St Mary’s claims biggest upset of the Northern Football League season by defeating Banyule

St Mary’s avenged an 111-point loss and ended Banyule’s undefeated start to the NFL Division 2 season with a dominant performance in difficult conditions at Whatmough Park.

Mitch Hocking in action for St Mary's.

St Mary’s produced the biggest upset of the Northern Football League season on Saturday.

The Burra knocked off previously undefeated Banyule by 13 points at Whatmough Park, to claim their second victory of the Division 2 season.

Banyule handed last year’s Division 3 premier a 111-point thrashing in Round 3 but St Mary’s avenged the loss with a dominant performance in wet conditions.

Only inaccuracy cost the Burras a bigger win, triumphant 8.15 (63) to 7.8 (50).

Coach Fabian Carelli praised his players’ bravery and attack on the ball in slippery conditions.

Jacob Yeomans suffered a dislocated shoulder. Picture: Hamish Blair

“Saturday was a day where you can let conditions beat you mentally, it was pretty tough out there, it rained pretty much the whole day,” he said.

“Our boys just committed to the contest and I just told them ‘you never know what can happen’.

“People will look at it and say conditions might have levelled it up … but our boys were just more committed to the contest and that’s what got us the win.”

Injuries to key players Lee Minuz (calf) and Jacob Yeomans (dislocated shoulder) before half-time only made the win more meritorious.

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“We’ve been building to it, we’ve had some good form over the last month but results haven’t gone our way,” Carelli said.

“Especially in the conditions, to be two men down halfway through the second quarter, so to come out and fight was extremely positive for our boys.”

St Mary’s had eight scoring shots to three in the first quarter but score were level at quarter-time.

Banyule was kept to a single behind in the second term as the Burra built a nine-point advantage, extending their lead to 24 points at three-quarter-time.

What a fantastic win. Well done boys you deserve to celebrate hard. All the best to Yoey. St. Marys 8:15:63 V Banyule 7:8:50. Go Burra!!!

Posted by St Mary's Senior Football & Netball Club on Saturday, 29 June 2019

Mitch Hocking in action for St Mary’s.

Mitch Hocking was superb off half-back with his clean hands and ball use shining on a difficult day.

Jackson Wolczko was also impressive with his contested ball winning in midfield, sneaking forward to boot two goals as well.

It doesn’t get any easier for St Mary’s with a trip to Thomastown, fresh off the bye, this weekend.

Elsewhere in Division 2, Eltham went down to Whittlesea by four points while Diamond Creek and Fitzroy Stars played out a thrilling draw.

In Division 1, Montmorency is back in the winners’ circle after dismantling Hurstbridge while Lower Plenty was kept to just a single behind by North Heidelberg.

Eltham Collegians picked up their second win in Division 3, heaping more misery on winless Reservoir.

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