Southern league: Harrison Edwards leads Mordialloc to win over Port Colts

Harrison Edwards, the brother of Jacob, is having a big impact for the Blood. And Dane Swan is doing the same at St Kilda City.

Harrison Edwards on the burst for Mordialloc. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Everyone is talking about Jacob Edwards, the ruck prospect from Sandringham Dragons.

There’s speculation he’ll be among the early selections in the AFL mid-season draft.

His brother Harrison is a good player too.

On Saturday he kicked three goals for Mordialloc and helped it to a stirring and surprising win over Port Melbourne Colts at Ben Kavanagh Reserve.

Using the wind in the last quarter, Mordi finished with four goals to one to grab a one-point victory, 9.4 (58) to 8.9 (57).

Veteran David Marguglio had the ball in his hands when the siren sounded, fitting given he was best-afield.

Marguglio has been around for a long time: he played senior football at Pines with Bloods coach Brendon Moore.

His fitness is serving him well in the late stages of his career.

“He looks after himself, trains well, demands a lot of himself. He’s a ripper. We’re lucky to have him,’’ Moore said.

Mordialloc coach Brendon Moore. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Edwards is at the other end of the age scale – one of quite a few young players at Mordialloc – and joined the club when Moore was appointed.

Moore said he was an emerging player.

“He’s a really smart footballer, a left-footer, half-forward and onball, kicks the ball well and he knows where the goals are, that’s for sure,’’ he said.

James Morris, captain Nathan Evans, full back Dylan Gregson and pacy flanker Ben Stephenson were also prominent.

Moore said Gregson, recruited from Karingal, had made a slashing start to the season.

“I don’t think he’s been beaten yet,’’ he said.

Stephenson, 18, has been included in the Southern league “young guns’’ development squad, and Mordialloc believes he’s going to be a top-line player.

The result allowed Mordi to square their season at 3-3.

“It was a good win, a really good win,’’ Moore said.

“We just needed to hang in there. They had a few players out, so I thought if we brought effort we could be in the game. And if you’re in a game long enough you just never know, do you? It doesn’t take a lot to get a bit of belief and things can turn pretty quickly. So we just wanted to stay in the game for as long as we could.’’

The Colts were missing ace onballer Chris Deluca, star spearhead Jase Perkins and Max Mitch-Russell.

There was another thriller at the Peanut Farm, where St Kilda City held on to defeat Bentleigh by four points, 7.9 (51) to 6.11 (47).

Former Collingwood champion Dane Swan was judged best-afield for his performance across half back for a City side that brought in ex-Southern league medal star Jay Bruno.

“I thought we controlled the game for three quarters. They (Bentleigh) came back hard and we just held on,’’ St Kilda City coach Matty Hoy said.

“The game goes for five or six minutes longer and who knows … it was too close for my liking, put it that way.’’

He said Swan was exceptional.

“During the week we talked about where he would prefer to go, and he said he thought we needed a bit of reassurance off half back.

“He set us up all day, especially the first three quarters. And then late in the game when it got tight, he got the ball and looked as composed as a Brownlow medallist should be.’’

Hoy said Swan was enjoying playing in the Southern league and the club.

“He’s full-on brought in. He takes his time to speak to everyone … he’s connected, not just there to play footy. He wants to win. He’s not there to muck around and go home,’’ he said.

Asked what Swan received as best-afield, Hoy said with a laugh: “He got a bottle full of water over his head, that’s what he got!’’

Jay Bruno on representative duties for the Southern league.

Bruno has returned to the club where he began his football. He was playing at Murrumbeena in 2019.

Bruno won the 2009 SFNL Division 1 best and fairest and also claimed a league medal when playing for Rye in 2014.

Onballer Jordan Tabakman played his best game of the season and Hoy was pleased with Matthew McNaughton, up from the Under 19s, at half forward.

“He an old-school footballer,’’ the coach said. “Kicks the ball well, makes the right choices, gets 15 (possessions) and doesn’t waste it. He’s going to start making a name for himself.’’

City has champion big man Mykelti Lefau (dislocated finger), onballer Jordie Pollard (calf) and Eddie Espinosa (hamstring) nursing injuries.