Southern league: Matt Wetering bags eight goals for Springvale Districts

Springvale Districts remained unbeaten in the Southern league after dropping the hammer on Hampton.

Matt Wetering kicked eight goals for Springvale Districts. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Matt Wetering turned 22 on Saturday and he gave himself a gift in the form of eight goals.

As he’s done often since joining Springvale Districts, the key forward had a starring role in a rousing Demons victory, this time over Hampton.

The visitors won 19.14 (128) to 5.4 (40) over a Hammers team that was outclassed but never quit.

The Division 2 ladder shows Districts unbeaten after five matches but in fact they’ve won six, having started their season on Good Friday against Hampton Park.

Springvale Districts coach Kris Thompson has a high opinion of Wetering and at the end of 2019, after the 191cm right-footer had won the Division 2 league medal, encouraged him to think about the VFL.

Wetering was happy to stay at Districts. But Thompson, a former Frankston VFL assistant coach, will again put the question to his young star.

“He’s one of those guys who’s happy to play local footy and local cricket (Wetering plays for Springvale South in the Dandenong District Cricket Association and had a stint with Dandenong in Premier Cricket).

“He’s pretty casual about it but he’s got a lot of natural ability.

“Great hands, he’s quick off the mark – he’ll beat most on the lead – great athlete. But he’s still quite raw, which is a good thing. There’s plenty of improvement in him.’’

Springvale Districts coach Kris Thompson.

Wetering has committed to the Southern league “Young Guns’’ training program being held in association with St Kilda.

His bag of eight helped the Demons cover the absence of ace recruit Darren Sheen, who had work commitments.

Veteran Georgie Angelopoulos kicked three goals and was best-afield for Springvale Districts.

Thompson thought the forward pressure of Angelopoulos and Peter Heng was the highlight of the victory.

Key defender Ryan Cunningham and dashing wingman Cory Hutchinson were also prominent.

Strong in the air and an excellent kick, Hutchinson has been tailed by injuries in the past few years but Thompson said he was gaining confidence in his body.

“If he gets a full year of footy into him, he’s another who could have a look at the VFL,’’ he said.

“I’m not saying he’d walk in and play VFL but he could definitely be on a list.’’

Districts have made an excellent start to the season, with the seniors undefeated, the reserves having lost one game and the new Thirds team winning its past two matches.

“We’ve got a lot of momentum as a club,’’ Thompson said.

And the Demons have some returning players too. The selectors will be in for some headaches this week with Sheen, Drew Stockton, Nathan Brown and Joe McClelland available for the senior side.

Thompson praised Hampton, saying the Hammers had “a real crack … I reckon they’ll surprise a few teams this year’’.

Chris Smith (left) celebrates a goal for Caulfield Bears. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He was particularly taken with second-gamer Shakore Bragg-Taylor.

“Exciting player. He was flying for marks, he was fast, tackled well,’’ he said.

Saturday’s round also brought a thumping win for Caulfield over Keysborough.

The result was no surprise, but the margin was: 19.16 (130) to 5.8 (38).

The Bears went in with 11 players who had been on the list in 2019 – six returnees and five recruits – and there’s little doubt they’ve got the makings of an accomplished team.

It was the first time Caulfield had won at Keysborough.

“We really set ourselves for a tough game,’’ coach Chris O’Keefe said.

“We knew Keysy had beaten East Brighton by three or four goals and we played East

Fred Jenkins gets away a handball for the Bears. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Brighton the following week and had a pretty tough game, so we thought it would be a big challenge.

“We played well, and we’re starting to play some good footy. We’re starting to get our mix right. One of the things we’ve struggled with a little bit is our consistency. With so many new players in our team we’re just trying to find that balance, and for the first time this year we put together a four-quarter performance.’’

The Bears had goalkickers in James Backway (five), Chris Smith (four) and Ryan Farmer (four).

Caulfield coach Chris O’Keefe at the quarter-time break.

The high-leaping Farmer, recruited from Gippsland, can play in the ruck and as a tall forward, a valuable commodity in suburban ranks.

Defender Mitch Potter was “sensational’’ with his run and carry, according to O’Keefe.

Keysy were missing a bunch of players, including ruckman Bryce Sutton and former AFL man Harley Balic, and their great stalwart Bomber Goodes suffered a facial injury in a tackle.