Pines consolidates top spot while Seaford makes it six wins in a row in Peninsula league
FORMER AFL star Aaron Edwards has kicked 17.2 in two games for Pines since playing in the MPNFL’s interleague side’s loss to Geelong FNL at the MCG in mid-May.
Mornington
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FORMER AFL star Aaron Edwards has kicked 17.2 in two games for Pines since playing in the MPNFL’s interleague side’s loss to Geelong FNL at the MCG in mid-May.
On Saturday he slotted 8.1 for the Pythons as they dispatched Chelsea by 69 points to consolidate top spot in Peninsula league.
Pines coach Paddy Swayn said Edwards was disappointed with the interleague outcome and had returned to Pines with a point to prove.
“Deep down he’s a pretty proud bloke,’’ Swayn said.
Pines held a minute’s silence and dedicated its win to popular club stalwart Paul Williams snr, who died last week.
“It’s really sad because he was such good bloke at our footy club; he just made everyone feel good,’’ Swayn said. “We were his boys, type of thing.’’
Pines exploded from the blocks, kicking 8.4 to Chelsea’s 0.0 in the first term, and careered away to win 21.12 (138) to 10.9 (69).
Pines had winners all over the ground. Edwards was on fire, Guy Hendry took a dozen marks, Corey Ash kept Chelsea skipper Todd Gardiner quiet and Jon Hughes impressed.
Chelsea’s side included Sandringham’s Jack Noone, playing his first game since his horrific broken leg in the VFL semi-finals last season.
Mornington coach Chris Holcombe concedes finals are “unlikely’’ for his side after it slumped to its fifth successive loss, this time to Bonbeach.
The Bulldogs (1-6) are stuck in eighth spot, facing a second straight year without finals action.
After only seven points separated the sides at three quarter time, Bonbeach kicked away in the last term to win 14.7 (91) to 10.5 (65) at Shark Park.
“Yesterday was a really good effort for three quarters and then we let them go late,’’ Holcombe said.
“We had two go down early so we were down two midfield rotations short and we outscored them in the third and got right back in it. Probably their depth in the midfield got us in the end. But I thought it was our best performance for about a month.’’
Bonbeach coach Steve Hughes expected a tough battle from Mornington and he wasn’t disappointed. “We got the job done, it was nothing flashy. We had to grind one out,’’ he said.
“Most of us rate Mornington better than a one win this season type side. We were aware that they came to play, and they did, they played well.’’
Bonbeach’s best player Justin Bennett suffered a severe hamstring injury late in the game, souring the Sharks win. Bennett sparkled with his run and carry and made good decisions with the footy.
Frankston YCW bounced back with a workmanlike 45-point win over Langwarrin at a windswept Coburn Oval.
Interleague trio Kyle Hutchison, Matt La Fontaine and Christian Ongarello fuelled the Stonecats’ performance, and Josh Butland booted four goals. Shane Paterson and Zach Andrewartha were Langy’s best.
Mt Eliza spearhead Justin Van Unen kicked a bag of eight goals as the Redlegs handed Karingal a 77-point defeat at Frankston Park. Mt Eliza ruckman Grant Goodall also impressed.
Former Coburg VFL star Damien Rayson was best-on-ground for Seaford as the Tigers came from behind to beat Edi-Asp by 31 points.
The Tigers have won six games in a row to cement second spot. Kane Taylor, Nick Braund and Kieran Shaw also impressed for Seaford, while Edi-Asp’s best were Liam Harris, Callan VanDyke and Mark Mullins.
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