SFNL: Cranbourne remains confident it can contend despite its slow start to the season

Despite recording its first win of the season on Saturday, coach Steve O’Brien remains confident Cranbourne can take it up to the “very best” of the Southern league.

Nick Darbyshire. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Cranbourne coach Steve O’Brien remains confident the Eagles’ “best is good enough” to challenge any side in the Southern league.

Despite recording its first win in five matches on Saturday, 15.11 (101) to 1.2 (8) over Mordialloc, O’Brien believes Cranbourne still has the firepower to contend.

The Eagles challenged frontrunner Cheltenham in round 1 and fell to Dingley by less than a kick last week.

Both of those results haven’t slipped past O’Brien when assessing his side’s year to date.

“It hasn’t changed, we’re still very confident our best is good enough,” he said of his expectation.

“If you look at the season so far, we all know we’re chasing Cheltenham and for three quarters we took it right up to them.

“Injuries hurt us and they got on a roll, that’s what good sides can do to you.

“Everyone is rating Dingley very highly this year like they should and for all intents and purposes we should’ve won that game, we blew some opportunities late.

“We know our best is good enough against the very best.”

Cranbourne’s Nick Darbyshire. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The Eagles held the Bloodhounds to just one minor score after quarter time on Saturday in the resounding 93-point win.

Tyson Barry, Dillan Bass, Andrew Green, Bailey Buntine, Jarryd Barker and Joshua Cochrane were among the Eagles’ best while Tyler Finn and Nick Darbyshire have also made strong starts to the year.

According to the premiership coach, Saturday’s result “reinforces” Cranbourne’s trajectory.

“It’s always good to get that reward, we’ve been working pretty hard,” he said.

“We’ve been playing some pretty good footy, we just haven’t been able to play it good enough for long enough.

“We’ve been consistent in our inconsistency, if that makes any sense.

“Even with selection we’ve had so much unavailability, hopefully that settles down and being able to get the win on Saturday just reinforces we’re on the right track and away we can go now.

“As bad as it looks we’re only two games out of the five, we’re a fair way off top spot and top two but it’s about being positive and realistic with it.”

Steve O’Brien. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Cheltenham, meanwhile, made a statement in the battle of the undefeated, belting St Paul’s McKinnon, 19.11 (125) to 6.6 (42).

The Rosellas had a long list of outs but still managed to take command of the match with 15 goals to three after the first change.

Jack Lonie continued his imposing run of form with 26 disposals and four goals while brothers Sean and Josh Lai (28 disposals each) are becoming a problem for opposition sides.

Another six goals from spearhead Nick Corp improved East Brighton’s record to 3-2.

Corp followed up his six from last week against Port Melbourne Colts with another six against Bentleigh on Saturday.

He has surged to the top of the Division 1 goal kickers list with 18 from only four games.

Behind Corp by just one goal is Dingley’s Caleb Lewis, who booted five in the Dingoes’ powerful win over Chelsea Heights.

Neither team landed a punch in the first quarter, with the score line 0.4 to 0.2 at the first change.

But the Dingoes eventually outmuscled the Demons to win 11.14 (80) to 4.6 (30).

Jackson Peet and Kai Stretton were among the Dingoes’ best while Luke Tapscott had another 47 disposals for the Dees.

George Angelopoulos has been in great form for Springvale Districts. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Springvale Districts blitzed Port Melbourne Colts on the Colts’ home track to propel into second spot on the ladder.

The Colts couldn’t stop the Districts from scoring, with the visitors’ quietest quarter still being three goals in the 18.18 (126) to 9.11 (65) win.

Springvale Districts superstar Daniel Helmore slotted five goals while Liam Giove was named best afield.

George Angelopoulos continued his excellent start to the season with another top performance.

Brett Boscacci too kicked five for the Colts, who were without Michael Hibberd.