MPNFL 2021: Mt Eliza makes winning start to Division 1 season

Five first-game players sparkled as Mt Eliza trounced a Frankston Bombers side with plenty of AFL and VFL experience.

Frankston Bombers playing-coach Beau Muston (No.9) flies for a mark with Mt Eliza’s Harrison Scott and Bomber (No.3) Sam Pickess. Picture: Valeriu Campan

New Mt Eliza coach Stephen Brattle says there was nothing scientific about his side’s impressive 55-point win over the Frankston Bombers in MPNFL Division 1 on Saturday.

“Just effort, mate,” Brattle said on Sunday.

“It doesn’t take a lot of skill to produce that stuff. A lot of effort. I think we surprised them that we were hard and committed as we were.”

The Redlegs, with a mix of youth and experience, held the Bombers goalless after halftime while slotting six majors themselves to clear out for a 13.12 (90) to 5.5 (35) victory at Greg Beck Oval.

Former St Kilda ruckman Lewis Pierce celebrated his return home with an outstanding performance for Mt Eliza, capped off by a goal.

Lewis Pierce throws himself backwards. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Gun youngster Bailey Breen was named best afield as Mt Eliza out-sped Frankston.

Sam Gill, Lachie Williams, Sam Webster, Zac Rouse and Nick McKinnon all kicked two goals apiece, while five players had their first senior game for Mt Eliza — Tom Kelly, Zac and Jordan Rouse, Bailey Cole and Elliot Simmons — and they all made an impact.

“The first game players really, really played well,” Brattle said.

Brattle said the Mt Eliza side was “not as young as people would probably think”.

“It was a great mix of both — great experience and really good youth, not just youth, it was really good youth,” he said.

Players line-up before the game to honour the memory of the late Ben Tournier.

Mt Eliza jumped the Bombers early, rushing to a 23-point lead at quarter-time.

Frankston Bombers kicked four goals in the second quarter to trail Mt Eliza by 17 points at halftime, but barely gave a yelp in the last hour of the game, despite the efforts of Corey Buchan, Ryan Marks-Logan and Jason Kingsbury (in his 150th game).

Bombers coach Beau Muston made no excuses and said Mt Eliza was quicker and harder.

“They came out and played a really good brand of footy,” Muston said.

“They were just too slick for us — too slick, too skilled, they set up really well around stoppages and just really out-hunted us to be honest.

Mt Eliza coach Stephen Brattle.

Mt Eliza had the Bombers under pressure.

“I think it was plus 34 in hard ball gets...it was a significant differential.

“They just set up better structurally, they dominated in that area.

“They kicked nine goals from our turnovers so we just weren’t clean enough with the ball and they were.

“They probably beat us at a game that we would genuinely pride ourselves on in that hard ball get area. We just didn’t deliver.”

Mt Eliza will host fellow first-round winners Frankston YCW at Madsen Reserve next Saturday.

Frankston YCW celebrated Kyle Hutchison’s 200th senior game with a resounding 58-point win over Pines under lights in front of a bumper crowd at Frankston Park on Friday night.

Casey Demons-listed Luca Goonan was superb on debut for the Stonecats.

The Pines side was full of youth, with seven players on debut.

There was early drama when field umpire Sam Duewel rolled both ankles. Luckily, experienced umpy Brett Gent was at the ground as a spectator and hurriedly got changed and officiated the last three quarters.