A masterclass from Montmorency took them a step closer to a third straight top three finish in the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 competition, after a monstrous 77-point victory over Banyule at Montmorency Park.
The Magpies had all the answers from start to finish, with their relentless pressure and impressive efficiency around the ground proving too much for the Bears to handle.
Nick Rutley’s men kicked nine goals in each half to record their highest score of the season in the 18.14 (122) to 6.9 (45) triumph.
Teams from second to sixth now share the same 8-5 record with five games to go, as Montmorency’s superior percentage sees them end Round 13 in second position.
Banyule meanwhile are incredibly outside of the top five despite coming into this game in second spot. The loss is their second straight defeat of 60 points or more, the first time they’ve done so in consecutive games during their 10 years in the NFNL.
After jumping into third in the Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 Coaches MVP Award leaderboard last week, Magpies captain Stefan Uzelac is in line for more votes after an outstanding display.
He booted an equal game-high of four majors, the most he has kicked in a match since Round 9, 2022. But it was the 24-year-old’s work in the ruck that saw him gain best on ground honours, winning many hit outs, producing multiple clearances, and always providing a target for his teammates around the ground.
Lachy Batchelor was the other Magpie to boot four majors, a career high, three of them coming in a highlight filled second quarter for the youngster.
Nash Holmes and Marcus Lentini controlled things in a midfield that dominated the contest all afternoon, while Jesse Thompson was another to provide some brilliant moments for the home side.
A Banyule outfit who missed multiple star players was led by Kurt Aylett, who had plenty of the footy in the middle of the ground.
Sam McLarty filled in for Tim Martin in ruck and had his moments, while Max Jones’ first half was also a highlight for the visitors, who struggled with the intensity of the contest.
The biggest flaw in the Bears’ game was their ill-discipline, as many of Montmorency’s thrusts forward came through sloppy free kicks or 50-metre penalties, allowing the Magpies to have the momentum for the majority of the contest.
It would be the opening ten minutes that set the tone of the match as Uzelac and Lentini combined for three goals in that time period, all while the Bears barely gained possession of the football.
Ricky Dyson and Paul Harris’ men would then kick the next three behinds, two of which coming from Patrik Della Rocca, who was seen as the side’s target forward for the match.
Della Rocca would eventually get reward for effort at the 15-minute mark by converting his set shot, but after some behinds of their own, Montmorency would have the last say of the quarter, as coming off a five-goal performance last week, Patrick Fitzgerald would find the big sticks to give his side an 18-point quarter time lead.
The Magpies continued to put Banyule on the backfoot, with the first 13 minutes of the second term belonging to the home side.
Batchelor went to work inside 50 and got on the end of three goals in a scintillating display, while Fitzgerald also managed his second goal in tight congestion to balloon the margin to 43 points.
Kye Yodgee, who found himself up forward for much of the game, tried to spark something for the Bears, as his goal and Jack Langford’s first moments later, made it back-to-back majors for the visitors approaching time on.
But Uzelac’s third goal would ensure Montmorency remained in control, with a 35-point half time advantage.
The Magpies would all but finish the match in the first two minutes of the second half, when Ben Paterson and Corey Sleep nailed consecutive set shot conversions to take their advantage out to 47 points.
Despite Aylett getting on the scoreboard moments later, Nick Rutley’s men booted the next three goals, which included Batchelor and Uzelac kicking their fourth goals of the game within 30 seconds of each other courtesy of more ill-discipline from Banyule.
With the margin at 62 points at three quarter time, the Magpies eased through things in the last term, kicking three goals to one to solidify a statement making 77-point victory.
