The battle of the two unbeaten sides in MC Labour Division 2 saw Whittlesea power home to prevail by 15 points over Diamond Creek at the Whittlesea Showgrounds.
A high scoring opening half saw the Creekers produce a clinical display, kicking nine goals and no behinds, to lead by six points, before the Eagles fired back to take the lead by the same margin at three quarter time, and never look back in a 12.15 (87) to 11.6 (72) triumph.
The victory is Whittlesea’s seventh consecutive win over Diamond Creek, dating back to 2013, and have now won eight straight matches to sit alone at the top of the MC Labour Division 2 ladder.
It was an even more impressive win considering some of the Eagles’ star players such as captain Xavier Dimasi, VFL listed midfielder Blake Watson and deputy vice-captain Mitchell Andrews all not in the side. On top of that, Thomas Falls was sidelined in the third quarter and did not return, leaving the home side’s midfield shorthanded.
However, it was the efforts of Taidgh Bland and Lachlan Shinn-Mahony that willed Whittlesea over the line.
Bland was at his ball-winning best, producing some crucial clearances at stoppages all around the ground, while Shinn-Mahoney was composed with ball in hand and effective by foot, going on to kick the sealing major for his side.
Meanwhile Clancy Bland and Khaled El-Leissy were a superb ruck paring for Garry Ramsay’s side, with Matthew Atta, Harry Beattie, Riley Carter and Deakin Tennant all influential in their own right.
With no Jacob Booth at their disposal, Tarwan Rennie and Dale Marshall were Diamond Creek’s most impactful midfielders, and were the catalysts to the visitors’ multiple good looks at goal throughout the game.
Ryan Pingree returned to the side and finished with three majors but had the opportunity to put more through the big sticks throughout the afternoon, while Danyon Kambouris finished with two, including an excellent major in the second term.
Although the Creekers were accurate in the first half, six of their final eight shots of the match were behinds, three of them coming in the final term, which all but shut out a winning chance for last year’s minor premiers.
Andrew Tranquilli’s men got the perfect start to the match 90 seconds in through Daniel Jarvis, who continued his streak of matches kicking at least one goal.
Riley Powell opened Whittlesea’s account moments later before back-to-back majors from Ryan Pingree put the Creekers in a solid position.
But the Eagles kept piling on the pressure, forcing Diamond Creek to give up consecutive free kicks that led to goals, which Kane Johnson and Harry Beattie were the benefactory of.
The Creekers responded again, first thanks to Tarwan Rennie, who won the ball from the hitout of a forward 50 stoppage and snapped truly from 40 metres out, and then Bryce East, who converted his set shot, to give the away side a nine-point quarter time lead.
Whittlesea would have the quick start in the second term when Taidgh Bland found space inside 50 and kicked the goal with his left, reducing the margin to three points.
Opportunities on goal would slow down from both sides but the hosts would still kick the next two majors of the match, with Harvey Hempenstall’s goal giving his side a 10-point lead at the 16-minute mark.
What followed was an outstanding three-minute patch from Diamond Creek where they slotted four majors in quick succession to completely turn the momentum of the match to their favour.
The Eagles didn’t help themselves by giving away some ill-disciplined free kicks in that burst, however the highlight was Kambouris who produced one of the goals of the match, nailing the running shot from 40 metres out on a tight angle to kick the fourth successive major of the chain.
Andrew Tranquilli’s side had suddenly got out to 14-point lead, before a Jack Taylor major and some more Eagles behinds reduced the deficit to six by the main break.
More goals were to come to start the third term, none more impressive than Whittlesea’s Max Dyson, who gathered, bounced and slotted the running shot on goal to give his side back the lead.
Both sides would trade majors before the Eagles went into three quarter time six points to the good.
Whittlesea would press their opposition throughout the opening 10 minutes of the final quarter, with repeat inside 50 entries putting a usually resolute Diamond Creek defence on the backfoot.
The home side could only manage behinds initially, before a second Jack Taylor goal looked to seal victory for the Eagles.
The Creekers tried to respond again and did manage a major from their 23rd player Blake Wylie to reduce the margin to 11 points, but Whittlesea would have the last say, as Lachlan Shinn-Mahony streamed into the open goal to make it a 17-point ball game, all but capping off a terrific afternoon for himself and the Eagles.
