Southern league: Highett breaks through for first win of the season

Will Bodman was best-afield as the Bulldogs enjoyed their first win of the season - and the relegation battle tightened.

It was a match remember for Highett and coach Brad Berry.

What a high for Highett.

There were premiership reunions, a player milestone and, best of all, a breakthrough victory for Brad Berry’s Doggies in SFNL Division 1.

The Bulldogs defeated Oakleigh District by 17 points at Turner Rd Reserve on Saturday to stoke their hopes of staying in the top division.

Only a few percentage points now separate Highett and Oakleigh District in the fight to avoid relegation.

The Bulldogs won 11.12 (78) to 9.7 (61) in front of past players on hand for 10-year (seniors) and 11-year (reserves) reunions of club premiership teams.

And they did it on the day one of their most committed and courageous players, captain Yianni Pasialis, played his 150th senior game.

Recruit Will Bodman was again best-afield – the former Gippslander has been named in the best in eight of his 11 matches – and Sam Jackson, Jacob Duscher, Max Burns and Jack Prosser were important too.

Milestone man: Highett’s Yianni Pasialis.

Burns – still eligible to play in the Under 17s – helped get the Doggies going in the third quarter with his run on a wing.

Scott Vawser led the scoring effort with three goals.

Mitch Hoar kicked one, but the scoreboard didn’t show his work rate: when he wasn’t venturing up to the wings to offer an option for exit kicks, he was presenting for forward entries.

“He’s been terrific and probably doesn’t get the accolades he deserves,’’ Berry noted. “The work he’s doing without the footy is top-shelf.’’

Berry said he was chuffed for his players, who despite going into the match without a win had done well in patches.

“The boys were well prepared, and there was a heavy expectation that we could win,’’ he said.

“They always looked like they had hold of the game but when you’ve got a group that hasn’t won for so long … at times they were a little bit hesitant in pulling the trigger and executing our game plan.

“We’d kick two goals, then turn the ball over and let Oakleigh answer and get it back to a goal. It was that sort of game. But from about halfway through the third quarter we started to get the better of them.’’

Berry said the win would give his team belief, and he was confident more success awaited the Bulldogs.

“It’s the launch pad for the rest of the year to get two or three more wins,’’ he said.

“The competition has tightened up. We’re seeing some of the top sides being run to the wire. I think we can upset one or two of them.’’

Berry said he was thrilled for Pasialis, calling him a “beauty’’. The bustling defender won the best and fairest in the premiership year of 2018 and is among the most respected players in the Southern league.

“I sometimes hold my breath when he runs the same way as the footy to spoil,’’ he said. “He’s an inspirational leader, Yianni.’’