Burke Day’ in the end.”

Jackson (L) with father Mick Burke post game on Saturday. Picture: FACEBOOK

Sara Burke celebrated her 200th game on Saturday.

Jackson, still eligible for the under-19 competition, has played 10 senior matches this season while his dad is no stranger to the seniors, making well over 350 appearances in a decorated career.

The crowd were itching to see the pair involved in a chain of play together during the Bulls’ 15.12 (102) to 8.10 (58) win over Tyabb, but Forsyth said some umpiring and a rotten bounce left them without.

“There was a couple of opportunities, the umpire wasn’t in on the fairy-tale, he called Burkey senior holding the ball when he had the chance to kick a goal,” he joked.

“Then in the last quarter Jackson handballed it to Mick in the pocket and it was dribbling in, the crowd was going nuts, but it bounced out bounds unfortunately.

“There wasn’t the fairy-tale of a goal but it was a pretty special day for the boys to play together and it’s something a lot of us will never forget.”

Darcy Hope kicked six goals and was alongside Jordan Pomeroy, Alex Frawley, Sam Glenn, Agape Patolo and Zac Bartling as the Bulls’ best.

Darcy Sawyer, Corey Buchan, James Hammond, Christopher Harris, Bradley Williams and Simon Rahilly were Tyabb’s best.

Michael Burke when coaching the Bulls. Picture: Chris Eastman

Somerville’s Lachlan Williams and Devon Meadows’ Nick Battle will have a big say in the 2023 finals. Pictures: Valeriu Campan

Nick Battle.

Edithvale-Aspendale, meanwhile, has set up a tantalising finish to the season after claiming yet another trouncing victory.

The Eagles thumped Hastings 20.22 (142) to 10.4 (64) but will now need to defeat Mornington in the stand-alone night match next week to ensure a finals berth as Pearcedale (sixth) plays second-last Seaford.

The Dales defeated Rye 25.21 (171) to 12.8 (80) at the weekend, meaning they only need to defeat the Tigers and for first-placed Doggies to beat the Eagles to sneak into fifth.

Mornington too has plenty to play for with Karingal breathing down its neck for top spot.

Somerville remains a mathematical chance to finish with a double-chance after a sizzling opening term set up its win over Seaford.

The Eagles put 59 points to the Tigers’ nil at the first change in the eventual 24.16 (160) to 4.5 (29) victory.

Mason de Wit booted five goals while Lachlan Williams was the Eagles’ best.

The Eagles need to defeat Rye while also hoping Tyabb upset Devon Meadows in the final round to jump into third.

That Devon Meadows outfit defeated Crib Point in a canter, 15.17 (107) to 3.5 (23).

Joel Hillis, Rory Hillis and Brodie McConnell all kicked three goals while Nick Battle and Dean Kent found a stack of the footy.

In the final game of the round, Mornington all but ended Chelsea’s campaign with a 22.19 (151) to 11.20 (86) victory.

Perry Lewis-Smith, Harry Lloyd, Angus Rowler, Broden Bird, Bryce Dinger and James Cameron were the Dogs’ best while Jesse Davies, Nicholas Stamatis, Lindyn Vraca, Joziah Nannup, Todd Gardiner and Matthew Dussin were Chelsea’s best.