Watsonia has claimed their biggest scalp of the 2024 MC Labour Division 2 season with a convincing 46-point victory over St Mary’s at Whatmough Park.
The accurate Saints were in control of the contest right from the outset, winning the opening three quarters on their way to producing their second highest score of the season in a strong 14.4 (88) to 5.12 (42) triumph.
With both Panton Hill and Thomastown also going down in Round 10, the Burra still have an eight-point gap from sixth position however that’s now the same distance they are from a top three spot with eight games to play.
The Saints meanwhile have won two straight games and are six points behind fifth-placed Thomastown, with a big run to the finals a real possibility in the second half of the season.
Watsonia were led by another outstanding goalkicking performance from Ethan Lowe, who replicated his six-goal performance over St Mary’s back in Round 1. It’s his third six-goal haul of the season and he has now registered 40 majors so far in 2024.
He was able to out body opponents with ease, while benefitting from pinpoint kicks heading his way inside attacking 50, with most of his goals coming from set shot opportunities.
Lucas Vasilevski was excellent in the middle for the Saints, along with his midfield unit led again by Daniel Annetta. Meanwhile Toby Berardi had a terrific three-goal opening term.
Rory Hanlon was a bright spot for St Mary’s, dominating around the ground with his ball-winning ability while Jeremiah Antypas was able to take impressive marks inside the attacking half, always providing an option for his teammates.
A scrappy start to the game saw both sides find it difficult to get clean possession of the ball before the Saints kicked the first major of the match thanks to Toby Berardi.
Luke Grech then provided the highlight of the quarter and possibly the match when he weaved in and out of traffic and from the pocket, he nailed the goal from 40 metres out.
The visitors then had a third moments later after Phil Bastick created something out of nothing, giving his side a 17-point lead at the 13-minute mark.
Antypas responded immediately to settle things for St Mary’s, but the last two goals of the quarter came from Watsonia courtesy of Berardi, who continued his entertaining quarter, first via a set shot and then through an excellent running goal from 50 to give his side a 24-point quarter time advantage.
The hot start to the game continued for Watsonia inside the first minute of the second term, with Rayden Garrard converting his set shot and it seemed George Lattouf’s men were in complete control over the Burra.
The lead pushed out to 36 points by the eight-minute mark when Lowe snapped truly, before St Mary’s tried wrestle the momentum towards their favour.
It started with the home side’s intensity in and around the contest which was led by Rory Hanlon.
The Burra were rewarded for the improved pressure through Connor Kissane and Huon MacGibbon, who each kicked goals to reduce the margin to an even four goals.
But the Burra would rue their missed opportunities in front of goal, as inaccuracy became a big factor in Watsonia maintaining a comfortable lead.
St Mary’s finished with 2.4 for the quarter, opening the door for the Saints to boost their margin, which they did through Lowe, who produced a booming goal from 50 metres out on the half time siren to hand his side a 27-point advantage.
The Saints were keen to keep the scoreboard pressure going in the second half and again, they found the big sticks inside the opening minute of the term.
It would be the start of four straight majors for the Saints inside eight minutes, with the visitors dominating in every area of the ground.
The advantage reached 51 points before the Burra could even get a look at the goals, and while they would eventually produce the next four scoring shots, St Mary’s could only manage one major for the term to trail by 48 points at the final change.
With the result sealed, the intensity of the game dropped significantly in the final term, and while each side managed one more goal, the Saints had done enough in the previous three terms to signal an excellent win away from home.
