Southern league: Port Melbourne Colts hold out St Kilda City

Dane Swan’s debut for St Kilda City attracted a big crowd to his club’s first match of the Southern league season.

Port Melbourne Colts sing the song.

The match had its ups and downs, a bit like some of the rides at nearby Luna Park.

Port Melbourne Colts started it well and St Kilda City finished it better.

But on a night when Brownlow Medal champion Dane Swan made his debut for City and another former Magpie, Marley Williams, stepped out for the opposition, the Colts held on under lights to win by six points at a packed Peanut Farm Reserve in St Kilda last Friday.

Swan said before the match that he would be happy to get a few kicks and avoid injury.

He did get a few but he pulled up sore, no surprise given he’s 37. It’s fair to say Swan was running on fumes in the last quarter, his distinctive running gait even more noticeable.

From the front of the pavilion it was difficult at times to pick up the players on the other side of the ground, but Swan, in the No 29 jumper, still stood out.

His father, former VFA champion Billy Swan, was watching on.

The former Collingwood champion helped attract a crowd of about 3000 to the Peanut Farm.

“We put on a show,’’ a pleased St Kilda City president Rodney Gamlin said after the match.

It was a night when local football clicked back into action after sitting out 2020 due to COVID-19, although Colts had opened their season on Good Friday against Oakleigh Districts.

That might have explained why they pulled clear of St Kilda City early in the match, led by their gun Western Region recruit Kwane McHarg.

Dane Swan and Aaron Edwards ahead of their first match at St Kilda City.

It turns out everything said about McHarg is true. He’s a star, quick, evasive, adventurous and with skills as sharp as a pin.

St Kilda City asked young Tyrell Lafituanai to shadow the classy Colt in the second half and he did it well.

Ace forward Jase Perkins was also to the fore for Port Melbourne Colts, kicking three goals in the first half, showing his prowess not only in the air, but on the ground. He finished with four.

The Colts led by 18 points at the first change and it would have been more but for some doughty defence from a City backline that absorbed a lot of pressure.

The hosts made a run at Port Colts in the third quarter, linking well through the likes of Luke Potts and big Mykelti Lefau.

But Colts steadied through a Perkins left-foot snap kicked through Perkins.

Perkins was involved in the next goal, kicked by Jackson Brown, and then Colts stalwart Brad Sutcliffe knocked over a running goal to push the lead back out to 25 points.

City was undeterred, rallying again in the final quarter after a snap from Lafituanai in the second minute.

Tevita Hallett-Tauali’I’s snap in the 11th minute maintained the momentum and four minutes later Jordie Pollard arrowed a checkside kick through, cutting Colts’ lead to four points.

But the visitors toughed it out. Williams was named best, along with Lewis Mildenhall and 2011cm Jesse Bowe, who gave his side a pronounced advantage in the ruck.

Coach Graeme Yeats said his team “reset and reorganised and gained control back’’ late in the game.

“We played it in our front half for the last four or five minutes, so that was really pleasing’’ he said.

“We played some exciting footy. We made some errors, which we’ll continue to make if we’re prepared to take the game on. That’s just part of footy.’’

He added: “I think the only thing that can hold us back is our ability to get fitter. That’s something we’ve got to continues to focus on.’’

Aside from Swan, City also unveiled former AFL forward and VFL Liston Trophy winner Aaron Edwards, also 37, as well as former VFL players Potts, Pollard and Wade Lees.

Marked closely by Colts defender Mitch O’Neill, Edwards was quiet and his timing for his marks wasn’t there. But he’ll have quite a few good days in front of goals this season.

City coach Matty Hoy said he was pleased with his team’s effort against a side he regards as a premiership contender.

He said St Kilda City gave Colts a four-goal start.

“Chasing tail against good sides is always hard,’’ he said.

“But to respond the way we did … it could have gone either way at three-quarter time. We could have got done by eight goals or it could have gone down to the wire, and it went down to the wire. For us to fight back as hard as we did, I think we can take away as many positives as Port Melbourne Colts.’’

Hoy said City was looking forward to regaining two big men in co-captain Nick Perry and Shem Tatupu.

On Saturday, 2019 grand finalists Dingley and Cheltenham were quickly into stride, with the Dingoes defeating Mordialloc 13.8 (86) to 4.7 (31) and Chelt thrashing Highett 19.17 (131) to 3.2 (20).

The Rosellas could select Casey VFL star Jack Hutchins and he booted three goals, as did Myke Cook on his return from a serious injury and promising youngster Austin Johnson.

Will McTaggart slotted five.

“We didn’t play exceptionally well, we were just better,’’ coach Des Ryan said.

Playing coach Danny Ades was among his team’s best as Dingley proved too good for the Bloodhounds.

Matthew Edwards had a strong debut for the reigning premier.

Mordi coach Brendon Moore said he was pleased with his side’s endeavour.

“They had a go; you couldn’t question their effort,’’ he said.

East Malvern mentor Brent Chapman also made a winning start in Southern league ranking when his side had its way with Oakleigh District, 9.13 (67) to 3.7 (25).

Like Cook at Cheltenham, Luke Duffy made an exceptional comeback from an ACL for the Panthers.

On Saturday night, a strong first half set up Bentleigh for a 12.8 (80) to 8.11 (59) win over St Paul’s in the Battle of Bentleigh.

A highlight for the Demons was the appearance of Under 19s Lachlan Waldren, Jack Hastings and Seb Erharter for their first games.

Coach Peter Pirera said his young newcomers “didn’t look out of place’’.

Former Old Xavs star Nick Wynne also played his first match for Bentleigh, which named ruckman Mitch Smart as best, shading big-bodied midfielder Ashley Di Ciero.

Former Balwyn big man Danny Baglava also had a good first match for the Demons.