Diamond Creek have stormed to a thumping victory over Northcote Park, producing a dominant display after quarter-time to run out 86-point winners at Bill Lawry Oval in their MC Labour Division 2 clash yesterday.
After leading by eight points at quarter time, the Creekers kicked 16 goals to five in the final three terms to secure a 20.15 (135) to 8.1 (49) triumph over Northcote Park.
Andrew Tranquilli’s men are now a game and percentage clear atop the Division 2 table heading into the final round of the season while Northcote Park will finish the regular season in fifth after yesterday’s results in the Division.
The game began with both sides trading blows in a scrappy first quarter. Diamond Creek hit the scoreboard first, but Northcote Park responded through a slick end-to-end goal.
Nathan Searl was a general down back for the Creekers, Northcote Park were able to generate forward-half turnovers, only to waste opportunities with poor delivery inside 50.
An excellent build-up from defence resulted in Michael Amad kicking Northcote Park’s second, but the Creekers hit back immediately from a clearance.
The fast-paced footy continued, with both sides capitalising on turnovers. Bronson Hill put Diamond Creek back in front late in the term, giving the Creekers a narrow quarter-time lead.
In the second quarter, Diamond Creek tidied up their ball use and began to break the game open. Jacob Booth was instrumental, repeatedly setting up scoring chances with pinpoint ball use.
His delivery to Taj Logan led to the first goal of the term, before Booth himself drilled a superb set shot from 50 metres.
Northcote’s Ben Reddick battled hard at the contest, but Diamond Creek’s dominance grew.
Booth slotted his third of the half as the margin ballooned to 30 points, and the Creekers ruck gave their midfielders first use all term.
By half-time, Diamond Creek had piled on four unanswered goals for the quarter, heading into the main break with a commanding 37-point lead.
The third quarter saw Diamond Creek look to put the game beyond doubt. Logan was busy again, sparking early forward entries, while Matt Perry worked hard for Northcote Park as a lead-up target.
Ben Major’s opportunistic snap extended the margin to 50 points, but Northcote Park showed some fight, kicking three quick goals through Jordan Perry, Lorne Waldron, and Amad to reduce the deficit to 34 points midway through the term.
However, the Creekers responded swiftly — Major slotted his second, and another goal followed within a minute to snuff out Northcote’s momentum. By the final change, Diamond Creek were back in full control with a 46-point buffer.
Any hopes of a Northcote Park comeback were extinguished early in the last quarter. Diamond Creek’s Dale Marshall slotted the first, before an intercept from Ben Major was converted to push the margin past 10 goals.
Andrew Elward added another from a 50-metre penalty, and Jett McLaughlan converted from a holding-the-ball free inside 50 as the lead blew out beyond 12 goals.
The Creekers’ relentless pressure never dropped, and Logan continued to rack up possessions in the second half.
By the 17-minute mark, Diamond Creek had piled on goal after goal, with the margin stretching to a massive 86 points.
Dale Marshall was influential through the midfield, providing constant drive, while Booth’s first-half brilliance set the platform for the rout.
The final siren confirmed Diamond Creek’s supremacy in every facet of the game. Their ability to transition from defence to attack with precision, combined with their fierce tackling pressure, proved far too much for Northcote Park.
