Northcote Park moved one game and percentage clear atop the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 ladder after a stirring 31-point win over West Preston-Lakeside in Round 11.
The Cougars dominated the majority of the contest at J.E. Moore Park and kicked the opening six goals to set up the 16.11 (107) to 11.10 (76) win – their ninth of the season.
Jackson Starcevich was the star for the Cougars and completely dictated the game, lighting up the forward line to kick seven goals.
Jordan Perry continued his great season for the away side with another prominent display through the midfield, while Damian Galofaro and Ash Close were also among their team’s best.
West Preston-Lakeside’s Ahmed Saad drew the Gerard Sutton match-up and struggled to get into the game early. But the competition leading goal kicker improved as the game went on, booting six goals to bring his season total to 43.
Andrew Walker’s execution by foot was exemplary, with he, Luke Lirosi and Shaun Gannon leading the way in the contested side of the game. Ruckman Steven Hiho’s follow up work from the stoppages was also impressive.
Northcote Park led by as much as 58 points during the third quarter, but it was an early four-goal burst in the opening minutes of the game which proved match-defining.
The only four goals of the quarter came in a four-minute patch for the Cougars, with Perry and defender Paul Dirago influential as their side took a 23-point into quarter time – with the Roosters goalless in the opening term for the second time in three weeks.
The home side came out in the second quarter with clear intentions of using the corridor to try to open up the Cougars.
The increase in intensity around the footy was also noticeable, but despite the Roosters’ efforts of tightening up and moving the ball quicker by foot, it was the Cougars who were able to kick the first two goals of the term through Close and Daniel Costanzo.
It wasn’t until 20 minutes into the second term that the Roosters were able to kick their first major, with Saad reading the ball the best out of a pack and running into an open goal.
Northcote Park’s 31-point lead at half time was quickly cut back to 25 as West Preston-Lakeside’s Julian Maloni converted an early set shot – the first of 11 goals kicked in a high-tempo third term.
Starcevich replied for the Cougars, booting three goals in four minutes, with his aerial dominance on display as he continued to impose himself on the match when the Roosters looked to threaten.
Three Saad goals in five minutes of play capped off a better quarter from the Roosters, but their patchy momentum swings and forward-half turnovers continued to haunt them, trailing by 41 points at the last change of ends.
Northcote Park had to overcome a late scare with the revitalised Roosters piling on five consecutive goals to start the last quarter to close within 18 points.
Adam Valeri, Patrick Karnezis and Saad were the catalysts behind the resurgence for the home side, but it proved to be too little, too late.
Galofaro laid a momentum-changing tackle late in the quarter, with the ball thrust forward to Starcevich, who kicked his seventh goal, before Perry put the icing on the cake for the Cougars with the final goal from long range.
Final score: West Preston-Lakeside 11.10 (76) def by Northcote Park 16.11 (107)
