Eltham oozed class in the return of football to the Northern Football Netball League, defeating a brave St Mary’s outfit by 46 points at Eltham Central Park on Good Friday.
In Robert Hyde’s first game at the helm, each of the Panthers’ lines, from backs to forwards – and especially in the middle – won their battles, with only accuracy in front of goal a valid, if a little pedantic, piece of constructive criticism in the 17.20 (122) to 10.16 (76) victory.
Alex Bellchambers, Michael Still and Marc O’Regan kicked three goals each, as the Panthers’ dynamic forward line were serviced by a midfield who looked in mid-season form, belying the 19-month hiatus from serious action. Nicholas Gedge contributed three goals for the Burra.
Indeed, led by Brent Macaffer who, if not underneath a pack recovering yet another Thomas Cantwell tap, was ghosting into space at will, the Eltham midfield contributed heavily to the total, which included nine goal kickers by the end of the day.
Cantwell, who was pitted against his former side in his Eltham debut, put in a dominant performance in the ruck, giving his midfield first use in the centre and around the ground.
Whilst recovering on the bench, he was ably assisted by Matthew Williamson, who took ruck duties around the ground in a versatile performance which saw him occupy key positions forward and back.
Despite the Panthers’ ruck dominance, St Mary’s midfield did hold its own from stoppages and almost broke even with Eltham for clearances during the first quarter.
However, all too frequently, any St Mary’s forays forward were repelled by the Panthers’ backline, led by Matthew Keys, who rebounded as a group with pace and precision.
Throughout the day, some of the most compelling play from Eltham came from a handball first strategy out of defence, with backs and midfielders creating a wave of runners which scythed through the rapidly retreating St Mary’s midfield.
That St Mary’s was within two goals at quarter time was due to Eltham inaccuracy (4.7.31) as much as Burra efficiency (3.0.18), but the run of play suggested that St Mary’s interest in the win would be short lived.
This proved so as Eltham extended its lead by the end of the half to 36 points, triggered by consecutive goals from 2019 goal kicking leader Michael Still.
The Panthers’ inaccuracy continued, kicking 5.6, but St Mary’s could not capitalise and could only kick seven behinds themselves.
Strong marking in the forward line was a key catalyst in the Panthers’ win and, by half time, Eltham had three times the number of marks inside 50 compared to St Mary’s, often due to Still’s intelligent leads and Williamson’s physicality.
Despite the wayward kicking of both sides throughout the game, there were plenty of aesthetically pleasing mid and long-range goals from both teams.
They included St Mary’s young gun Tane Cotter troubling the parked cars from just inside 50 late in the first quarter; Eltham pair Daniel Jarvis, and Marc O’Regan in the second; Still and O’Regan, again, in the third; and Burra utility Nicholas Gedge in the final quarter.
The third quarter resulted in nine goals and, consistent with possession and clearances, Eltham had the majority, kicking six, as the 30-degree heat began to take its toll on players and spectators, as the former increasingly battled cramps.
To their credit, St Mary’s was not satisfied with pursuing damage control in the final quarter and finished strongly, with Chris Petroro willing the ball forward out of the centre repeatedly.
St Mary’s kicked four of the six goals in the quarter, most memorably Rory Hanlon’s left footed checkside, running parallel to the goal, from distance, at speed.
Nothing from this performance will be of concern for those who predict big things for Eltham this season – the Panthers met expectations and could argue that their already healthy percentage could be thriving even more with straighter kicking.
However, St Mary’s would not be short of positives, either. Their team is young and the philosophy in recent years has been to pursue incremental gains from within. Nicholas Gedge (3 goals), Tane Cotter (2 goals), Myles Guldon (2 goals) and defender Nathan Jasper, amongst others, showed enough that this loss will not define their season.
St Mary’s will face Watsonia at home next weekend, and an early litmus test awaits for Eltham in a trip to Thomastown.
Final score: Eltham 17.20 (122) defeated St Mary’s 10.16 (76)
