Southern league 2021: Dingley digs in to hold out East Malvern

Dingley had two first-gamers on deck as it held out East Malvern. And Aaron Edwards kicked a bag for St Kilda City.

Dingley senior coach Danny Ades with his newcomers Adam Peacock (left) and Lachie Benton.

On paper it was the match of the day, and on the ground it played out that way.

Dingley and East Malvern both went into Saturday’s SFNL Division 1 game at 2-0, but by the end of it only the Dingoes remained unbeaten, outlasting a strong opponent 8.8 (56) to 7.8 (50) at Souter Reserve.

The Panthers finished with a burst of goals, threatening to pinch the points in a last quarter than ran for 29.26 minutes.

On a day when the arrival of rain in the second term demanded that the basics come into play, it was a smother that helped the Dingoes take a few calming breaths in the final few minutes.

With his team trailing by six points, East Malvern’s Adrian Crawford took possession at half back and went to take a kick that would have turned a bout of defence into a rush into attack.

But Dingley’s Christopher Horton-Milne smothered the kick and seconds later the ball was in the grateful hands of spearhead Dan Farmer. He slotted the goal to push the lead back out to 12 points.

East Malvern kept coming, Mackenzie Bristow marking in the goalsquare to trim it back to six points. But the visitors couldn’t take it any further.

Young bucks Lachie Benton and Adam Peacock played their first games for Dingley, but coach Danny Ades thought an old warhorse in big Matt Terech was best-afield.

Ades noted that Terech, a former East Malvern player, didn’t come off the ground and helped his team dim the powers of Chris Carey, one of the best players in the Southern league.

Carey is vice-captain of the Sandringham VFL team but was squeezed out of the side to play against Port Melbourne.

Gotcha: Dingley’s Kris Feehan claims East Malvern’s David Ismail. Picture: Stuart Milligan

East was surprised to have him available, and pleased with his performance.

Benton is on the Sandringham Dragons’ list and with the NAB League Boys taking a break he dropped back for a senior debut with the club where he started as a junior.

Ades said he knew Benton belonged at senior level in the first minute of the match, when he delivered a pinpoint pass.

Peacock, an Under 19 player in 2019, showed up with his speed and determination on the wing in the last quarter.

Farmer hardly touched the ball in the first half, but bobbed up with three goals in the second.

Young Luke Simmonds also kicked three.

Dingoes captain Jackson Peet took some hard hits but absorbed them and handled conditions wet and dry.

Ades (finger) was among a number of senior Dingley players watching on, adding merit to the victory.

Cheltenham also remained unbeaten after clouting Bentleigh at the Jack Barker Oval, 16.14 (110) to 4.7 (31).

The Demons made an encouraging start, applying great pressure around the ball in the first quarter.

But the challenge fizzled quickly.

The Rosellas peeled off seven goals to none in the second quarter, and finished with 11 goalkickers.

Dingley champion Lucas Walmsley pulls in a mark. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Big Daniel Rendell booted two and held his own in his ruck battle with Bentleigh’s Mitch Smart, who was also listed in his team’s best players.

Demons Ben Cooper, Jake Curry and Tom Massey kept whacking away against the formidable Chelt running brigade.

With the Sandringham Dragons not playing, Bentleigh brought in Luke Nankervis for his first senior game.

He’s as light as anything you’d find in a pillow factory but he’s quite a talent with his evasiveness and running powers.

Josh Mackie also made his debut.

Bentleigh newcomers Luke Nankervis and Josh Mackie.

Port Melbourne Colts is the third team with a 3-0 record after it got the better of St Paul’s in tough conditions at McKinnon Reserve, 8.12 (60) to 3.8 (26).

The Doggies have been a finals mainstay in the past few years but they’re still to sing the song after three rounds.

In his 100th game for the Colts, champion forward Jase Pekins was held to one goal.

But St Kilda City spearhead Aaron Edwards filled his bag at the Peanut Farm, kicking 10 goals against Oakleigh District in a 20.12 (112) to 3.9 (27) rout.

He had five on the board at quarter time.

Former AFL player and VFL JJ Liston Trophy winner Edwards joined City this year from Mornington Peninsula club Pines, where he was a prominent goalkicker.

Still impressively fit at the age of 37, he’ll kick more than one bag this season.

Another former Frankston VFL player, Brayden Irving, played his second game for City and kicked two goals.

Oaks coach Paul Howroyd said injuries had weakened his team and it finished with no bench.

But he said he could not question his players’ endeavour.

“They’re competing hard and that’s all you can ask,’’ he said.

“It seems like the comp has split into halves so we’ll have an opportunity in the next few weeks to pinch a win here or there.’’

Howroyd said the club would continue to try to recruit players before the cut-off at the end of June.

Mordialloc gained its first win of the season when it came from behind to defeat Highett 14.12 (96) to 10.1 (61).

Harrison Edwards and the experienced James Morris both kicked four goals for the Bloodhounds, who listed Karingal recruit Callan Dixon as their best player.

Edwards is the brother of highly regarded Sandringham Dragons ruckman Jacob Edwards and was recruited from Beaumaris.

The Bulldogs had jumped Mordi to lead by 18 points at quarter time.

“We haven’t played a lot of footy together and I don’t think our belief is quite there yet,’’ Mordialloc coach Brendon Moore said.

“But we kept chipping away. It’s a good win for us, and hopefully we can build on it.’’