Northern streaks away from Mornington Peninsula in interleague clash

THE MPNFL was unable to sustain a fast start and lost by 40 points to the Northern Football Netball League in its AFL Victoria Community Championship match at Preston on Saturday.

Sharks are everywhere as Michael Debenham boots the MPNFL forward against Northern on Saturday. Picture: James Ross

THE MPNFL was unable to sustain a fast start and lost by 40 points to the Northern Football Netball League in its AFL Victoria Community Championship match at Preston on Saturday.

Sam Fox, Billy Quigley and Luke Hewitt drilled goals in the opening quarter as a razor-sharp MPNFL zoomed to a 14-point lead at the first break.

But a change came over the game in the second quarter as the NFNL seized control, kicking 12 of the next 14 goals to run out convincing 12.17 (89) to 7.7 (49) winners.

“The start was exactly how we wanted to play the whole day but we just couldn’t sustain it,’’ MPNFL coach Chris Holcombe said.

“Mind you, Northern lifted up their pressure in the second quarter and it forced us to fumble …we were missing targets with our feet and they made us pay on the way back.

“It was disappointing but a lot of young kids got their first taste of it. We had eight under 21, so it was good for them to have a taste.’’

Edithvale-Aspendale’s Lachlan Batten was awarded the medal for the best MPNFL player after a strong four-quarter performance.

Frankston YCW teenager Lachie Street also impressed, earning praise from Holcombe. “He was composed and didn’t get beaten all day,’’ he said.

Also in the MPNFL’s best players were Lachie Wallace, Fox, captain Warwick Miller and Christian Ongarello.

MPNFL ruckman Dylan Jones goes up against the NFNL’s Jordan Perry at Preston Oval on Saturday.

The MPNFL scored gripping wins in both the Under 19 and women’s games.

Fuelled by Kye Whitford (three goals), Ishak Bashir and Tom Small, the MPNFL Under 19s came from three goals down in the last term to win by six points, 10.5 (65) to 9.5 (59).

The women’s side won by a point, 4.7 (31) to 4.6 (30), with Olivia Aing, Jessica Johnston, Belinda Ousley, Chelsea Wilkinson, Tayla Tatterson and Michelle West leading the way.

SENIORS:

Northern 0.7, 4.10, 6.14, 12.17 (89) d Mornington Peninsula 3.3, 4.4, 5.7, 7.7 (49).

Goals: Northern Football League: Fitzgerald 4 Brandt 2 Johnston Perry Murphy Bzenic Stone Dirago. Mornington Peninsula Nepean: Quigley 2 Hewitt 2 Batten Fox Johnstone.

Best: Northern Football League: Woods Riddle Baddeley-Kelly Hobbs Bzenic Grabowski. Mornington Peninsula Nepean: Wallace Fox Miller Ongarello Street Batten.

UNDER 19

MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN 3.2 4.3 6.3 10.5 (65)

NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 1.3 4.3 7.3 9.5 (59)

Goals: Mornington Peninsula Nepean Fl: Whitford 3 Allen 2 Sullivan 2 Geurts Villis Bashir.

Northern Football League: Perazzola 2 Cecchin 2 Murphy Smith Laschko Peterson Adrian De Sando.

Best: Mornington Peninsula Nepean Fl: Whitford Bashir Small Webster Sullivan Vine. Northern Football League: Laschko Crapper Wilson Manuel Cecchin Perazzola.

WOMENS SENIOR

MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN 1.3 2.4 3.6 4.7 (31)

NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 1.2 1.6 3.6 4.6 (30)

Goals: Mornington Peninsula Nepean Fl: Hunt 3 Astone. Northern Football League: Hurst 2 Chetcuti Bayes.

Best: Mornington Peninsula Nepean Fl: Aing Johnston Ousley Wilkinson Tatterson West. Northern Football League: Koiker Wright Wright O’Bryan Nyawela Olcorn.