LOWER PLENTY weathered a late fight back from local rival Montmorency to register a gusty 10-point win in Round 9.
Both teams endured testing condition in the driving rain, as Lower Plenty eventually registered its fifth victory of the season, winning 16.15 (111) to 15.11 (101).
A massive crowd flocked into Montmorency Park to witness the cameo role of former AFL star Campbell Brown, who played his one-off match for the Bears.
It didn’t take Brown long to get involved in the the fiery contest, kicking his side’s first major and laying a trademark bump on young Magpie Mitchell Dillon in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
It was a tight opening quarter, with both teams going goal for goal in an entertaining start to the match, which saw the Bears leading the Magpies by five points at the first change.
The second term saw both sides again trading goals, with neither team able to gain breathing space on the scoreboard. Jesse Donaldson kicked two goals in the second quarter, including a brilliant snap, to give Montmorency a slender one-point advantage heading into the main break.
Magpie Daniel Coghill nullified the influence of Brown in the second term, with the former AFL star restricted to just a handful of possessions.
Both teams had periods of dominance in the third term, with the Bears threatening to break away early in the second half. The Magpies again rallied, kicking the final two majors of the term to set up a grand stand final term with Lower Plenty leading by nine points.
The Bears started the final term in fine fashion, opening up a four-goal lead. The game appeared to be over with both teams suffering from fatigue as a result of the largely contested game.
Just when the Magpies looked down for the count, they again stunned the hosts with three quick unanswered goals to cut the margin to less than a kick.
The Bears threw Brown behind the ball to try and repel the Magpies’ late surge, with Montmorency putting Lower Plenty’s defence under extraordinary amounts of pressure in the dying stages of the game.
A clearing kick from congestion allowed Bears forward Bill Barden to run onto the football in dispute, and from a narrow angle he kicked his seventh major to seal the massive win for the home side.
Brown was ecstatic with the win, and believed the win will really boost the confidence of the Bears playing group.
“It was a real grind in the end, but that’s what makes the win feel so good for the boys,” Brown said.
“It was pretty scrappy towards the end there with the rain and everyone getting pretty fatigued.”
Asked if he may ever make a return to the Bears, Brown said he hadn’t given it much thought.
“I loved playing with these boys today, it was a lot of fun. I do live locally, who knows?”
Brown finished the game with two goals, but was well held by Coghill.
Barden was impressive for the hosts with seven goals, while Patrick Flynn and Matthew Duckworth also played valuable roles in the victory.
Coghill had the formidable job of minding Brown, and did an exceptional job. Ryan Willits also booted four goals for the visitors.
Montmorency was brave late in the game but ultimately fell just short, and is now sitting in seventh place on the ladder, one game away from fifth placed Macleod. The Bears win means that they leapfrogged their rivals to go to sixth position, but hold a poor percentage of 86.
Montmorency faces the stern test of second-placed Greensborough this weekend at Montmorency Park, and will be looking to atone for its 71-point loss to the Boro in Round 1. The Magpies could be bolstered by the return of Wayne Pavitt, who kicked nine goals in the reserves.
The Bears now face Eltham at Eltham Central Park and could potentially climb to fourth spot if results go their way.
Final score: Lower Plenty 16.15 (111) def Montmorency 15.11 (101)
