Banyule find themselves back on the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 winners list, after they prevailed by 23 points over Greensborough at Beverley Road Oval.
Coming into the game off consecutive 70+ point defeats, the Bears led at each quarter break, albeit by two points at three quarter time, before a three-goal to nil final term solidified an 8.11 (59) to 5.6 (36) victory, returning the side to the top five as a result.
Banyule big man Jack Langford continued his strong season, leading the way for the home team along side Lewin Davis.
Boro Skipper Jack Johnston was exceptional in defence again despite the defeat, while Zak McCubbin was threatening up forward for the majority of the day, finishing with two majors.
The rain poured down right before the opening siren, making the game difficult to navigate for both teams initially.
Greensborough would manage the first major of the day, thanks to a Ben Fisher free kick 30 metres from home, before the early goal was matched by the hosts, with Kurt Aylett sneaking his set shot through from just inside 50.
Ricky Dyson and Paul Harris’ men looked the dominant side early but struggled to put the damage on the scoreboard.
That was before Davis produced the goal of the day after falling to the ground while in possession, and somehow managing to get through the Boro defence and find the big sticks at the same time.
With a nine-point lead at quarter time, the hosts were keen to keep things moving, after Vivian Blackmore-Moore struck truly despite a tight angle inside the opening minute of the second quarter.
However, Thomas Phelan would break the streak of Banyule goals and brought the margin back to single digits with his 11th major of the season.
Once again, the Bears responded quickly to the Boro goal, and this time it was Patrik Della Rocca who converted from a tight angle.
Both sides would then trade goals again to end the half, with the Bears ahead by 16 points.
The half-time regroup was much needed for Matthew Hyde and his men, with his team coming out strong to start the second half. The half time margin was quickly reduced to just 10-points when McCubbin was the beneficiary of some quick and precise ball movement inside 50 from his Greensborough teammates.
Jackson Hasler, who played his first senior game since Round 10, then made it consecutive majors for the men in green, bringing the margin to within just a kick in the process.
Brody Glenn was a major contributor to a better-looking Boro outfit, accumulating plenty of the ball and using it efficiently when entering the forward 50. He would go on to finish in his side’s best for the fourth time in his previous six games.
It took right up until the three-quarter time siren for the hosts to manage their sole major of the term, as the ever-reliable Reuben Blackmoore-Moore made no mistake after winning a free kick inside 50.
It gave Banyule a 10-point lead but also a big confidence boost heading into a crucial final term.
Greensborough captain Jack Johnston tried to inspire his team early in the last. After moving himself in the forward line, only the inside of the post denied him of what would have been his fourth major of the year.
Brody Glenn then had the chance to bring the margin to just four points when he lined up for a set shot from the boundary from close range, but only managed a minor score to the near side.
He then nearly produced a bit of magic moments later when he perfectly roved a forward 50 contest, but his kick went astray and failing to register any score at all.
Adam Carafa managed the sealer when the Bears surged the ball from coast-to-coast, seeing him stroll into an open goal square to give the home crowd plenty to cheer about.
One more major from Kye Yodgee confirmed the 23-point win, the club’s biggest triumph over Greensborough since joining Division 1 in 2023.
