Lower Plenty moves to top of NFL Division 2 with victory over Banyule

Lower Plenty’s midfield put on a dominant display to dispose of NFL Division 2 premiership rival Banyule and move top of the table.

Lower Plenty’s Josh Turner in action. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Lower Plenty put on a midfield masterclass in Saturday’s “Battle of the Bears” with Banyule.

Led by league best-and-fairest Tom Keys, ruckman Tom Blake, skipper Josh Turner and Ben Paterson, the Bears rolled to a 31-point win over their NFL Division 2 premiership rival and moved into top spot on the ladder.

Only horrific inaccuracy in front of goal stopped them claiming a bigger win as it finished 11.21 (87) to 8.8 (56) at Beverley Road Oval.

With the match up for grabs Keys put any hope of a Banyule comeback to bed with a dominant fourth quarter.

The Bears star won the first three clearances of the final term, had four shots on goals for 1.2 and handed off the sealer to Billy Barden.

Tom Blake in action for Lower Plenty. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Lower Plenty coach Phil Plunkett said winning the midfield battle was something the team prided itself on.

“We’ve got really good quality going through there,” he said.

“If you can get it out of the middle and into the forward line you’re half way there, so that’s an area we pride ourselves on.

“I thought they were hurting around the grounds, so that’s an area we’ll have to look to improve on.

“They’re a silky smooth side so if you give them any sort of space they’ll carve you up.

“The boys started really well, that was one of the areas last year they said they got on top of us, so that was a real focus for us.”

The Bears controlled the first quarter but couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard, going into the first break having kicked 1.6.

It took Banyule until 10 minutes into the second term to finally get its first goal, through Lachlan Turner, which triggered a mini comeback that quickly reduced the margin to five points. It was eight points at half-time.

Ciaran Porter marks in front of Jack Langford. Picture: George Salpigtidis

However, Lower quickly took control again in the third term, the impressive Turner kicking the first goal of the term with a clever dribble kick from 40m out.

The Bears piled on the pressure, forcing Banyule into a series of mistakes, and booting 4.9 to extend the lead to 22 points at the final change.

Lower key forwards Ciaran Porter and Jonathon Zapantis impressed with a pair of goals apiece, while Turner, Kye Yodgee and Josh Jackson all booted two for Banyule.

Bears great Darcy Barden took several critical intercept marks at centre half-back in an enthralling battle with Jack Langford (one goal).

And in the ruck Banyule’s Tim Martin arguably took the points in his battle with Tom Blake but Lower’s midfield were often able to shark his taps and push the ball forward.

Devin McDonald, Turner, Martin and Michael Edwards were Banyule’s best.

Having jumped to the top of the ladder Plunkett said he was comfortable with where the club sat.

“(The win) makes up for Round 1, it could have been a different story today and we might still have been 3-1,” he said.

“No disrespect to Watsonia, all credit to them, they played really well that week (Round 1).

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“You don’t win a granny this early but it is good to get a win, being 2-2 drops you into the middle of the pack.”

Lower sits on top on percentage ahead of Eltham, St Mary’s and Banyule all on three wins.

However, the win did come at a cost with Andrew White suffering a knee injury in the second quarter, while James Elliott was also helped from the ground.

The Bears face a second straight “Battle of the Bears” when they host Thomastown on Saturday, while Banyule will look to bounce back against Panton Hill.