Southern league: Cerberus, the Three-Headed Dogs, is barking after winning the Division 4 grand final
CERBERUS has one of football’s great nicknames — the Three-Headed Dogs. And now it has a premiership after defeating Lyndhurst.
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THE Three-Headed Dogs are barking in the Southern league.
Cerberus on Saturday completed its powerful end to the season when it defeated Lyndhurst in the Division 4 grand final at Keysborough, denying the Lightning a historic first senior flag.
The Navy crew was on top from the first bounce and ended up winning its own first flag in the SFNL, 12.14 (86) to 8.6 (44).
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The Lightning had their chances and when three consecutive goals early in the final term brought them to within 11 points, their supporters dared to hope.
But the Three-Headed Dogs answered quickly and raced away for a meritorious victory.
If not for full-forward Hamish “Hammer’’ Browning, the damage may have been even greater.
The strongly-built spearhead booted six of the Lightning’s eight goals, but the help he needed wasn’t forthcoming.
“We gave it everything we had but weren’t up to it on the day,” Lyndhurst coach Paddy Cooke said.
“Cerberus were by far the better side today.
“I think we may have used up our petrol tickets during the year and had nothing else to offer today. I don’t think we played a bad game all season and I couldn’t have asked much more of the players.
“But it’s back to the drawing board to see where we can improve.”
Jesse Walia was dogged in defence for the Lightning, as was Anthony Besim, while Jason and Kevin worked tirelessly through the midfield.
Ruckman Jamie Andrade also impressed with his stout effort in the ruck, although the honours were taken by Cerberus star Jimmy Miller.
Miller, a stylish goalkicker, was used as a ruckman and was voted best-afield for the Meneilly Medal.
Sam Corcoran was a star up forward for the winners and finished with three goals, and midfielder Jeremy Cross, acting skipper Simon Vanderfeen and the versatile Joe Kura also made valuable contributions for the premiers.
When Jason Heffernan was appointed as St Paul’s coach just under two years ago, the talk was whether Clayton or St Paul’s would be relegated at the end of the 2017 season.
On Saturday at Springvale, St Paul’s won its way through to this year’s Division 1 grand final with a gritty 13-point win over East Malvern.
“I’m so happy for the boys, it’s a really good feeling,” Heffernan said after the game.
The Bulldogs jumped the more experienced Panthers in the first quarter and although their halftime lead of 28 points was gradually reduced, it was enough to see them home, 11.9 (75) to 9.8 (62).
“It was our best start for the season,” Heffernan said.
“We’re notoriously slow starters but our first quarter stood us in good stead.
“East applied massive pressure in the third quarter and their greater big-game experience showed.
“But our boys stood firm and I am very proud of them.”
The loss of Curtis Murfett in the third term robbed the Doggies of drive through the midfield, where he had been superb.
Veteran Brad Gilder, Nick Halliday, Lachlan Butler and class act Matt Kreymborg were among the many other winners for St Paul’s, and Steve Muller weighed in with four goals. Tim Walsh toiled diligently in the ruck against the talented Chris Carey, who rucked all day and was among East’s better players.
The versatile Tom Stephenson was in everything for the Panthers, with Dylan Morton, speedy winger Adam Collinson and rebounding defender Luke Poustie also conspicuous.
In Division 3 Endeavour Hills defied the tipsters when it upset warm favourite Hampton Park by six goals in the preliminary final at Power Road.
The Falcons grabbed the game by the throat in the third quarter and marched on to victory, 11.6 (72) to 5.6 (36). Goals were at a premium early in the ideal conditions, with only five majors in the first half. But with skipper Nathan Strom leading the way, the Falcons slammed home five goals to one in the third term to take command.
“It was a scrappy fist half and that’s the way we wanted it,” Falcons coach Rob Dipper said after the game.
“We had to nullify their scoring and not let them get away from us.
“I don’t think they were ready for the pressure we applied. We sustained our pressure on the ball carrier for four quarters, it was a great effort by the boys.”
Dipper said his team was confident it could do well against the Redbacks.
“It’s the first time we’ve had a full squad since the opening round,” he said.
“At full strength, we had no excuses today.”
The Falcons had winners aplenty, with Byron Hoe brilliant through the middle and ruckman Daniel Soar dominant in his first game for five weeks. Andrew Vella was another key contributor, whether at half-forward or in defence, while Nick Anderson played the role of back-up ruckman to perfection.
Nathan Reid and Daniel Cann were among the many other stars for the winners.
The surprised Redbacks were well served by midfielder Jack Besley, backman Jackson Philpin and clever midfielder Mike Henry, with Kain Bloxsidge and Jackson Fry also prominent.
The Falcons will take on Springvale Districts in next Sunday’s grand final at Power Road.
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CLASSIC MELBOURNE FOOTBALL GROUNDS
FOR a team that had won only once since Round 13, Mordialloc won pretty well on Sunday.
Just when their season was in danger of dissolving into a straight-sets finals exit, the Bloodhounds produced something like their best to end Dingley’s doughty bid for a fourth consecutive Division 1 premiership.
Mordi won the first-semi final at Springvale 13.9 (87) to 5.11 (41) points to earn another shot at East Malvern, which defeated them in the qualifying final the previous week.
The Bloodhounds were impressive on a few fronts against Dingley. They switched the ball smartly from defence, they created a loose man and used him, often on the wing, and their tackling and general pressure were unrelenting. There was a vibrancy to everything they did.
Mordi kicked with a breeze to the Springvale Rd end in the first quarter but struggled to break free early in a scrappy start.
Nathan Evans finally got them going with a terrific on-the-run shot from the boundary and four minutes later class forward James Morris, fed by the lethal left foot of Danny Nicholls, capped an outstanding passage of end-to-end play.
Dan Farmer strolled into an open goal to open Dingley’s account in the first minute of the second quarter. But David Marguglio answered for Mordi, and then Lachlan McIver and Ben Humphrey punched home their advantage.
The Bloods’ resolve was underlined when Jordan Derbyshire was hit hard from behind by Dingoe Kristen Feehan in a marking contest on the wing. Derbyshire bounced straight up and made for the next contest. His eyes never left the ball.
Sixteen-points up at halftime, Mordialloc put the match away with a blistering opening to the third term.
Morris snapped truly then made a set-shot, and Darbyshire slotted another after being paid a free kick.
The goals kept coming: a peach of a snap from Aaron Kneebone from the boundary, a long shot from Ben Humphrey and a fourth goal for Morris.
That made the lead 52 points and Dingley’s long reign as Southern’s best team was over.
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