Laurimar have kicked off the 2023 Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season in emphatic fashion, with their impressive debutants leading the side to a 70-point victory over Kilmore at Laurimar Reserve.
The Power kept the Blues goalless until the third quarter and registered 16 more scoring shots than their opponents as they eventually finished 15.16 (106) to 4.12 (36) winners.
Former Hurstbridge tall Aidan Clarke starred in his debut for Laurimar, commanding the ruck from the first centre-bounce and surging forward for two goals.
His physical presence alongside ruck teammate Joshua Leather gave the Power a continued dominance of clearances, which supplied their forwards with a plentiful supply of opportunities.
Jacson Cecil benefited the most from this, causing a continual problem for the Kilmore defenders in the aerial battles. Following his 89-goal campaign in 2022, he led the scoring with a game-high five goals.
Max and Marcus Lacorcia stood out on what was a difficult day for the visitors while Michael Marrett was a continual source of grit and poise for Paul Derrick’s side.
The scoreboard pressure was applied from the onset of the first quarter, as Laurimar looked to kick-start their redemption season after their grand-final loss to South Morang in 2022.
In the first minute, 17-year-old Jai Langford won a contested ball on the wing and charged forward to set up a scoring shot, showing none of the nerves of a first gamer. All match he would be one of the Power’s leading inside fifty providers.
Goals from Cecil and Mitchell Thompson filled the Power with confidence before Team of the Year defender Nathan Andrews showed his class when on the run and from outside forward fifty, he sailed the ball directly over the goal umpire’s head.
Kilmore debutant Andrew Speak demonstrated his skillset down back, providing an ability to win contested marks inside defensive 50.
Cameron Maloney, on debut for Laurimar, will be a coach-favourite for his persistent running and ability to intercept the ball. He settled comfortably into senior football, immediately showcasing his repertoire of spoiling and contested marking which continually forced turnovers.
After a scoreless first quarter and facing a 24-point deficit, Kilmore switched Marrett into the midfield, where he worked admirably to win the ball back for his side.
However, that deficit soon grew after four different goal scorers, Wade Spooner, Noah Mooney, Aiden Clarke and Jacson Cecil, reaffirmed the Power’s dominance in the match.
Despite the Blues only being able to manage three behinds for the quarter, 16-year-old debutant, Benjamin Doyle gave his side something to cheer about.
A determined tackle on the wing turned over the ball and led to his first senior disposal before later venturing forward and having multiple attempts at goal.
After entering the third term trailing by 50-points and goalless, Kilmore was grateful to see a set shot from Liam Salter sail through the big sticks in the hopes of sparking a run of good form.
As the conditions began to clear, scoring shots balanced between each team. Team of the Year forward, Bailey Taylor-Egan scored the Blues second of the match, but majors from Clarke and Cecil increased the Power’s lead.
Then Laurimar debutant Cooper Herbert pulled out the party tricks, scoring three majors within fifteen minutes.
The first was a tackle-shrugging finish from 40-metres, causing the entire team to jump to get around him, and the second, an outside of the foot goal from ten metres closer, caused the same reaction.
Beaming with confidence, Herbert then kicked the best of the lot, with a thunderous cheer erupted as he snapped a goal from outside the 50-metre arc. Laurimar took a 68-point lead into three quarter time.
Kilmore wrestled back this momentum in the final term, scoring two goals and more than doubling their scoring shots, but it would be too little too late as the home side put through another three goals for the quarter.
A left foot drop punt from beyond the forward 50 arc by Nathan Andrews capped off the triumph for the Power, and as the siren sounded the message had been sent. Laurimar looks again like a team primed for a deep run in August.
