Mornington gets back on track for finals after a thumping win over Chelsea in Peninsula league

MORNINGTON coach Chris Holcombe laughs off rumours of a fiery meeting of his players, saying the Bulldogs are united and on track for a successful finals campaign.

Pictured is Peninsula Football Netball League round 15 game of Australian Rules Football Langwarrin ( blue and white with blue shorts ) versus Mt Eliza ( red, white, blue with white shorts ) at Lloyd Park in Langwarrin. Rohan Heasley clears the ball from centre. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

MORNINGTON coach Chris Holcombe laughed off rumours of a fiery meeting of his players, saying the Bulldogs were united and on track for a successful finals campaign.

Mornington roared back to form with a 93-point win over Chelsea at Alexandra Park on Saturday.

“We got back to the football we were playing earlier in the year,’’ Holcombe said.

“We hit a flat patch in the past month or so and it was good to see the boys back into it yesterday.’’

As for talk of a heated meeting, supposedly involving finger pointing, after the loss to Edi-Asp last week, Holcombe said: “I find it funny all the whispers going around that there was trouble down there. I suppose every footy club, when you start hitting a flat stage of the season, you have a discussion about it and you try to find ways to improve…

“If you call that a heated discussion then I suppose it was, mate. It was more just getting back on track.’’

A razor-sharp Mornington drilled eight goals in the first quarter on Saturday to establish a 38-point lead and, with its midfield purring, won 20.16 (136) to 5.13 (43). Jimmy Cameron and Ben Wells were influential and Joel Miller continued his great form. Small forwards Jake Smart and Ben Clements kicked three goals apiece while Dale Nolan (six goals) and Jackson Calder (four) were dominant.

Ex-Carlton player Anthony Franchina was again missing from the Mornington side. He hasn’t played in over a month. Holcombe said he was still at the club.

Pines has secured its first finals berth in 11 seasons after beating Bonbeach by 29 points. A highlight of the 14.12 (96) to 10.7 (67) win was a spectacular mark by Aaron Edwards in the last quarter. “It was mark of the year,’’ Pines coach Paddy Swayn said. “He stood on a couple of blokes’ shoulders in defence.’’

Defender Corey Ash was best-afield, while Trent Potts and Guy Hendry (five goals) also impressed. Pines’ U19s, coached by Glenn Shannon, snapped a 38-game losing streak with a nine-point win over Bonbeach.

Seaford, after the departure of coach Ben Crowe during the week, beat Karingal by 41 points. Scott Kemble took over as caretaker coach after Crowe, who had already announced he would not continue coaching in 2016, was “asked to step aside’’ according to the club. The Tigers’ win celebrated the 200-game milestones of Josh Stokes and Paul Vyverberg.

Mt Eliza teammates Tim Strickland, left, and James Clayton burst through the banner before their 100th and 200th games respectively on Saturday. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

Mt Eliza spearhead Justin Van Unen kicked four goals to edge within 13 of a ton in the Redlegs’ 49-point win over Langwarrin. Tim Strickland (100 games) and James Clayton (200) achieved milestones for Mt Eliza.

Frankston YCW thumped Edi-Asp by 91 points, with champion ruckman Ash Eames turning in a dominant display.

In Nepean, Dromana coach Doug Koop came up with a unique way to motivate his players ahead of the Tigers’ clash with second-placed Rye. He told them to “go out and not be a politician’’.

It worked. Ninth-placed Dromana surged to an early lead and held on to cause the boilover of the season, 18.12 (120) to 15.19 (109).

Koop explained his political theme by saying: “Most politicians are picked because there is no one else. Most of them are in office and don’t do much.

“That was the whole them of the day. ‘Are you going to be a politician, and just be selected and give us nothing? Or are you going to stand up?’ Fortunately for us they all stood up and played outstanding footy.’’

Hard-as-nails Dromana player Mathew Jones kicked four goals, while Billy Quigley slotted five. Rohan Bleeker was best-on-ground and Braeden Dennis impressed.

Hastings smacked Tyabb by 177 points, with Luke Clark firing off 10 goals. Lance Brouwer, Chris Biviano and Colin McVeigh also ran rampant as the Blues piled on 11 goals in the first term and went on to win 30.21 (201) to 3.6 (24).

Former North Melbourne-listed Tim McGenniss was again superb for Somerville as the Eagles beat Frankston by 30 points. Tom Shaw and Scott Simpson both four goals and Ben Sedgwick impressed.

Sorrento forward Myles Pitt booted 10 goals in the Sharks’ 114 point win over Pearcedale. Ex-Demon Luke Tapscott chimed in with three.

And Devon Meadows beat Crib Point by 62 points, fuelled by a best-on-ground display by Jesse Dehey and three goals from Troy Aust. The Panthers are 6-8 with two games to go.