A relentless St Mary’s outfit have pushed themselves two games clear of the rest of the MC Labour Division 2 top five, after a dominant 42-point victory over Panton Hill at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
The Burra made their intent known from the opening siren, with a 14-goal first half setting up a brilliant 21.14 (140) to 14.14 (98) triumph.
Fabian Carelli’s men now have a comfortable buffer in third spot and with a favourable run home, they look destined to book a double chance spot.
Panton Hill meanwhile now slip 10 points outside the top five having suffered their eighth defeat of the season. It means they’ll have to win each of their final three games of the year at a minimum to have a chance of a finals berth.
Rory Hanlon was superb around the middle, with his tackling pressure a particular highlight.
He managed to also find two goals but in the forward half at least, was outdone by Jeremiah Antypas and Tane Cotter, who slotted five majors each in a terrific display.
For the hosts, Nicholas Parks was great in the ruck along with Samuel Parks who proved to be Panton Hill’s best midfielder in the defeat.
Right from the onset it was St Mary’s who put their foot down, and with the help of great pressure by the forwards Jack Cicitta, on the back of an eight-goal haul last week, kicked the first of the afternoon.
The visitors dominated possession and territory for the first 10 minutes of the game, with Tane Cotter setting up multiple goals, none more impressive when Cotter sidestepped multiple opponents to set up Jeremiah Antypas who kicked truly.
Antypas and Nicholas Dean helped push the margin out even further and it was clear the Burra had taken the contest by the scruff of the neck.
Daniel Freeman was able to snap the first major for the home side from 30 meters out, and that seemed to spark the Redbacks into life, as they found more of the ball through Lachlan Buckley and Todd Johnston.
But a run of goals from Cotter, Hanlon and Vincent Loccisano saw St Mary’s pull away again, finishing with an eight-goal first term and a 27-point lead at quarter time.
Antypas’ ability to find the big sticks continued into the second term, as he second and third goals of the game kick started things in the next quarter.
Nicholas Dean really put his stamp on the game in the term as he worked up and down a wing and was very direct with his kicking, setting up many of his teammates during the quarter.
Soon William Dean joined in the fun by kicking two quick goals, before Antypas added his fourth for the half, as the Burra looked unstoppable going up forward.
Panton Hill were more competitive in this term than the first, as they were winning more of the ball, but they struggled to capitalise on their opportunities.
With late goals to Brayden Callaway and Daniel Freeman, Panton Hill headed into the half time break with a more respectable score on the board.
Nicholas Dean opened the second half with the goal of the day, a snap from a contested play on the boundary line that drifted from right to left through the goal posts.
Rory Hanlon made his presence felt in the third quarter with lots of possessions in the middle to compliment his brilliant tackling pressure.
Tom Keys and Connor Kissane exchanged goals for either side before the Burra’s defensive traits came into play, with their ability to shut down multiple attacking efforts from the Redbacks highlighting the visitor’s dominance on the contest.
Leading by 49 points heading into the final term, St Mary’s were keen to inflict further pain on the hosts.
But Panton Hill did well to produce nine scoring shots seven and win the final quarter.
It was a positive to take out of what was otherwise a strong performance from St Mary’s away from home.
