Outer East league: Berwick Springs topples ladder leaders Seville in Division 1

The fast and furious Titans took a massive step towards their first-ever finals appearance in Outer East league.

Berwick Springs forward Blake Simondson revs up his teammates after kicking a goal against Seville on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“They beat us at our own game,” Seville coach Chris Murphy rued after Berwick Springs toppled the ladder leaders by 42 points in Outer East Division 1 on Saturday.

In just its second season of seniors, Berwick Springs is marching towards its first-ever finals campaign.

The Titans are in fourth spot, a game-and-a-half (six points) ahead of fifth placed Healesville with a month of the home-and-away season to go.

The top four will play finals.

Berwick Springs’ run home consists of a bye this week, then games against Emerald, Yarra Glen, Belgrave and Gembrook Cockatoo.

Nick Rattle gets another possession for Berwick Springs. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It’s looking good for the Titans, who are fast becoming not just a finals hopeful but a flag contender.

“They’re really good,” Murphy said of Berwick Springs.

“They’ve got some good midfielders, good forwards. They’re good. They run the ball really well, chip it sideways, they’re very smart and efficient.

“They’re going to be a team to be reckoned with in a few weeks time, one hundred percent.”

Berwick Springs was on top from the first bounce and ended up winning 12.16 (88) to 7.4 (46) at a windswept Mick Morland Reserve.

Tommy Nelson in action for Berwick Springs. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Titans’ pace and willingness to take the game on stood out, as did their well-connected backline superbly led by James Makrodimitris.

Such was the Titans’ pressure, Seville was restricted to just three goals in three quarters.

“They out ran us, they moved the ball away from the stoppage fast and we were flat footed and didn’t want to chase,’’ Murphy said.

Berwick Springs captain Daniel Ousley led from the front, racking up almost 40 touches despite being heavily tagged.

Aidan Nelson, Nick Rattle, Blake Simondson and Jayden Malek were also among the Titans’ best.

Exciting young forward Simondson kicked three goals, underlining his huge potential.

Blake Simondson kicks a goal.

Malek, a tall who can play in various positions, has enjoyed a consistent season, continually adding value to the side with his willingness to contest hard.

Berwick Springs coach Rodney Benstead said beating Seville was a significant victory for his fledgling club, which is fast becoming one of the stories of the season in local footy.

“Our intensity was probably the best it’s been, our tackling and our pressure,’’ he said.

“If we get that we can really go to work on the outside and that’s how it panned out.’’

Benstead while finals looked likely, his side was focused on just getting better each week.

“We lost our first three games so if you go back and look…we’ve probably got the best form over the last two months and we think we can get better,” he said.

“We don’t want to rest on just thinking, ‘oh we’re making it’, we want to get better.

“And it’s exciting. When we play our best footy now we know it matches it with anyone.

“What we are is pretty quick on the outside and we know we can score quickly. We take the game on and on our big ground we’re pretty hard to stop.”

Berwick Springs coach Rodney Benstead.

Berwick Springs gave a senior debut to young Jai Adamson on Saturday.

The Titans’ history is evolving.

“That’s maybe the sixth young player we’ve given his first jumper to (this season),” Benstead said.

“And that’s amazing when the parents come in and present the jumper and we’re creating a little bit of history at the club.

“It’s just creates a good environment when you keep playing young kids.”

It was also a significant day for the Nelson family, with three brothers, Aidan, Tommy and Matt, who returned from the Dandenong Stingrays, playing together.

It was clear Berwick Springs’ morale is high, with music pumping in the change rooms after the game.

“There was a bit of dancing and a bit of fun,” Benstead said.

“It’s good to see, just playing for each other and creating a really positive environment that people want to be a part of.”

Berwick Springs and Seville do battle on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Seville remains on top of the ladder, despite losing two of its past three games, and Murphy said his side has “got to get better”.

“A mid season slump is not what we were really looking for,” he said.

“It’s a bit disappointing. We’ve got a few issues to iron out but we’ll get there.

“It’s a bloody long year and obviously coming off a break of two years of not really doing a whole season, people are tired and I’m trying to work out how to get it done.”

He said the Blues would regain five players for their game against Yarra Glen on Saturday.

“They should straighten us up a bit,” he said.

In other games:

*A late goal from a free kick gave Yarra Glen a gripping five-point win over Healesville, 10.10 (70) to 9.11 (65), in the Indigenous game at Yarra Glen. The Pigs trailed by 15 points at half-time but kicked six goals to two in the third quarter to seize control. They then defended resolutely in the final term. Yarra Glen captain Ben Ashton capped a best-on-ground display with two goals, while Jayden Schille, Sam Horsley, Jim Marks, Nathan Mcculloch and Billy Gardner were also terrific for the winners.

*Jay Verhagen slotted seven goals and former North Melbourne player Michael Firrito five to help Gembrook Cockatoo to a 54-point win over Belgrave, 24.10 (154) to 15.10 (100). Ben Schultze, Aaron Firrito, Damien Volta and Liam Henzen were also among the best for the second-placed Brookers.