Division 1 saw the big boys flex their muscles in Round 2 with numerous premiership contenders registering huge wins to assert their dominance.
St Kilda City put last week's narrow loss behind them, the Saints pumping Mordialloc 24.17-161 to 7.7-49 on Saturday afternoon. The foundations for the big win were laid in the first half before the visitors piled on the pain with 14 goals to three after the main change.
The Bloodhounds defence was under constant siege, the Saints generating a whopping 41 scoring shots for the day. City trio Edward Greene, Adam Capiron and Jordan Pollard combined for 13 goals, while Aaron Edwards shook off a rusty performance last week to finish with four majors.
Nathan Gregson was the sole multiple goal kicker for the home side, while Dylan Gregson continued on from last week’s good form.
East Malvern made it two from two in an entertaining clash against an in-form Bentleigh down at Arthur Street. The Panthers first trip away from home a memorable one, running out winners 15.9-99 to 9.10-64. With both sides coming off good wins last week, this clash shaped up as a beauty and duly followed the script in the first term.
However, the Panthers flipped that script in the second quarter, slamming through six goals to zip to wrestle away the momentum. The Demons were able to get things back on level terms after that but the damage had been done. Tim Johnston finished with three snags for the visitors, while Lucas Hall and Tom Preece were instrumental in the win.
For the Dees, the loss will no doubt be disappointing after last week’s high and they’ll rue their costly drop off in the second term. Joseph Colaciello pocketed three majors for the home side while Sam Lewin and Mitch Smart did everything they could.
Cheltenham also continued their unblemished start to the season, dominating the second half to down St Paul’s 13.19-97 to 7.6-48. Many anticipated this to be a close contest and the first half proved to be just that, with only nine points separating the sides in a real tug of war. But it was the home side who broke the game open after the half time siren, a stunning five goal term from the Rosellas opening up a match winning lead.
Once again Cheltenham had plenty winners across the ground and found plenty of scoring avenues up forward. Robert Iudica the leading goal kicker with three but it was the Daniel show with both Dan Rendell and Dan Harrison producing strong performances.
St Paul’s are now zip and two to open the season but have still played reasonable football in patches. Will Clarke starred in his first outing for the year while Barama Blow was commendable and chipped in with a goal.
Port Melbourne Colts continued their unbeaten run to the season, ruthlessly smashing Highett to a pulp in a woefully lopsided contest. The home side continue to press their claims as one of the premiership fancies, holding the Dogs goalless to notch up a ridiculous percentage booster 25.15-165 to 0.6-6. The game was all but done at the first break with 11 goals to zip setting alarm bells off everywhere for the visitors.
The Colts, far from satisfied, continued to pile the pain on the scoreboard. Jase Perkins once again proving too good with seven goals, but it was the Kwame McHarg show as he simply dominated all day to go with half a dozen snags.
It was a horror afternoon for the Dogs, already battling injuries and unavailability's, but they were simply outclassed by a slick unit. Mitch Hoar and Will Bodman never stopped trying and gave their all for the visitors.
The final match of the round saw another premiership contender dish out a thumping with Dingley proving far too good for Oakleigh District to run out 122 point victors. It was all one way traffic from the very first bounce with the Dingoes finding the big sticks with ease to open up a ten goal lead at half time.
District couldn’t turn the tide in the second half as once again the home side powered past them to stack on another 13 goals. The Dingley forwards had a day out with Dan Farmer finishing with a bag of eight and Remmi Faulkner-Wood slotting five himself. The final score of 24.9-153 to 4.7-31 a powerful reminder that this dominant Dingo era is by no means done yet.
