By David Nagel
Paupers one week, Princes the next – Narre Warren’s startling transformation has cast fresh light on the South East Football Netball League after a 79-point victory over Beaconsfield at Holm Park Reserve on Saturday.
The Magpies – fresh off an eight-goal loss to Berwick – were expected to struggle against an Eagles’ outfit that hadn’t tasted defeat since 27 May, and were fresh coming off the bye.
Throw in a commanding victory over the Magpies in Round 3, and the Eagles looked good things heading in.
The fifth-placed Magpies were under real pressure, a fact highlighted by coach Heath Black in the build-up.
“I delved into our history and I don’t think since midway through 2009 have we had our backs against the wall as strongly as we did leading into this match,” Black said.
“This group didn’t want to be the one that miss out on finals and they responded in great fashion, it was a win that was definitely built above the shoulders. I knew we had it in us but there was definitely some self-doubt creeping in, even from me as coach. It’s been tough going as a coach, but we scaled things back to a simple game plan and the players were outstanding. I feel very relieved for the players.”
Beacy threw the first punch, not literally of course, starting champion ruckman Scott Meyer at full-forward, one-on-one against Andrew Hunter.
After a minute of play, Beau Dowler got the better of Sam McLean, kicked precisely to Meyer on the lead, who converted with a minimum of fuss.
The Eagles looked sharp but, just like a candle in the wind, they were blown away by a crisper, sharper, hungrier looking Magpies’ machine.
Left footers Dale Gawley and Josh Tonna got the ball rolling for the visitors, before Riley Verbi squared things away after 14 minutes with some great pressure work. But that was it for the Eagles, Narre kicking the next six goals on the trot to open up a 42-point lead.
Best-on-ground Mitch Cox, who startled the Eagles with his run and carry, kicked truly at the 17-minute mark before goals to Aaron Wilson, a banana on the run from Nick Scanlon, and a goal after the siren from Hayden Stagg gave the Magpies a 27-point lead at quarter time.
Eagles’ coach Leigh McQuillen didn’t mince his words at the first break, telling his players to be sharper with their ball use (although we’re still not sure what a ‘Bonnet Runner’ is).
But the Magpies continued their dominance early in the second term, Trent Cody getting a stack of the footy through the midfield, Tonna all class, while Cox, Dean Kelly, and Michael Collins were in danger of getting leather poisoning.
The Eagles looked stagnant, out-numbered at the contest and not as hard at the footy – and undisciplined at times. A 50-metre penalty from Jake Bowd set Wilson up for the first of the second quarter and the Magpies were away again.
But their next goal summed the game up as a contest.
Cox, Scanlon and Wilson had left the door open for the Eagles, the score 7.6 to 2.0, before Collins spoiled a kick in from full back, which fell to Tonna, who found Wilson for his third – 8.6 to 2.0 – 14 scoring shots to two … the game effectively over.
The Magpies extended their 35-point half-time lead out to 43 at the final break before rubber-stamping their victory with a glorious 7.2 to 1.2 final term.
Cox was outstanding for the Magpies, ending with four and creating carnage over the full duration, while Wilson’s four goals and three each to Scanlon and Jake Richardson saw the first 100-point plus score kicked against the Eagles this year.
Kelly, Collins, Cody and Tonna provided the drive, while McLean played a great game on Dowler in his first senior game for the year. Ben King was another, after four weeks on the sidelines, to play an instrumental role in the back half.
Daniel Battaglin, Dan Hellyer and Corey Walker did well to stem a heavy tide for the Eagles, while Lachie Modica and Verbi were the best of a very poor group through the midfield.
Black, he totally understands the importance of the victory.
“We had played them once before and they played a great brand of footy, they were too good for us on the day, but we watched the video and identified opportunities and trained the boys to play a certain way,” Black said.
“It all clicked, we’re eyeing off third spot now and if we can get there and go into finals in good form, we might be able to produce something special.
“Liam Myatt, he will come back through the twos this week, Luke Cody will come in against Hampton Park a week later and I think we’ve really found something with our forward line. With Scanlon, Wilson, Gawley and Richardson I think we’ve got enough firepower to trouble any opposition.”
The Magpies are transformed – from Paupers to Princes in a week, but a home clash against Cranbourne this Saturday will give us a clearer picture of where they truly sit in the pecking order.
