A third quarter masterclass was enough to see Kinglake prevail in an impressive 25-point triumph over Kilmore in their Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 clash at J.J. Clancy Reserve.
Scores were level 10 minutes into the third term after the Blues kicked two goals in a minute, before the Lakers came alive, producing five goals in 16-minute period, to triumph 10.15 (75) to 7.8 (50).
It’s now two wins from two to start the 2023 season for Kinglake, and as a result, they remain on top of the ladder following the conclusion of Round 2.
Fresh off a six-goal performance against Reservoir last week, Leigh Gilbert took things to another level throughout the afternoon, not only kicking two goals, but also producing multiple inside 50 entries and working hard to win clearances for his side.
Mason McAllister led the goalkicking with three majors and also proved difficult to stop inside 50, while both Bailey and Ethan Robinson as well as Riley Kennedy and Matthew Langford all had terrific matches.
The Blues struggled to get any cohesion in a forward line that didn’t contain their 2022 leading goalkicker in Bailey Taylor-Egan, only managing seven goals for the game.
Christopher Barton and Leigh Irons were standouts in midfield, constantly creating chains and winning clearances, with Michael Marrett and Bailey Derrick also solid. Aaron Speak was Kilmore’s only multiple goal scorer, with two goals.
The hosts kicked the first goal of the game through Michael McCulloch before McAllister found the big sticks to level things up early in the term.
It was an even contest between the two sides in the opening term. Whilst producing plenty of intercepts and inside 50 entries, neither team were able to break away from the game.
Damian Pywell and Aaron Speak then exchanged majors close to quarter time, with Kilmore grabbing a one-point lead at the first change.
A low scoring second term followed with only one major between both sides, courtesy of Jed Tyrrell from the Lakers.
Despite the lack of scoring, Kinglake looked the better of the two sides and in what would be a sign of things to come, the visitors registered six scoring shots to three. Despite being unable to find the goals often, they were able to win plenty of territory and led by seven points at the main break.
The third quarter was when the game started to open up. Kinglake had a fourth for the match just a minute into the term, with Pywell kicking his second, before a massive two-minute surge from Kilmore, with goals thanks to Bailey Derrick and Grant Paxton, suddenly tied things up at the 10-minute mark.
But the Lakers stepped things up for the remainder of the quarter, with a huge five goal burst almost putting the margin beyond reach for the home side.
Gilbert and McAllister led the way in that span, kicking two goals each and really asserting their authority on the match. Gilbert’s second came as the three-quarter time siren sounded, sealing a game-high 31-point advantage approaching the final term.
Kilmore were desperate to put some scoreboard pressure on in the final term but their inability to keep the ball inside their attacking half throughout the final two quarters on the match impacted their chances of making a comeback.
They didn’t kick their first goal of the term until the nine-minute mark when Cole Isbister kicked his second senior major.
But the game was all but over when time on hit, as despite the Blues kicking two of the next three goals, it wasn’t enough to extinguish Kinglake’s advantage, with the visitors running out 25-point winners.
