Lower Plenty comfortably defeated Eltham by 45-points in their MC Labour Division 2 clash on Saturday, setting up a huge contest next week when they face Banyule.
Recent history had suggested that this game would be a tight contest, but the Bears dominance in the second and third quarters meant they left Eltham Central Park as 15.10 (100) to 8.7 (55) victors.
Billy Barden and Tom Keys led the way up forward with four goals each, whilst Jonathan Zapantis excited as well with three majors.
Billy’s brother Darcy also played a key role down back, with co-captain Josh Turner saying post-match their leadership has been key for them to start this season.
“They lead from the front every game, they’re hard at it, Darcy just takes mark after mark, he’s awesome down back and they can spread off him, we know he’s going to mark everything,” he said.
“Billy leads us up front, he organises that forward line and makes the most of it too which helps us.”
Turner was the best on ground for the visitors, consistently giving his forwards perfect service inside 50 with his clearance winning ability.
It now sets up a juicy ‘Battle of the Bears’ clash next week, when the in-form Lower Plenty side host an undefeated Banyule outfit, in what could be an early Grand Final preview.
For the Panthers, debutant David Evans provided a spark up forward with his aerial ability, whilst Darcy Vallance fought gallantly down back and added a goal to his name when he pushed forward.
Evan’s first senior goal was also the first major of the afternoon as the home side looked to get on top early. However Lower Plenty pressed hard soon after and it was reigning Division 2 best and fairest Tom Keys was on the end of a Turner set up and snapped truly to level things up.
The rest of the term was a scrappy affair, with both teams able to create chances but not taking advantage of them and Lower Plenty took a one-point lead heading into the first break.
Once again both sides missed chances up forward early in the second term, however at the 13-minute mark, Lower Plenty went on a run, with Zapantis and Billy Barden kicking two each in the space of nine minutes to quickly reach a 26-point lead.
Daniel Owen kicked a late major but missed a chance right before the half time siren as the Bears went into the main break with a 19-point lead.
Lower Plenty picked up where they left off in the second half, getting the first goal of the third term through Corey Sleep in just forty seconds of play. Keys and Alden Meale then kicked the next two to give them a 37-point advantage inside the first six minutes of the third term.
Co-captain Darcy Vallance settled the nerves of his side with a nice goal on the run before Lower Plenty responded with the next two through Keys again and Andrew White.
Ben Smith and the debutant Evans then got two late ones from set shots for the Panthers as they went into the final break down by five straight kicks but with a small glimmer of hope to turn things around.
But those hopes quickly vanished when Zapantis once again got the Bears on the board early in the final quarter before Keys and Barden kicked the next two to give their side a game-high 48-point advantage.
Lane Sinclair managed to respond midway through the term after a contested couple of minutes before Lower Plenty kicked the next two through Ben Paterson and Billy Barden.
Smith and Owen both kicked their second goals of the afternoon but they were nothing more than consolation goals, with Owen’s major kicked on the full time siren which signalled a massive 45-point victory for Lower Plenty.
