Dominant second half earns Eltham big win over Panton Hill
After a dour first half, Eltham showed its class to power past Panton Hill with a host of new faces impressing. Plus, Thomastown’s big win.
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Eltham showed its class in a dominant second half to beat Panton Hill on Good Friday.
In front of a bumper crowd at Central Park, the Panthers ran out 50-point victors to launch their NFNL Division 2 campaign in style.
After a dour arm-wrestle in the first half the home team broke the shackles after half-time, kicking nine goals to three to win 13.9 (87) to 5.7 (37).
Earning a win on debut, Panthers coach Tim Bongetti credited Panton Hill for a tough first half but was proud of his team’s response.
“They made it a scrap, we’ve got the skill and outside run, but they made us play they wanted us to play, which definitely wasn’t the plan,” he said.
“It was a game of two halves really, they didn’t have full control over the first but definitely played the way they wanted to play and in the second half we were able to open it up a bit.
“We started winning it at the source and getting the ball outside to use our runners.
“We started going a bit more lateral, making them defend all areas of the ground.
“The execution going inside 50m (was better), lowering the eyes instead of hoping we take a mark, they got numbers back early and were able to transition the ball out of defence too easily.”
In a dramatic opening, Panton Hill kicked the first goal of the game after a free kick and back-to-back 50m penalties brought Nick Parks to the goalline.
Scores were level at quarter-time before Eltham started to gain the advantage in the second term, taking a 13-point lead into the half.
The Panthers broke the game open in an explosive third quarter, booting five goals to two, to earn a 32-point advantage and never looked back.
After a high-profile move in the off-season, Jesse Donaldson was a star through midfield and kicked two crucial goals.
In his return to his junior club, AFL Sydney recruit Colm Culligan impressed in the ruck after Tom Goodwin suffered a corked thigh.
Both teams unveiled several new faces after big off-seasons.
Eltham debuted Bongetti, Donaldson, Culligan, Goodwin, Nathan Perrone, Corey Middleton, while Panton Hill had Josh and Brayden Callaway, Matt Duckworth, Tom Keys, Kyle Crosby and Jake Rowe.
Key was named the Redbacks’ best in the loss, while Jesse Owens-Draper, Ben Donehue and Sam Parks also impressed.
Both teams will have a 15-day break before Round 2 matches against St Mary’s and Watsonia respectively.
Bongetti said there was still plenty to work on for his side.
“We got the four points, great to lock that away,” he said.
“As I said to the playing group I think we’ve got a lot to review, we gave away way too many free kicks but we’ll adjust because that can definitely hurt you in close games.
“They brought the pressure, even before the bounce three or four of them went at Tommy Goodwin.
“Discipline wasn’t great, a free kick, two 50m penalties and they kicked a goal in the first 10 seconds of the game.
“We’ve got to be better than that, Tommy acknowledged that but he was like ‘what do I do, three blokes coming at me’.”
Eltham tall David Evans injured his ankle late in the game but is expected to be fit to face the Burras but Panton Hill will be sweating on the fitness of Ollie Parks.
The Redbacks midfielder was knocked out diving for a mark and will be racing the clock to be ready for April 22.
In Division 2’s other Good Friday clash, Thomastown were too strong for Epping, claiming a comfortable 63-point win at Epping Recreation Reserve.
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Off-season recruit Bill Samie starred with five goals in the 14.15 (99) to 4.2 (26) victory, while young gun Lawrence LoPiccolo picked up were he left off last season with a best-on-ground performance.
The Bears were held goalless in the first term but a seven-goal blitz in the second quarter gave them a 32-point half-time lead.
After holding a 16-point lead at quarter-time, Epping were held scoreless in the second and third quarters in a difficult start to the season.
For the Pingers, Daniel Rakhlin booted two goals in his senior debut while Caleb Newport was named best-on.
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