Frankston YCW thumps Mornington by 89 points in stunning start to the Peninsula league finals
FRANKSTON YCW star forward Anthony Bruhn slotted seven goals as the Stonecats hammered Mornington in the Peninsula league qualifying final.
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FRANKSTON Park in September is the Stonecats’ time to shine.
And Frankston YCW did exactly that on Saturday, thrashing Mornington by 89 points in the qualifying final.
With star forward Anthony Bruhn slotting seven goals, a razor sharp YCW hurried to a 41-point lead by halftime and then fired off eight goals to Mornington’s one in a decisive third quarter.
The Stonecats won 23.13 (151) to 9.8 (62) – their 12th straight win (and the 12th time in a row they’ve scored 100-points or more).
The dominant performance left Mornington coach Chris Holcombe in awe.
“They were ultra-impressive,’’ he said.
“They do everything right. Their clearance work was fantastic, they don’t miss targets, they provide multiple options and they execute very well.’’
Asked if YCW can be stopped from capturing back-to-back flags, Holcombe said: “Whoever is going to beat them is going to have to be on their game 100 per cent.’’
Frankston YCW coach Scott Mathers said the most pleasing aspect of the win was that his side had a raft of contributors.
“There wasn’t one real stand out,’’ he said.
Stonecats warrior Craig Nankervis doesn’t receive the accolades of some of his flashier teammates but he should. He again starred in a final. Bruhn was superb up forward, as was Lew Roberts (three goals). Young Ryan Santon, a real dasher, was superb.
Frankston YCW faces minor premier Mt Eliza in the second semi-final this Sunday and Mathers said it would be a tough assignment.
“They (Mt Eliza) finished on top for a reason,’’ Mathers said. “They had one bad day all year and people aren’t probably giving them the respect, or discounting them a little bit.’’
Holcolmbe said Mornington would regain up to five players, including Warwick Miller and Matt Smith, for its do-or-die first semi-final clash.
“The boys have got a lot of character so we’ll belt back in next week and try and atone for what happened yesterday,’’ he said.
Best for the Bulldogs on Saturday were Ben Wells, Josh Halsall and Ryan Odell.
On Sunday, Pines’ best season in more than a decade ended abruptly at a windy Frankston Park.
Returning to the finals for the first time since 2003, the Pythons loomed as a winning hope before losing to Edi-Asp by 20 points, 14.13 (97) to 10.17 (77), in the Peninsula league elimination final.
A wild punch up in the crowd captured attention in the third quarter and while the brawl went on Edi-Asp drilled three late goals in the term to build a match-winning 24-point lead at the last change.
Edi-Asp coach Graeme Yeats calmly addressed his players at three quarter time, urging them to keep running.
When Eagles forward Mick Meehan slotted the opening goal of the last quarter, Edi-Asp was out to a 30-point lead.
But Pines, kicking with the wind, kept coming. Aaron Edwards booted successive goals – but then missed one from straight in front that would have cut the margin to nine points.
Meehan then kicked another, his fourth for the game, to make it too hard for the Pythons.
Pines forward Guy Hendry capped a terrific game with five goals, celebrating each one enthusiastically as he tried to ignite his side.
Edi-Asp lives to fight another day – and will face Mornington in this Sunday’s first semi-final.
In Nepean league, a rampant Rosebud is through to its first grand final in eight years after beating Somerville by 16 points in the second semi-final at Rowley Reserve on Saturday.
The Buds led narrowly at each change to win 10.17 (77) to 9.7 (61) — their third victory over Somerville this season.
“Just their effort and pressure, and their relentless attack at the contest, was outstanding,’’ Rosebud coach Nick Jewell said.
Former Subiaco premiership star Rob Forrest was brilliant in the win, gathering 12 kicks in the opening quarter to ignite the Buds. He capped off the dominant display with three goals.
Jack Jarman took a heavy hit early but bounced back to be a key figure in the win, while defender Nick Boswell and ruckman Ben Dwyer also played crucial roles.
Rosebud will take a five-game winning streak into the grand final at Frankston Park on September 19.
Somerville will regroup and contest the preliminary final this Saturday at Tyabb. The Eagles’ best were Josh Westerman, Luke Collie and Ben Sedgwick. Rosebud’s last flag was in 2007.
The Buds’ journey under Jewell has been eventful. Last season they were laughed at for kicking 0.20 in a game. And earlier this season, Jewell surprised many by announcing he would be ending his tenure at season’s end.
But through it all, the Buds have played outstanding football and a hunger for success. “Yes, it’s been full of surprises,’’ Jewell said.
Rosebud’s Under 19s have also qualified for the grand final.
Somerville’s reserves also progressed to the season decider.
On Sunday, reigning premier Sorrento ended Red Hill’s season with an all-the-way 46-point win in the first semi-final at Tyabb.
With their season on the line, the Sharks exploded from the blocks, kicking the first four goals of the game.
Myles Pitt and Nick Muller both slotted two goals in the opening term.
Red Hill coach Tony Blackford wasn’t happy at quarter-time, telling his men that Sorrento was “getting in harder than us’’.
Sorrento teenager Myles Poholke booted the opening goal of the second term as the Sharks extended their lead to 36 points.
Sorrento went on to win 18.8 (116) to 9.16 (70) to keep its hopes of back-to-back flags alive. Pitt kicked six goals, Leigh Poholke four and Muller three. David Lawson was best-on-ground.
The Sharks, with ex-Demon Luke Tapscott in good form, will meet Somerville in the preliminary final on Saturday.
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