Southern league 2019: Luke James kicks eight as Murrumbeena routs Doveton Eagles

Murrumbeena trailed Doveton Eagles by 43 points at quarter time — and ended up winning by 51 as champion forward Luke James booted eight goals.

IT was “LJ’s’’ day. It’s often that way.

For a long time Luke James has been one of the Southern league’s best and most brilliant players, and on Saturday he booted a bag of eight goals as Murrumbeena ran away from the Doveton Eagles in the second half to romp it in by 51 points.

Remarkably, they trailed by 43 points at quarter time, 7.5 to 0.4.

The Lions kicked nine goals to two in the second quarter to lead by one point at half time, increased the advantage to 20 at three-quarter time, then finished off with six goals to one in the final term.

It was a case of the Beena playing catch-up, then catch me if you can.

The Eagles couldn’t, and suffered their second successive defeat after opening the season with five straight wins.

Murrumbeena has gone the other way. It dropped its first two matches, against Keysborough and Springvale Districts, but has won its past five to go to third on the ladder, behind Districts and the undefeated Keysy.

After the Round 1 match the Southern league’s new match review panel pinched James for striking and he was suspended for three matches.

Since returning he’s kicked 17 goals in three games.

“He played really well,’’ coach Paul Howroyd said of his spearhead.

“He had some good delivery, but he finished it off. He’s in as good a form as he’s ever been in. When he’s playing like that it’s always great to watch.’’

Howroyd said his team was caught “rocking on its heels’’ as the Eagles sped away in the first quarter.

“When they kicked the first three, I thought, ‘Yeah, it’s a three-goal wind’. Then when they kicked another I thought, ‘surely it’s not a four-goal wind’. They got seven goals up and I thought, ‘Bloody hell’.

“We were too reactive. But at the start of the second quarter we started hunting the footy and getting our hands on it and we worked our way back into the game.

“Once we got the momentum we were great.’’

Murrumbeena coach Paul Howroyd.

Howroyd said of the Beena’s slow start to the season: “Yeah, struggled, but we had a lot of new blokes in the team and it was a matter of getting to know each other. They’re starting to play some good team-first footy. When we get it together we move the ball pretty well.’’

Floating across and taking marks in defence, Matthew Lello was outstanding for Murrumbeena, as were Jake Semmel, the consistent Nick Brazil and pressure-bearing small forward Dylan Edwards.

Reserves captain Will Nash was another stand-out.

For the Eagles, prize recruit Piva Wright kicked four goals and Cameron Carmody, Cory Wilson and Andy Ray did their best to stop the Beena blast.

Elsewhere, Springvale Districts topped up its percentage with a thumping 23.16 (154) to 2.3 (15) win over East Brighton.

There were seven goals for spearhead Stefan Feehan, five for recruit Matt Wetering and three for Georgie Angelopoulos, who featured in the best-player list with the consistent Matt Thompson, Feehan, Matthew Ork, Jack Allender and Mladen Josic.

Jesse Wilesmith, Ryan Cosgrave, Liam Flanagan, Barry Hope, Mark Jamieson and Bradley Wescombe battled hard for the outclassed Vampires.

Keysborough also had a thumping win, routing Chelsea Heights 20.13 (133) to 5.3 (33).

The Burra broke away in the first quarter and went further ahead with a seven-goal second term.

Key forwards Matthew Carnelley and Chris Bryan both kicked five goals for the Burra, who welcomed back tough onballer and club stalwart Michael Downie after his recovery from a shoulder injury.

Downie was among the best, with Tamas Siposs, Bryce Sutton, Riet Pal, Dylan Webb and Matthew Carnelley.

The Heighters were never in it, and their defeat would have been heavier if not for the toil of Phillip Matheson, Luke Gherini and former Essendon player Darren Walsh.

Hampton improved to 3-4, good enough for fifth on the ladder, when it overcame Heatherton 9.12 (66) to 5.8 (38).

Former VFL player Chris Worner returned to Hammers ranks after a five-year absence and kicked one goal.

Daniel Campisano, recruited from Division 1 club Dingley two weeks ago, booted two.

Hampton coach Craig McIndoe.

“He was playing in the Swan Hill league but he hasn’t played this year,’’ Hampton coach Craig McIndoe said of Worner.

“He came down in the pre-season and went from there. We’ve kept in touch and he’s ready to go now.’’

The Hammers have been hammered by injuries in the first two months of the season but this week they expect to regain ace Mornington Peninsula recruit Lew Roberts, Mark Devereaux, Alex Gleeson and Corey Smith.

McIndoe said he was confident that, at full strength, the Hammers could match it with the four teams above them on the ladder.

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Caulfield also went to 3-4 after cruising past the winless Skye 15.10 (100) to 7.6 (48).

Dylan Rhys-Jones, the nephew of former AFL star David, kicked two goals in his third game for the Bears.

Dylan Becker and Matthew Acocks both slotted four, and Matthew Brown was best-afield.