Redlegs lose Van Unen to hamstring injury in Anzac Day victory over Bulldogs
MT ELIZA edges Mornington by 15 points to claim the Anzac Day Cup, but the Redlegs lose key forward Justin Van Unen to injury.
South East
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MT ELIZA edged Mornington by 15 points on Saturday to claim the Anzac Day Cup – and top spot on the Peninsula league ladder.
But the unbeaten Redlegs suffered a telling blow in the 9.6 (60) to 6.9 (45) victory, losing star forward Justin Van Unen to a hamstring injury.
Injury was about the only thing that was going to stop Van Unen, who had booted eight and 10 goals in the first two games.
He had two goals on the board on Saturday before hobbling off in the second quarter.
Mt Eliza coach John Georgiou hoped the injury wouldn’t keep Van Unen sidelined for too long.
“We still don’t know how bad it is,’’ he said.
“Obviously we didn’t want to risk him by putting him back on. Hopefully it’s just one of those one-to-two weekers.’’
In front of a big crowd at Madsen Reserve, Van Unen made an explosive start to the game, slotting two goals in the first five minutes.
As heavy rain tumbled down, Mornington rallied and scores were level at half-time.
The third quarter was pivotal. Mt Eliza made its winning move with successive goals by Scott Lockwood, Dave Willett and Ben Lean, on the run, as the Redlegs surged 17 points ahead.
“We were able to capitalise going forward and we were able to stop them from scoring, so I think the third quarter was the critical part,’’ Georgiou said.
“Other than that it was a real arm wrestle.’’
Mornington coach Chris Holcombe felt his side missed a chance to get ahead soon after half-time.
“Both sides had a real crack. We had our opportunities but we couldn’t convert. Mt Eliza converted late in that third term after we dominated the start of the third term. Basically that’s it,’’ he said.
Mt Eliza midfielder Rohan Heasley was awarded the Anzac Medal after a skilful, hard-running display. His offsiders Ben Landry and Matt Davis also were influential.
Mt Eliza captain Karl Lombardozzi was terrific in the backline, along with Darren Booth and Rob D’Orazio, who kept Bulldogs forward Dale Nolan to two goals.
On Sunday, reigning premiers Frankston YCW had a percentage-boosting 205-point win over Karingal at Ballam Park. Anthony Bruhn (11 goals), David Bodley (eight), Ben Tellis (five) and Kyle Hutchison (four) top scored. But in a blow for the Stonecats Anthony Barry suffered a shoulder injury.
In Nepean league, a rev-up from co-coach Jamie Merchan was behind Pearcedale’s upset 29-point win over Somerville in its Anzac Day clash.
The Dales won 15.8 (98) to 9.15 (69) to open its winning account.
Merchan put it to his players before the game that they needed to lift their tackle count.
“I asked the group, ‘for us to be competitive how many tackles do you think we need to make?’,’’ he said.
“They said 60 to 70. Someone said 80. I said. ‘80 to 90 is what we want’.
“We made a conscious decision to hunt the footy and win the contested ball.’’
Pearcedale’s unrelenting pressure yielded 83 tackles and halted Somerville’s run.
And when they went forward, the Dales had potent targets in Patty Heijden (six goals), Troy Jacobson (three) and the mercurial Basil Sibosado (two).
Sibosado, from WA, provided a spark in his first game for the season.
“He’s an absolute talent, that kid,’’ Merchan said of Sibosado. “He’s just dangerous, he’s a weapon.’’
Dolphins-listed Alex Harnett, who was runner-up in the Dandenong Stingrays best and fairest last season, came into the side and was a key figure in the win, booting two goals.
“The collective effort and the defensive aspect of the guys is what got us the points,’’ Merchan said.
Merchan said his side had now set a standard it would try to maintain.
“I told the players to focus on what we control, and the results will follow,’’ he said.
“And don’t look too far ahead – that’s the main message I’ll continue with these guys throughout the year. Win or lose, these are now the standards we have got.’’
On Sunday, Hastings held off a fast-finishing Frankston Bombers to win by three points, 12.17 (89) to 13.8 (86).
And Red Hill beat Rosebud by a goal, with recruits Mat Vagg and Michael Chaplin kicking two goals apiece.
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