In front of a huge crowd at Preston City Oval, the Magpies set up the 16.6 (102) to 10.15 (75) win with a blistering opening 40 minutes, where they kicked 10 goals to two.
Despite allowing West Preston-Lakeside to close within 18 points early in the final quarter, Montmorency coach Fabian Carelli was full of admiration for his side’s performance.
“I thought we outgunned West with our run and spread in the first half, which is the trademark of their game,” Carelli said
“We forced them into short kicks, boundary side a lot in the first half. We weren’t prepared to concede the corridor. Our guys, to their credit, did it really well and maybe spent some gas in doing so. But we rallied in the last quarter when they challenged us in the third and we stood strong.”
On a ground where it has a had notorious lack of success in recent years, the win was important for Montmorency, who not only banked four points but also gained a massive confidence boost on Preston City Oval – a ground it will now certainly play on during this year’s finals series.
After opening up a 32-point lead at quarter time, Montmorency smashed the Roosters in the clearances early in the second term.
The midfield dominance enabled the Magpies to kick the opening three goals of the second stanza which opened up a 48-point lead and realistically put the result beyond doubt.
Boasting such a powerful line, Carelli said his team had become hard to thwart when it gained the ascendency in the middle of the ground.
“It’s crucial if you can win centre clearances, especially in our side, and get it quickly into a (Kayne) Pettifer and a (Dean) Limbach and a (Patrick) Fitzgerald, then the backs of any side are going to be challenged. It’s all we need to do – really concentrate on our centre clearance work.”
Knowing a win would hand it first place after Heidelberg slumped to a heavy defeat at Northcote Park on Saturday, Montmorency played with class and confidence in the opening term – beating the Roosters at their own game with spread and poise from half back.
The Magpies’ precision by foot and hand was a sight to behold as they confidently swept the ball from defensive into attack. The swiftness of their forays forward meant West Preston-Lakeside was unable to setup loose men behind the play and Pettifer (six goals), Limbach and Fitzgerald ran rampant.
Importantly, when the Roosters did inevitably rally in the second half, Montmorency was able to steady, thanks largely to the cool head of Ryan Jackson and clutch goals to Sammy O’Meara and Limbach (twice).
The four-goal to two final quarter was the 11th time in 12 games that Montmorency has won the fourth term, which Carelli put down to not only superior fitness, but also mental strength and confidence.
“I think it’s mental but…I flogged the boys pre-season and they did it pretty hard,” he said.
“My personal view on football is that fitness is a leveller for anyone, irrespective of the ability that you have got. I put them through the ringer pre-season and I think they’re starting to understand how important that was and what it’s doing for our side at the moment.”
Montmorency kicked with a two-goal breeze to the city end in the first term and Vin Dattoli’s words were plain and clear to his West Preston players – play simple football.
Unfortunately his side did not heed his words and Montmorency capitalised on a number of errors to kick 6.3 to 1.1 for the term with Pettifer and Fitzgerald each kicking two majors.
After a poor start to the second term, the Roosters settled when Jake Williams began finding the football. His increased input gave support to Kris Bardon who was still at his classy best despite his side’s struggles.
With Anthony Rocca unavailable, it was two youngsters who led the way up forward for West Preston as Debri Kuttoli and Adrian Natoli kicked two first-half goals apiece to keep their side afloat.
The Roosters’ challenge became greater when Simon Prestigiacomo and Pece Micevski both limped from the field with match-ending injuries prior to half time, but Williams’ silk in the third quarter enabled his side to close within 24 points at the main break.
When the skipper slotted a checkside from the boundary early in the last the Roosters looked a chance, but Limbach’s mark and goal from 30m at the seven-minute mark ensured West Preston would get no closer.
Carelli said his side would use this week’s break to freshen up before six important home and away matches and an impending finals series where expectations are now growing high.
“I think it was a pretty tough game today and both sides come off a little worse for wear,” he said.
“There are a few injuries in both camps…we have a lot of blokes who are pretty sore today so we’re going to rest up in the week and we’ll get ready for Whittlesea at home in two week’s time.”
Final score: West Preston-Lakeside 10.15 (75) def by Montmorency 16.6 (102)
