By Nick Creely
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 1
Too slick, too fast, too good.
Nothing has really changed for reigning premiers Berwick, despite them not being at their absolute best to start the season.
The Eagles brought their best intensity early to Saturday’s ‘Battle of the Creek’ clash at Edwin Flack Reserve, and within five seconds of the ball being thrown in the air, they had a perfect chance to silence the strong home crowd, and immediately put the reigning premiers under the pump.
Highly touted recruit Nathan Langley marked the ball on the lead with the first centre clearance, but his set shot never looked likely, beginning an afternoon where the Eagles wasted opportunities, and where Langley had fleeting moments but was unable to capitalize.
The Wickers were full of running, and with Madi Andrews prolific early with his incredible vision by foot, the home side looked dangerous going forward.
Andrew Morozoff found the opening goal for the home side courtesy of a beautiful set shot from 40 out, and from there, the Wickers began to gain the ascendency.
Despite some searing runs from Jimmy Munro, and some excellent work by champion ruckman Scott Meyer, the Wickers’ midfield were on top, and running in waves, as Andrews kicked a brilliant goal on the left from 40 moments after several wasted chances on the other end.
As the Wickers held an 11 point advantage nearing quarter time, a moment of magic had the crowd on their feet.
A brave and skilful contested mark running back with the flight from sharpshooter Brody Connelly gave the Wickers a goal as the siren blared to end the quarter.
From there, Travis Tuck’s midfield dominance and ability to drift forward was pivotal, in a blistering second quarter from the high profile recruit seeing the margin skip out to 31 points at half time.
All around the ground there were winners, Andrews and Tuck were winning stacks of the footy in an ominous sign of what they’ll do this season, Luke Jellyman-Turner and Luke Sheppard oozed class, while Will Arthurson was giving Langley plenty of issues.
The Eagles were brave in the second half, but again, wayward inaccuracy resulted in a 2.5 to 1.2 quarter, and despite slashing the margin all the way to 22 points, the wastefulness was always going to bite them back.
As Wickers coach Stewart Kemperman said, it was pleasing to run away with a 44 point win – the 19th win in succession – in a scintillating five goal burst in the final term.
“It was good to get the result, but probably not the method we wanted to follow – we just build on that and move into Narre,” he said.
“There’s a bit to work on, and some tidying up- we need to improve on what we put out on the weekend.”
The start proved pivotal in the end, with the Wickers’ ability to convert on the scoreboard a decisive factor.
“No doubt that if you start well, you’ve got things going well – in the first quarter, we sort of ground it out – we were able to fight it out, and if you get a good start, it makes a real difference,” Kemperman said.
“We had nine players that didn’t play in the grand final last year, and that put out a performance similar to the brand we ended with last year.”
Pleasing was the performance of young defender Will Arthurson, who shut down Nathan Langley, in an understated performance that turned heads.
“It was a great opportunity for Will, he’s still 19 – he had the dangerous Langley, and he had to adjust his game to counteract him, but it was good for him to change his starting position, and he’s showing maturity as a footballer,” Kemperman said.
In what looms as an absolute blockbuster, Berwick welcomes Narre Warren to Edwin Flack Reserve in a grand final replay, while Beaconsfield hosts Cranbourne.
Berwick 14.15(99)
Beaconsfield 7.13(55)
