Southern league: Highett opens season with five-goal win over Oakleigh District

Highett unfurled its 2018 premiership pennant in style, and unveiled a star new ruckman from the Mornington Peninsula.

Patrick Singh (Highett) and Daniel Spence (Oakleigh District) take a spill at Turner Rd.

Highett on Saturday unfurled its 2018 premiership flag and also unveiled a towering new ruckman.

The Division 2 cup and pennant were brought in by helicopter and collected by a proud president Lex Marshall.

Then the promoted Doggies opened their season with an impressive five-goal victory over Oakleigh District, 14.15 (99) to 9.15 (69).

Highett’s 2018 premiership Cup arrives by helicopter with Darrell “Goose’’ Mackenzie and Andrew Robinson.

Former Frankston YCW big man Macklin Raine made his debut for Highett, the club announcing his arrival only last Thursday.

Raine, 206cm, was on Frankston’s VFL list last year and played a match against North Melbourne.

“I’ve been wanting a ruckman for five years!’’ coach Sam Hecker said.

“He’s going to be a very good player for us, for sure. He’s a big boy.

“Lex’s nephew played with him (at Frankston YCW) and he was looking for a change. He’s moved to Edithvale or Aspendale and he was wanting to play up this way.’’

Hecker said the victory over the Oaks came from “a real, old-fashioned, team effort”.

“It was a hard, physical game and Oakleigh is a quick, running side,’’ he said.

He was chuffed with his team’s second half, with Yianni Pasialis, Pat Singh and Tom Brown

helping to turn a halftime lead of a point into a healthy victory.

Highett newcomer Macklin Raine.

Kyle Hendy, who trained at VFL club Port Melbourne in the off-season, probably had the biggest influence on the match.

The 21-year-old booted four valuable goals in a best-afield display.

Hecker also had plenty of praise for the likes of straight-ahead defender James O’Keefe and the reliable Sam Jackson.

And the step-up in class?

“We had a reunion of our 1979 premiership team at the luncheon, and many of them were saying how much faster the game looked, compared to last season,” Hecker said.

“So it was good to see the way our players adapted and made a statement of their own.”

Two of Highett’s key recruits — former TAC Cup and Collingwood VFL utility Dylan Gabron-Uhe and ex-De La Salle player Scott Vawser (returning to the club) — did not play.

Former Dandenong Stingray Jake Carosella, Daniel Velardo, Nic Russo and John Walker stood

tall for the Oaks, but it was Highett’s day.

Unfortunately Jordie Thompson could not be part of the victory: he snapped his Achilles at training last week, putting him out for the season.

“It was shattering for us because Jordie is such a popular clubman,” Hecker said of his 2018 premiership player.

It was steady as she goes for Dingley in its season-opener against Cheltenham at Jack Barker Oval.

While unable to deliver a decisive knockout blow, the Dingoes did enough to record a

20-point win in ideal conditions, 12.10 (82) to 9.8 (62).

It was the “old hands’’ who steered the visitors to victory, with Jackson Peet, Chris Horton-Milne, Danny Ades and Matt Morwood setting the example.

“It was a good quality game, with physicality and speed,” Dingley

coach Shane Morwood said. “We lost our way a bit in the third quarter, but

resettled to gain control again.”

At one stage, the Rosellas, with Daniel Harrison, Jack Davis, Luke

Garnaut and Cameron Blitsas in everything, got to within eight points.

“The opening game is probably the toughest game of the year,”

Morwood said.

“Players are nervous, there is an unknown factor about the

opposition and everyone is committed to getting off to a good start.”

Dan Farmer, Troy Parker and Rob Rusan did their bit up forward with

three goals apiece for the winners, whose numbers have improved this season.

“For the last two seasons we have struggled for numbers as soon as we suffered injuries, players unavailable, etc., but our numbers are much better now,” Morwood said.

The former Collingwood star later sat in the Collingwood coaches’ box with Nathan

Buckley at the MCG.

Asked if he had picked up anything he could use himself, Morwood quipped, “Yes, another six assistant coaches.”