Panton Hill recorded its second win of the 2021 MC Labour Division 2 season with a dominant display against the Fitzroy Stars at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval in Round 5.
Having lost the opening three games of the season, the Redbacks have now registered back-to-back wins – backing up last week’s win at Epping with a lopsided 79-point victory over the Fitzroy Stars in another confidence-boosting win for Simon Amore’s men.
Leading by just two points at half time, the Redbacks piled on 13 goals to one after the main break to run away with a 22.14 (146) to 10.7 (67) victory.
Fitzroy came into the home clash against the Redbacks under pressure, sitting at the bottom of the ladder after going winless in the opening four games of the season.
In a tightly contested first quarter, it was the Stars that jumped better out of the blocks.
The home side would kick the opening two goals of the game, with Nathan Lovett-Murray and Riley Livingstone scoring.
Trailing by 13 points at the halfway point of the opening quarter, Jake Maher and Jack Ryan would swing the momentum for the Redbacks, who led 5.3 (33) to 4.2 (26) at the first change.
Rivva Karpany was impressive for the Stars early, gathering a lot of the ball in the middle and being influential in the stoppages, however the Redbacks managed to negate his impact as the game wore on.
The second quarter was also tightly contested, with the sides going goal-for-goal in a nine-goal quarter.
Lovett-Murray continued to impose himself on the game, starting the second quarter like he did the first, with the opening goal, before kicking his third goal later in the term.
Ashley Hood would also have several goals by half time. Hood booted two goals while also putting a solid performance in the ruck.
The Stars were competitive, but Panton Hill routinely answered back. Brent Ryan came into the game kicking two goals to help his side hold a slender two-point lead at half time.
The game would completely break open in the third quarter, with undisciplined play by the Stars in the final 10 minutes of the quarter putting the Redbacks in full control.
Trailing by 15 points, the lead would stretch out to 39 points at three quarter time with Panton Hill leading 16.9. (105) to 10.6 (66). Three consecutive goals would come off the back of free kicks.
Scott Conte was bumped after his mark, resulting in a 50m penalty and certain goal from the goal square. Matthew Fowler was then gifted a goal directly after in an incident that saw Karpany yellow-carded.
Jack Ryan would be the third Redback to be handed a goal from undisciplined play, booting the goal after the three-quarter time siren to firm his side’s grip on the game.
At three quarter Panton Hill coach Simon Amore urged his side to not let up in the final quarter and continue to bring the pressure in the final quarter.
“What we’ve done really well is create multiple attacking opportunities. They’re dropping off,” Amore said.
“The challenge is now to run away with the game.”
Amore’s message of not letting up in the last quarter was certainly answered by the Redbacks in the final stanza.
The Redbacks piled on six goals and kept the Stars to just a single behind to run away with a percentage-boosting win.
Panton Hill has now revived its season with back-to-back wins, while the Stars remain anchored to the bottom of the ladder and will look for an improved showing in their Round 6 fixture against St Mary’s.
Final score: Fitzroy Stars 10.7 (67) def by Panton Hill 22.14 (146)
FITZROY STARS
Goal Kickers: N. Lovett-Murray 3, A. Hood 2, R. Livingstone 2, J. Kelly, J. Firebrace, T. Proctor
Best Players: D. Boxer, T. Edwards-Lovett, J. Saveka, R. Karpany, J. Dau, T. Proctor
PANTON HILL
Goal Kickers: J. Ryan 4, N. Hendry 4, J. Maher 3, M. Fowler 3, B. Ryan 2, J. Pritchard 2, S. Montanaro, C. Jordan, C. Prior, S. Conte
Best Players: N. Hendry, J. Ryan, S. Conte, T. Duckworth, M. Anderson, J. Pritchard
