SFNL: Bentleigh took a step in the right direction with a big win over the in-form Port Melbourne Colts

The midfield brigade took command and a debutant sparkled as a “relentless” Bentleigh took its biggest scalp in recent history.

Bentleigh will use Saturday's win as proof of progress this off-season.

Bentleigh coach Kristian Bardsley was adamant his side “needed to take a scalp” before season’s end.

And it did, ending the finals hopes of the fast-finishing Port Melbourne Colts in a 14.18 (102) to 3.15 (33) demolition.

The Colts were arguably the in-form side of the competition prior to Saturday, having beaten finalists St Paul’s McKinnon and Dingley in the past two weeks.

“We needed to take a scalp this year, a side that was vying for finals, to give ourselves some confidence,” Bardsley said.

“Just to let them (the players) know and show that what we’re doing is the right thing and we’re on the right track.

“What it does is give individuals some clarity to where they’re at as well.

“It now sets the bar a bit higher for what’s expected of them because we now know they can compete with top sides.”

The Dees didn’t just pip the Colts at the post, they piled on eight last-quarter goals to stamp their authority on the result.

The sizzling finish had gone against trends this year, with Bentleigh being in games but dropping away late.

The Demons led Springvale Districts at three-quarter time in round 12 and was just three goals down to Cheltenham at the final change in round 13.

The “relentless” finish was the most pleasing part for Bardsley.

“We wanted to make sure we kept going and going until the final siren and we got a bit of reward in the end, kicking eight goals in the last quarter,” he said.

“People can say the game was over but we had to get to the stage where the game was over.

“With a young group, rather than take the foot off the accelerator and go through the emotions, we were pretty relentless which was pleasing from my point of view.”

Bentleigh recorded its "best win" in years on Saturday. Pictures: FACEBOOK

The Demons will likely finish with the same amount of wins as last year but there wasn’t a win like Saturday’s in 2023.

Bardsley knows that, declaring it the “best win” he’s seen at the club.

“We had our most inexperienced and youngest side we’ve had in 15 years,” he said.

“It’s been our best win at the club, in terms of the result, to beat a team still vying finals.

“We’ve been close against a lot of teams, but hadn’t been able to get it done, so we were really pleased we were able to put four-quarters together for a result we probably deserved.”

Kieran Foley played his best game for the club on the wing while Callum Dooley, Nic Bufalo and Ben Cooper were strong in the middle.

Ricky Theodoropoulos and Will Johnston also kicked three goals each.

But Bardsley was quick to praise Khy Rasmussen, who kept ex-AFL Tiger Josh Caddy to one goal on debut.

“He did an exceptional job,” he said.

“He’s played twos all year, just a competitor, he just goes, doesn’t care what’s happened beforehand, if it gets into a contest he will back himself.

“He will go and help his mates too, he was fantastic.

“To play your first game on an ex-AFL footballer, I think he kept him to one goal, he missed a few goals but they were all from the boundary sort of thing.

“He was sensational.”

Bentleigh "needed to take a scalp" and it did.

Elsewhere in Division 1, a four-goal burst from St Paul’s McKinnon superstar Matthew Kreymborg gave the Bulldogs the early buffer they needed to hold off Springvale Districts.

Kreymborg kicked each of his four goals in the space of 10 minutes during the first quarter, as the Doggies reaffirmed its premiership credentials, 11.13 (79) to 11.5 (71).

Dingley’s Caleb Lewis has one hand on the league goal kicking trophy after filling up with a haul of 11 against Mordialloc.

Lewis’ haul was complimented by six goals from Trent Dennis-Lane in the Dingoes’ big 33.17 (215) to 5.5 (35) win.

Lewis leads the gong by eight goals heading into the final round of the year.

Cranbourne and it’s star on-baller Zak Roscoe are finishing the home and away season in top form.

Roscoe paired his five goals last week with a 30-disposal, three-goal performance this week as the Eagles thumped Chelsea Heights, 19.8 (122) to 11.8 (74).

The Eagles need to beat Springvale Districts in the final round and hope Chelsea Heights put up a decent fight against East Brighton to make the five.

That East Brighton side went down to Cheltenham, 16.14 (110) to 10.7 (67).

Vampire Tom Lamb slotted five majors while Rob Cathcart, Luke Garnaut, Sam Dunell and Jack and Sam Lonie kicked multiple goals for the Rosellas.