MPNFL 2021: Hastings hands Crib Point a 10-goal thrashing in Division 2

A potential AFL draft prospect who has been likened to St Kilda’s Hunter Clark sparkled for Hastings in MPNFL Division 2.

Clayton Gay at last year’s Draft training session. Pic: Michael Klein

A potential AFL draft prospect turned it on after half-time to help Hastings to a 10-goal win over Crib Point in MPNFL Division 2 on Saturday.

Clayton Gay, who has been likened to St Kilda’s Hunter Clark, secured a permit to play from the Dandenong Stingrays and unleashed an eye-catching display in the Blues’ 14.17 (101) to 6.5 (41) victory.

“His second half was exceptional,” Hastings coach Clint Einsiedel said.

“He just needed to find the pace of the game and how it was played compared to NAB league level and once he did that he really stepped up to the plate.

“It was our good luck and Crib Point probably didn’t want to see his name on the team sheet.’’

Gay, who possesses a penetrating left-foot and ‘X-factor’, played a couple of senior games in 2019 for Hastings, where his grandfather John Watson holds legendary status.

On Saturday, he played alongside his brother-in-law Ben King and cousin Luke Clark.

Dylan Wilson made an outstanding debut for Hastings, winning the Anzac Medal for best on ground.

Hastings premiership player Nathan Gray continued his impressive start to the season and Ben Schroen did well.

Hastings is 2-2 and faces ladder leaders Langwarrin this weekend.

“We haven’t had much luck with injuries and last Saturday we got everyone sort of back on deck and put in a pretty good performance,” Einsiedel said.

“Next week (against Langy) will be the test to see where we are at.”

Patty Nagel was in sublime form.

Exciting Somerville young gun Patty Nagel kicked what has been dubbed “the goal of the season” in the Eagles’ 28-point win over Karingal, 16.11 (107) to 11.13 (79).

“He ran from half back, toe-poked one through and he ended up in the pocket near the main gate,’’ Somerville coach Brad Canavan said.

“He was able to get through some traffic and just hit a laser — he didn’t bend it around the corner — he just kicked this perfect ball.

“He was just clean all day when everyone else was fumbling or slipping over.”

Nagel was awarded the Anzac Medal for best on ground.

Ryan Gillis.

Somerville kicked five goals in the third quarter to set up a match-winning 16-point lead at the last change.

Canavan said his players responded to a simple approach to the game after successive losses.

“We just went back to basics during the week, no video analysis, no looking at stats,” he said.

“After we lost to Rye, we had two or three minutes looking at a couple of of things that we put up on the board and Ryan Gillis goes, ‘you know what coach? F... that s..., let’s just get back to playing footy.’

“And I thought, you know what I’m going to do that next week.

“So I just stripped it back and just trained, just trained for footy. I think it’s helped a lot of our boys.

“It was a pretty good message form the G Man. When guys like that speak up in his own G Man way you sort of listen.”

Gillis fired off four goals, as did Paul Fermanis, as Somerville improved its season record to 2-2.

The Eagles face Chelsea on Saturday.