Southern league: Bentleigh flashes home to defeat Port Melbourne Colts
Mark this down as one of the best wins of the season: 39 points down at the last change, the Demons climbed off the canvas to win by seven and stay in finals contention.
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Take a bow and a burst of applause, Bentleigh. That was brilliant.
The Demons unleashed a whirlwind finish to overwhelm Port Melbourne Colts and keep their finals flame aglow in a remarkable SFNL Division 1 match at Bentleigh Reserve on Saturday.
“It was quite amazing, we were down and out,” Bentleigh coach Peter Pirera declared after watching his team kick eight unanswered goals in the final term to win 13.12 (90) to 12.11 (83).
With a 39-point lead at three-quarter-time, the game looked to be in the Colts’ keeping as they sought to stitch up fifth place on the ladder.
And when the visitors bagged the first goal of the final quarter, their lead was 45 points and appeared unassailable.
“We just clicked into gear,” Pirera said.
“We believed in ourselves and I simply asked the players for effort and to kick it long. Suddenly all our forwards got on top, as did our midfield and away we went.”
With seven changes, mostly forced, from the previous week, Pirera was thrilled with the effort of players who weren’t necessarily “big names’’.
“This win can mould us together. We’re still a chance for finals and will give it our best,” he added.
Ruckman Mitch Smart again led the revival for the Demons, with young Matt Vorbach, the speedy Joe Colaciello and midfielder Ashley Di Ciero (four goals) also prominent.
“Sam Lewin gave us a target up forward and he was terrific for us,” said Pirera, who coached with his left arm in a sling after having surgery during the week.
Bentleigh had four Under 19s in the side, two of them first-gamers — Declan O’Brien-Reeve and Sam Ruddy, who made some team-lifting tackles in the final quarter.
To gain a finals berth, the Demons must defeat second-placed East Malvern in next Saturday’s final home-and-away round and hope Mordialloc defeats Port Colts.
Pierera said his team had fought injuries all season but had persevered and went into Round 18 full of heart and hope.
St Paul’s coach Jason Heffernan poured praise on Cheltenham after the Rosellas thumped his Bulldogs 20.12 (132) to 2.3 (15) at the Jack Barker Oval.
The Doggies are renowned for their chin-up approach but they were split apart by the home team.
The visitors had to wait until the fourth quarter for their first goal.
Steve Muller was their only goalkicker.
BLENKINSOP RETIRES AFTER NECK INJURY
Heffernan said he’d taken calls from people querying if the final scores were correct.
“They (Chelt) were awesome. They put six goals on us in the first quarter. They were that good. All credit to them,’’ he said.
“We didn’t play well because they were so good. We couldn’t get our hands on the ball. Kelso (Rosellas ruckman Charlie Kelso) killed us, their midfield got first use.
“I thought it would be a better game because they’d lost their last two and we were good against East Malvern, around the mark against Dingley and last week we won. But they were far too good.’’
Injuries have hurt St Paul’s this season, but Heffernan said his team had regained Ashley Munday, Kieran Knox and Tim Roberts.
“There was probably a black cloud over us with what happened to Harry Hunt and Jarryd Blenkinsop (both out with season-ending injuries), and the confidence has gone,’’ he said.
“Now we’ve got to find it. That’s where it’s at. I’ll back them to have a go. That’s what we talked about yesterday after the game. If it pans out that we have a go and the teams ahead of us are better than us, then that’s fair enough. We can only do what we can do. We all caught up last night — not panic stations, we just met at our after-match — and the commitment’s as good as it’s ever been. They’re bloody good teams we’re hanging around with. We’re not a bad team either. I think the comp has got a lot better this year, right across the board.’’
James Sziller was against best for the fourth-placed Doggies, who, regardless of results in the final round, will play in the elimination final in week one of the finals.
Mid-season inclusion Robert Iudica and former Sydney-listed big man Sean McLaren both kicked five goals for Cheltenham, and Matt Andrews and youngster Anthony Malamas slotted three apiece.
“I think after losing two in a row, the boys drew a line in the sand,” Cheltenham coach Des Ryan said.
“Our defensive pressure was really good and we played a good brand of footy over four quarters. We recaptured the form that put us on top in the first place.
“It will restore the players’ belief.”
The victory secured the double chance for the Rosellas.
Sam Hayes was superb across half-back for the hosts, as was the experienced Dylan Weickhardt.
A dominant opening term by Highett against flag candidate East Malvern raised the prospect of an upset at Turner Road.
With the likes of Ed Turner, Tom Brown and Tristan Brown leading the way, the Bulldogs booted five goals to lead by 15 points at quarter-time.
But that’s where their cheeky challenge ended and by the final siren they had failed to add another goal to finish on 5.5 (35) to East’s 14.17 (101).
After the first break, the Panthers were in complete control, with ruckman Chris Carey at the forefront.
The brilliant Carey, so important to East’s fortunes, was at his best and finished with four goals. Jacob Mowat, Marc Lonergan and Nic Calandro also shone for the Panthers, who are second on the ladder, behind Dingley on percentage.
Highly rated St Bedes Mentone College student Lachlan Lamble was named best player for the Dingoes as they defeated Oakleigh District by 41 points.
Dan Farmer kicked four goals and veteran Troy Parker three.
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