Panton Hill joins battle for NFNL Division 2 finals with critical win over Northcote Park
After a disappointing loss and it’s finals hopes on the line, Panton Hill secured a vital win over Northcote Park to rejoin the battle for the top-five.
Northern
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Panton Hill snapped a three-game skid and launched back into the NFNL Division 2 finals race on Saturday.
With their season arguably on the line, the Redbacks responded with an 18-point victory at Cracknell Reserve to move to within two points of the fifth-placed Cougars.
With two finals spots available, five teams are separated by just eight points in a tightening race with six matches remaining in the home-and-away season.
A dominant third quarter set up Panton Hill’s victory, as they booted five goals to two, before withstanding a final term Northcote Park comeback to prevail 9.14 (68) to 7.8 (50).
Hillmen coach Simon Amore said the response was pleasing after a disappointing outing the week before against Watsonia.
“It was a really good response, obviously we had a really poor performance the week before, so it was nice to bounce back,” he said.
“We’d had a couple of losses, we had our chances against South Morang and played some reasonable footy against Eltham, and felt we were trending in the right way but against Watsonia we felt we took a backward step.
“In the back of our mind we’re well aware of that (finals hopes) but I guess at the same time we’ve made some big strides from where we were this time last year and we’re trying to ensure we remain focused on our own progression.
“It keeps our season alive but being able to progress the right way is the key, I know it sounds a bit clichéd, but that’s our focus.”
Panton Hill led by just three points at quarter-time and scores were level, 21 apiece, at half-time before the home team found top gear.
The Redbacks piled on five goals to one to take a 22-point advantage into the final break.
Charlie Cleary and Ben Donohue took control in defence, while Josh Callaway and Nick Parks started to have a stronger influence in the middle.
Riley Livingstone and Max Brook finished with two goals each, while youngster Bailey Sobol continued his impressive start at the club after crossing from Heidelberg.
“Josh Callaway was fantastic on a wing, he set the tone early for us,” Amore said.
“Charlie and Ben in our back half were really solid and Nick Parks has had a phenomenal year, I hope he gets a big of Team of the Year consideration because he’s been wonderful.
“Charlie is really important, he’s got some phenomenal athleticism, reads the flight of the ball really well.
“He can play tall or small and straightens us up, it’s a luxury for a coach to have a stopper like that that has versatility to play on multiple players.
“Young Bailey Sobol, who we got before the clearances closed from Heidelberg, probably had his best game for us as a midfield-forward.
“He’s really important pressure player, he would have had 15-plus tackles, it was a contested game and he set the tone.
“He’d been playing reserves football and was in the best regularly and was maybe a year or two away from being able to hold down a regular spot in Division 1, so we gave him an opportunity to get some experience and he’s played the last three games and starting to find his feet.”
For Northcote Park, Brock McLennan was best afield in the loss, while James Tadd, Dallyce Taylor and Chris Clark were also strong contributors.
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Panton Hill could be inside the top-five by Saturday night as they travel to winless Lower Plenty, while top-five rivals Watsonia and Thomastown and Northcote Park and St Mary’s face each other.
“It’s really important we don’t drop off, (Lower Plenty) had a down game on the weekend but the competition is so close it’s really important to put your best foot forward every week.”
Elsewhere in Division 2, Diamond Creek held Lower Plenty to a single behind in a crushing 139-point win and South Morang bounced back after consecutive defeats with a 32-point win over Epping.
Eltham were too good for Thomastown in a 55-point triumph and St Mary’s cruised past Watsonia by 46 points.
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