Ivanhoe brings home the four points after road trip to Kilmore

The 150km round trip from Ivanhoe to Kilmore is one of the longest in metro footy but the Hoers made the most of it, bringing home a critical four points

Ivanhoe got the win over Kilmore. Picture: Alice Doyle

Ivanhoe is back in the NFNL Division 3 top-five after a successful road trip to Kilmore.

The 150km round trip to Clancy Reserve is one of the longest in metropolitan football but the Hoers made it a success with a 37-point win and a critical four points.

Skipper Connor O’Brien won the toss and it proved decisive as the visitors piled on five goals to nil in a dominant first quarter.

It set up a 12.10 (82) to 7.3 (45) win that saw Ivanhoe leap-frog Kilmore into fifth spot.

Coach Wayne Schultz said it was a significant win in terms of beating a finals rival and proving his players can do it away from Ivanhoe Park.

“We set ourselves up for it, we knew how hard a game it was going to be,” Schultz said.

“In a way we were keeping our head above water, we needed to catch up with the peloton because we were falling behind a bit.

“I have full faith in Connor’s decisions and looking at it now, absolutely (it was a good call).

“We’ve had a focus on starting fast, the message was just to play good footy early and turn up mentally for an away game.

“The start was really important because it allows us to tinker, strategy wise, and put things in place to adjust to the conditions.”

Ivanhoe made the most of the wind in the first, holding Kilmore to a single behind, to take a 31-point lead at quarter-time.

With the breeze at their backs, the Two Blues could only muster three majors in the second term, going into half-time facing a 22-point deficit.

The Hoers again took full advantage in the third quarter, this time piling on six goals, but the hosts were also able to kick three to limit the damage.

A 44-point margin was always going to be tough to chase down.

The visitors defence muscled up in the last, extinguishing any chance of a comeback by holding Kilmore to a single goal.

Kane Veliou was named best on ground in the win, producing a prolific display in midfield.

Ben Wiggins, Michael Doyle, Will Goodieson, Connor O’Brien and Tristan Stead (three goals) also shone.

“Kane was outstanding, all our mids were really good in terms of their work rate,” Schultz said.

“We won the clearances quite easily, not just off our own ruck but reading (Josh) Coe, and our pressure game was enormous – we certainly won the tackle count.

Kane led superbly in that space.

“Ben, after time away, is having his first real crack at senior footy has been unreal, he’s taken another step forward on the weekend.

“Playing across half-back he was really composed with ball in hand and was a shining light for us on the rebound.”

The news only gets better for Ivanhoe as it chases a first Northern league finals appearance.

Best-and-fairest winner Marcel Moran is set to return after the club’s bye after overcoming a foot injury sustained in pre-season.

“He’s had some extended time away after being struck down by injury while he was doing a pre-season at Collingwood VFL,” Schultz said.

“He’s been ticking the boxes off with his rehab and contact work now, so we’re really excited to have him available for the next game.”

For Kilmore, Josh Coe was best afield, while Bailey Derrick, Chris Barton and Kye Maher also stood tall.

The Hoers sit fifth, equal on points with fourth-placed Kinglake and Mernda in sixth and just four points behind Epping in third, underlining the competition’s tightness.

Meanwhile, Kilmore drops to seventh, a game behind.

Ivanhoe now has the bye and will return to action against Heidelberg West in a fortnight.

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“We spoke a little bit the week before, around the Lalor game, after a few losses to be a snowball at the top of the mountain and get a roll on,” Schultz said.

“The boys were superb to get the momentum going and then into Kilmore, it’s getting larger, and it’s important for our season to keep building.

“The challenge is now to have the bye, refresh mentally and physically, and then get back to work against Heidelberg West.”

Elsewhere in Division 3, Fitzroy Stars continued its undefeated start with a 171-point humbling of Lalor, Laurimar remains second after beating Reservoir by 15 points and Mernda was too good for Heidelberg West with a 33-point triumph.