Banyule will start the MC Labour Division 2 season 2-0 after five goals from second gamer James Kayrooz helped the Bears escape with a five-point win over rivals Thomastown at Beverley Road Oval.
After having kicked the last two goals of the game and trailing by a point at the 27-minute mark of the final term, Kayrooz sealed the match for the home side as Jack Langford, who kicked five goals of his own, won a free kick deep inside forward 50 before Kayrooz took the advantage and converted.
The siren sounded just seconds later to give Banyule a famous 16.8 (104) – 15.9 (99) triumph.
Kayrooz and Langford finished with 10 majors between them while Nicholas Biscontin and Jacob Mitchell stood up for a Banyule side who lost reigning Division 2 coaches MVP Rueben Blackmore-Moore pre-match and veteran Brent Stanton at half time.
Anthony Capeci was strong up forward for Thomastown finishing with five majors alongside Michael Tang who kicked three, while the combination of Jarryd Coulson and Masaki Miki was vital in the visitor’s effort to get the ball forward quickly.
It was Capeci who got the ball rolling on a warm day at Beverley Road Oval kicking the first major of the afternoon in the first minute of play.
Michael Italia and Jack Langford then kicked back-to-back goals for the home side before Capeci had his second halfway through the term.
Stanton responded with his first goal of the year and Jacob Mitchell extended the margin to 12 points before Capeci’s third and a nice major from Tyrone Leonardis levelled the score at quarter time.
Both sides kicked five goals apiece in the second term, but Banyule kicked the first four led by Langford’s second and third goals.
The home side led by as much as 23 points midway through the quarter before Thomastown kicked three goals in a minute and a half to quickly, including two impressive goals from debutant Bailey Grioli, to cut the deficit to single digits.
Kayrooz broke the visitor’s momentum with his first major but goals from Daniel Chadwick and Michael Tang ensured it was Thomastown leading at the main break.
No goals were kicked for the first nine minutes of the third term after a frantic first half, but Jack Langford’s fourth goal kicked off proceedings again.
Thomastown then went on to kick the next three goals of the game thanks to the strong forward line duo of Capeci and Tang, with big name Bears recruit Jarryd Coulson also finding the big sticks during that streak of goals.
It was goal for goal in the late stages of the term but Kayrooz’s second major at the 30th minute mark saw Banyule trail by just seven points heading into a highly anticipated last quarter.
Aydin Dani continued his good form from last week, kicking the first major of the last term before Tang and Capeci continued to have a strong influence on the game, kicking one goal each to give Thomastown a 12-point lead at the 15-minute mark.
Then 18-year-old Kayrooz, who was coming off a four-goal debutant performance last week, put on a show inside Banyule’s forward 50, kicking three consecutive goals to steal victory from their rivals.
Thomastown start a season 0-2 for the first time since 2012 and they’ll have no time to dwell on that statistic, with the Bears hosting Epping on Good Friday.
Banyule now have the week off before travelling to Coventry Oval to take on Diamond Creek.
