Southern league Division 1: Luke Duffy dominates for East Malvern

Luke Duffy did it all for East Malvern in its match against Highett at Turner Rd Reserve.

Luke Duffy kicked eight goals for Highett.

East Malvern coach Brent Chapman had a simple description for Luke Duffy’s performance.

It was, he said, “the complete game’’.

Duffy, back playing football after suffering a serious knee injury early in the 2109 season, kicked eight goals, had more than 30 possessions, took 10 marks and made 10 “sacrificial acts’’ in last Saturday’s SFNL Division 1 match against Highett at Turner Rd Reserve.

East Malvern won it 27.16 (178) to 3.11 (29).

Chapman acknowledged Highett was on the bottom of the ladder, but said Duffy had the sort of day when he would have dominated any team.

He said he had even mentioned Duffy to VFL club Port Melbourne.

Duffy had a run with Port in 2016.

The 25-year-old had won two best and fairests at Drouin and joined East Malvern in 2017.

“I was speaking to him last night and I was saying it was pretty much the complete the game,’’ Chapman said.

“He played through the midfield and forward, kicked eight, had five goal assists … not much more you can do.

“He’s just so calm in the game, so composed when he’s got the ball. Never seems rushed.’’

East Malvern coach Brent Chapman. Picture: Valeriu Campan

With Chris Carey out with a corked calf and James Tighello nursing a hamstring niggle, East Malvern used Ben Timms in the ruck.

Chapman said he played like an onballer.

The coach was also pleased with the performances of Sam Burls, Tim Johnston and Jacob Mowat, all of whom played a chunk of reserves football in 2019.

Johnston kicked six goals.

“He’s a very hard match-up, a medium-sized forward who plays fairly tall,’’ Chapman noted.

“He’s been really good.’’

Burls (Goulburn Valley) and Mowat (SANFL) have played a good level of football, with Burls reaching 100 senior games with Shepparton United before crossing to East Malvern.

East is 3-2 and Chapman is content.

“A kick either way against Dingley and we’d be sitting 4-1,’’ he said.

“We’re a game off second and happy with how we’re tracking. Got some big games coming up … St Paul’s this week and then Cheltenham and Port Melbourne. I guess in three or four weeks we’ll know where we sit.’’

For Highett, country signing Will Bodman was named best for the third consecutive match. He has been in the best in all five games.

Bulldogs coach Brad Berry said Bodman, 23, was “owning his wing’’.

“He plays the wing at a much higher level than local footy,’’ he said.

“He will get all the way back into the back 50 to defend, he understands and sets up all our stoppage structures and his effort is through the roof. He’s been not a revelation – you could see the boy could play from the day he came to training – but he’s been outstanding.’’

Dylan Atkin, Yianni Pasialis and young ruckman Jack Courtie never gave it up for the young Highett side.

Berry said that although his team was 5-0, the coaches and players were remaining positive and believed they could turn it around.

Injuries haven’t helped: experienced pair Jake Dermott and Luke Edmondson are done for the season, Tom Brown (hamstring tear) must sit it out for a month and young Scott Vawser needs a shoulder reconstruction.

Vawser will serve as the runner until he has his operation.

Highett coach Brad Berry.

Cheltenham star Dylan Weickhardt went off with a hamstring strain in the first few minutes of the match against Mordialloc as the Rosellas’ injury list lengthened.

It came after Ben McDonald (calf) and Jack Hutchins (ankle) hurt themselves in the warm-up.

McDonald couldn’t play, forcing the Rosellas to fish Jonathan Spanos out of the reserves.

Then Dylan McLaren injured his wrist in the 15.15 (105) to 12.6 (78) win over the determined Mordi.

Rising star Austin Johnson kicked four goals for the unbeaten Cheltenham, which may regain star Myke Cook this Saturday and ace forward Josh Fox the following week.