LIVE STREAM: Dodges Ferry and Claremont clash in SFL

It took a little while but when SFL high flyers Dodges Ferry hit their stride, lowly Claremont stood little chance. RELIVE all the action from our LIVE STREAM.

DODGES Ferry feels it may have unlocked the key to help it compete with the SFL’s powerhouses come finals time.

After a tight first quarter, the Sharks were able to feast on Claremont at Shark Park turning a four-point lead at the first break into a 81-point victory, 20.12 (132) to 8.3 (51)

In skipper Campbell Hooker, the Sharks have arguably the SFL’s most lethal key forward, with last year’s Colin Smith Medal as the league’s leading goal kicker to back up their argument.

But co-coach David Hunt said to be a contender, Dodges Ferry had to find more support for its captain – and that’s where the win over the struggling Magpies could provide a template for future success.

While Hooker was held to just two majors, Jack Dolliver, the son of co-coach Brent Dolliver, booted six goals in a best afield display, while Daniel Reimers booted five with the Sharks having nine goal kickers in the big win.

Dodges Ferry believe they may have found the key to stay competitive with the top sides. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We need to create more avenues to goal which we’ve been craving for if we are being honest,” Hunt said.

“We want Cam kicking goals, but it is that spread in the front half that is going to help us compete against the better teams.”

Hunt was most impressed with Dolliver, who was vice-captain of the SFL’s successful under-18 representative team the previous Saturday.

“For him to come back with a bit of confidence and kick six in a senior game as an 18-year-old in just his second year of senior footy was unreal,” he said.

“He’s a bit of a rangy kid, he’s a good basketballer.

“He was in the air and on the ground, he was kicking them either way.

“He’s got that nice balance to his game, he just doesn’t rely on his marking.”

The Sharks remain in third spot and face the fourth-placed Huonville Lions at Huonville next round in a clash that could decide which team secures a top-three spot and the double chance.

Lindisfarne continued its undefeated run with a 58-point win over Sorell, with Josh Green kicked five goals, Cygnet had a 52-point victory over New Norfolk and Brighton recorded its fourth win of the year with a 17-point margin over Hobart.

Preview: Dodges Ferry determined to narrow ‘clear divide’

Dodges Ferry Dodges Ferry acknowledge there’s a clear ‘divide’ between the Southern Football League’s elite and the rest of the competition but still believe their best is good enough to win it all.

Ahead of their clash with Claremont on Saturday, which The Mercury is exclusively livestreaming from 2pm, the third-placed Sharks conceded that ladder leaders Lindisfarne and Cygnet were currently a step above the rest of the competition.

“There’s no point saying there isn’t that clear divide at the moment.” Sharks midfielder Isaac Mathewson said.

“We had our chance two weeks in a row to play both of those teams and they managed to get over the top of us, and Cygnet quite convincingly in the end,” he said.

“That gave us a good indication of what we’ve got to do in the back end of the year to challenge them.”

Mathewson said the Sharks, who sit two games behind the second placed Cygnet, were still firmly aiming for a top two finish and that consistency was key for them to match it with the League’s powerhouses.

Isaac Mathewson, Dodges Ferry. Jack Crossin, Claremont Picture: Linda Higginson

“Our aim is definitely to challenge for top two,” he said.

“There’s clearly a couple of teams that are playing really good footy and are really strong but we are just working had on our system and our game to be as good as them and challenging them and hopefully get to the pointy end.

“We think our best our best footy challenges those teams but we need to be more consistent across the four quarters like they are.”

“Absolutely we can compete with them and it’s a long season and I think we are improving week to week and that’s what we’ll aim to do and that should put us in a good spot come the back end of the year.”

After a competition bye the recharged Sharks will look to kickstart the second half of their season against the youthful Claremont on Saturday.

“We played Claremont earlier on in the year down at their home ground and they played really well and challenged us so we are looking to put in a strong four quarters and keep working on things so we can be strong come the back end of the year.”

The Sharks and the Magpies will meet at Shark Park at 2pm on Saturday.

In the other SFL match-ups the undefeated Lindisfarne will host Sorell, New Norfolk will head to Cygnet to take on the powerful Port, while Brighton and Hobart will clash at Pontville. Huonville has the bye.