LALOR made its 2014 intentions known loud and clear in Round 10, moving two games clear in fourth place on the Division 2 ladder with a big win over Mernda.
Fresh from moving a game clear of Epping in the race for the last finals spot, Lalor yet again took advantage of Epping’s misfortunes with a 13.14 (92) to 11.9 (75) victory over the Demons, off the back of Scott Dowell’s six goals and best on ground performance.
The victory also means that Mernda blew an opportunity to move back into second after the Fitzroy Stars’ loss to Diamond Creek.
The game was tenacious and tight early on, thanks to the somewhat muddy surface of Schotters Road. Mernda was able to get on the scoreboard first, thanks to David Hutchinson. Hutchinson had come into the game in solid home form, having kicked eight goals against Epping, and would end up kicking three opening quarter goals.
With an average margin of 19 points separating the side in their last four encounters, it came as no surprise that Lalor was able to take the game right up to Mernda, and goals came as a result from Scott Morrison and Spencer Christopher.
Although Lalor had settled into the game faster than Mernda, two late Hutchinson goals ensured that Mernda would lead by three points at quarter time.
The second quarter saw Lalor take control of the game, smartly trying to get the ball onto the ‘clean’ side of the ground, and forcing Mernda to use the muddier side of the ground. The end result saw Todd Hughes take a pack mark and put Lalor back in front, before Dowell kicked his first goal of the afternoon.
However, Lalor, through its numerous attacking opportunities, had also accumulated behinds, and memories of Round 4, which saw Lalor kick 2.17, were revived. Nonetheless, Lalor put more pressure on Mernda to respond with a goal from Kaine Digney.
The goal seemed to spark Mernda into some action, with goals from Luke Shelton, Liam Gray and Nick Brannelly putting the Dees back in front, before Dowell once again showed his class and ensured that Lalor would take a slender two-point lead at the break.
Dowell opened the third quarter as he ended the second, kicking a third goal. He would kick another during the quarter, however, it was Mernda who was starting to take over, despite continuing to use the muddy side of the ground.
Although Saul Caddy was unable to have the impact he normally enjoys, Hutchinson would kick goals four and five in this quarter, with Andrew O’Reilly and Nick Avenoso also adding to the scoreboard. A tight five-goal to four quarter saw Mernda reclaim the lead at three quarter time, with yet another tight finish between the sides coming up.
For the third consecutive quarter, Lalor would open the quarter strongly, with Dowell yet again standing up and kicking goal number five. The Bloods would then withstand a frantic Mernda attack, which saw the Demons waste four opportunities to create a much needed buffer between themselves and Lalor. It would prove fatal for the Demons’ challenge.
Dowell kicked goal number six for the afternoon, before Todd Hughes kicked the sealer and ensured that Lalor took pole position for a spot in the finals, now two games ahead of Epping, Diamond Creek and Panton Hill.
Dowell was unquestionably the best man on the ground with his haul of six, but had solid support from Ben Curtiss, Beau Delcus and Ross Tsiripas in his first game for season 2014. It was a disappointing day for Mernda, with Luke Howard, Andrew Smith and Matthew Duggan the club’s best players.
Lalor now has chance to snare its third consecutive win when its host Diamond Creek. With Panton Hill travelling to North Heidelberg, as well as Epping travelling to Fitzroy Stars, a win would make it very hard for Lalor to miss out on finals football.
The Demons now welcome bottom-placed Hurstbridge to Schotters Road as they look to rebound from their second consecutive defeat.
Final score: Mernda 11.9 (75) def by Lalor 13.14 (92)
