By Lincoln Edmunds
@LincolnEdmunds
Listen back to this week’s The 5th Quarter podcast, featuring Lyndale President Ed McLean as the special guest, in the player above.
ROUND 8 REVIEW
Sandown 3.11 (29) def by Lyndhurst 15.8 (98)
The Lightning have powered on to their sixth straight win with a comfortable 69-point victory over the Cobras at Edinburgh Reserve. In a fairly routine performance the visitors did what many expected of them, claiming the four points in a fairly lacklustre game of football.
Sandown came out with good energy in the first term, showing plenty of fight and determination to be in the game at the quarter time huddle. However Lyndhurst were just warming up and in the second quarter they tightened up their defence to strangle the Cobras ball movement and restrict their scoring.
The Lightning did not concede a goal during the middle two quarters and only let one major through their defences after quarter time. They were aided by some poor conversion by the home side, but they have shown throughout the whole season that their defence is first class.
In the end 12 goals to one after quarter time painted the sheer dominance from the Lightning as they build towards their blockbuster matchup against CPL next round. Jarryd McGrath had a day out for the visitors, slotting five goals to be one of the best players on the ground. Jamie Gaspero also had a solid day at the office.
It was a dirty day for Sandown but they battled on to the final siren even as the scoreboard continued to tick over. Aaron Woods and Matt Jolley never gave up and fought for their club all match.
Frankston Dolphins 19.30 (144) def Dandenong 5.4 (34)
Frankston have shown no mercy towards Dandenong, crushing the Redlegs by 110 points at Overport Park. It was a case of Déjà Vu for Frankston who triumphed over the same opposition by 114 points in their previous encounter earlier in the season. It could have been so much worse for the Redlegs with the Dolphins severely wayward in front of goal, converting only 19 majors from a whopping 49 scoring opportunities.
With 11 goals to two at half time in favour of the home side, things were looking very ugly with the Dolphins showing no signs of easing up. Frankston’s dominance continued after the break but remarkably they failed to convert their supremacy to the scoreboard. The Dolphins created 12 scoring shots for a putrid return of 1.11, whilst Dandenong capitalised on their chances for three goals to claim the quarter in a bizarre twenty minutes of football.
The Dolphins kicking yips continued in the final quarter with another eight behinds, but their dominance allowed enough chances to put another seven majors through. Finally the onslaught ceased with the last siren sparing the Redlegs any more scoreboard damage.
Frankston shared the goals around with ten individual goal kickers, with Ben White and Jed Gardiner booting four a piece. Josh Dart and Calum Eiffler were also prominent in the big win.
Carrum Patterson Lakes 14.14 (98) def Cerberus 4.4 (28)
CPL continue to intimidate the rest of the competition, sending the Dogs home with their tails between their legs after a 70 point hiding at Roy Dore Reserve. There were ominous signs early when the Lions held the Dogs scoreless in the first quarter whilst creating ten scoring chances themselves.
The rest of the match followed a fairly predictable script, with the Lions piling on the pain with eleven goals to one up to the three quarter time break. Cerberus once again found themselves fighting for pride in the last term and did show some guts to kick three goals to reduce the bleeding.
The moral of the story, and the season thus far, is that CPL are very good football side and are just too good at the moment. There will be greater challenges over the next few weeks but the Lions are a well-oiled machine at the moment.
CPL had five players register multiple goals in a good spread up forward, with Alex Wilson leading the way with three majors. Shane Dunn continued his good form with plenty of the footy and Mitchell Swinton has been a consistent contributor all season.
Zachariah Godden was one of the better players for Cerberus, ending up with two goals in a tough day for the club.
Moorabbin Kangaroos 12.9 (81) def by Lyndale 22.9 (141)
The battle for fourth spot has been blown wide open after Lyndale crushed Moorabbin by ten goals in an impressive display at Widdop Crescent Reserve. Many anticipated a close contest between these two sides and the first quarter certainly suggested that this would be the case.
Both clubs were locked into a fierce arm wrestle with only three goals scored in the opening term, the visitors taking a narrow lead at the siren. However after the restart the game opened up, with the Pumas using quick and direct ball movement to take control of the contest.
The bold and attacking game style saw Lyndale slot eight goals to three, as Moorabbin were made to scrap hard for every score. Taking a 33-point lead to the main break was a good result for the visitors but they would have been wary of a Kangaroos fightback on home turf.
It never came. The Pumas putting the game beyond doubt with another free flowing quarter, kicking seven goals to two. Moorabbin fought back a tad in the last quarter but Lyndale continued to hit the scoreboard as they notched up their third and best win of the season.
The victory provides Lyndale a launching pad for the rest of the season as they make a serious charge for fourth spot. Moses Faaola was classy around the contest and slotted five goals in a special performance for the Pumas. Trent Day also got on the end of five goals and stay at home forward Shane Thomas benefited from the quick ball movement to look dangerous all game.