The Pies were far too strong for a wayward Roosters outfit, winning 15.15 (105) to 5.18 (48).
After an off-season where each club welcomed a new coach and farewelled a host of big name players, it was Montmorency who showed it had adapted better to its list changes.
Despite West Preston-Lakeside booting the first goal after Glenn Robertson slotted home from a set shot, Montmorency was quick to respond with returning forward Wayne Pavitt kicking the visitors’ first.
The Magpies began to get far more possession and assumed control at such an early time in the game – not the start the Roosters were hoping for. Ben Walton booted Montmorency’s second for the quarter and new skipper Ryan Jackson followed quickly with a third to leave the Magpies ahead by 16 points at the first break, despite kicking a wasteful 3.6.
After the interval, Montmorency picked up where it left off the first quarter with Jake Whitling slotting a beautiful 50 metre barrel to start the quarter and Chris Burton got in on the action with his first goal.
It was panic time for the Roosters before they finally stemmed the flow with Damien Smith getting a free kick in the goal square to put through the home side’s second of the day.
If anything, Smith’s goal fired up Montmorency even more, as the Magpies kicked the last three of the quarter through Pavitt, Whitling and Harley Ryan – leaving Montmorency 38 points up at the main break.
Unfortunately for the Roosters, Montmorency kept attacking early in the second half with Burton getting his second of the day. Whitling showed off his soccer skills with an off the ground ripper for his third before young gun Jesse Donaldson chipped in for his first with a nice goal along the ground.
The Roosters finally broke Montmorency’s run of six straight goals when Robertson broke through for his second of the game. However, the Magpies were unrelenting and pulled further and further ahead with Pavitt and Burton both getting their third.
With the Magpies 68 points going into the last change, the final quarter started with both teams playing defensively as the sting left the game.
Pavitt finally broke the drought with the first of the quarter – his four goals a brilliant return in his first game back at the Magpies – before Walton goaled again soon after.
The Roosters managed the last two goals of the match through Alex Gleeson and Luke McKenna, but they were only in consolation.
This week sees West Preston-Lakeside travel to Central Park to face Eltham with both sides desperate to atone for poor Round 1 losses, while Montmorency plays Greensborough at home in the twilight match.
Final score: West Preston-Lakeside 15.15 (105) def Montmorency 5.18 (48)
