Southern league: Oakleigh District defeats Highett in Division 1

A third generation of the Peddle family is kicking in at Oakleigh District in Division 1 of the Southern league.

Nathan Peddle takes a speccie for Oakleigh District against Highett. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It was Peddle power at Oakleigh District on Saturday, as it has been for many years.

Before the Oaks’ match against Highett, club great Graeme Peddle was called in to the rooms ahead of his grandsons Nathan and Regan playing together in the senior team for the first time.

Former president Greg Kiellerup gave an overview of the Peddle’s association with the club.

Oakleigh District football runs in the family.

Graeme played more than 150 games for the club and his son Brenton did the same. Both served as president and captain too.

Brenton’s wife, Robyn, and her family are also royal Oaks. She’s as life member, as is her brother Paul and parents Pat and Rex Williamson.

Nathan Peddle looks for an option.

Now a third generation of Peddles has the name flying in the senior side, which gained its first win for the season by defeating Highett 11.7 (73) to 9.10 (64).

Both Peddles were named in the best.

But the best-afield gong went to Ryan Pearson, who had 35 possessions and kicked three goals.

“It was a really nice moment, a nice touch,’’ coach Paul Howroyd said of the appearance of Graeme Peddle before the game.

“’Killer’ (Kiellerup) said a few words about the importance of the match and how important the Peddle name was at the footy club. It makes everyone appreciate what these good local clubs are about.’’

District’s Bayley Kay-Glover is taken high. Picture: Valeriu Campan

With Nathan Peddle hot, the Oaks set up their victory by kicking five goals to one in the first quarter, putting the Bulldogs into a game of catch-up. They tried their best at it and gained ground in the last quarter but the hosts held on.

“My main emotion is that I’m really happy for the club, to be honest,’’ Howroyd said.

“They’ve worked really hard, the committee, and the players have trained really hard and finally got the win everyone has been searching for.

“The start did it for us … we played really well in the first quarter … our pressure was good and our ball use was as good as it’s been all year. Highett kept coming at us and we probably dropped off a bit with our pressure and foot skills but we did enough to get over the line.’’

Frank Bonacci was industrious through the midfield and Mark McGill was prominent on the ball and at half back. Xavier Cubillo returned to the team and kicked two goals.

The Oaks’ Frank Bonacci fights for the ball.

In another lifter, the reserves also won, with Yianni Billias kicking four goals.

This week the Oaks come up against St Paul’s, the club Howroyd coached to two premierships.

But at 0-4 and with key players on the sidelines, the Bulldogs find themselves in unfamiliar territory in the lower rungs of the ladder.