Turtles get jump on Demons


Published on Sunday, May 9, 2021

Author : Doug Long

Old Eltham Collegians got off to a flyer against Mernda at Eltham College on their way to a 42-point victory in Round 5 of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3.

In a clash between the two teams outside the top-four most likely to challenge for a finals berth, the 14.8 (92) to 8.3 (51) win saw the Turtles leapfrog the Demons and move into fifth place on the ladder – a game behind Kilmore.

Old Eltham Collegian fans may have been concerned that they were missing several talls – including Matthew Dean and Luke Mills, but it mattered little on the day.

The home team led by four goals at the first change and always looked in control. They moved the ball better than their Mernda opponents and outnumbered them in many instances due to hard running of their player to provide support.

The Demons were just barely in the contest at the main break – trailing by 30 points. But they won their previous contest against Old Eltham Collegians at the same venue in 2019 and would have still given themselves a chance.

However, the contest was quickly snuffed out when the Turtles kicked the first two of the second half. The first was kicked by captain Tim Woods. Woods slotted three on the day – his best haul in the NFNL.

Soon after the busy Jeremy Murphy broke a tackle and found Matthew Whittaker inside 50m. Whittaker kicked his second for the day and the game was as good as won.

Fraser Cloney was on fire early for the Turtles with four goals in the first half. But he injured an ankle in the third term and his day was done.

Mernda coach Robert Fletcher was disappointed with his team at the last break when they were down by over eight goals. Their plan had been to go hard at the footy and to man up when Old Eltham Collegians had the ball.

Fletcher wasn’t convinced that they had done either well, but swung a few changes and asked his team to go down the middle in the final term.

His move of Joshua Mazzarella to centre half forward paid dividends as Mazzarella managed five shots at goal in the last quarter for a total of three majors to be best afield for his team.

It wasn’t enough to bridge the gap, but at least the Demons won the final term.

“Disgusting” was the word Fletcher used to describe the performance. He did, however, give a big tick to 17-year-old debutant Lachlan Taylor for his work in the ruck.

He also liked the work of Thomas McMahon through the middle of the ground. Anthony Bradford showed his typical tenacity and also used the ball well.

Michael Evans was a livewire in the midfield. He was assisted off the ground after a knock in the third term, but later came back and ran out the game well.

Things were much brighter in the Old Eltham Collegians camp at day’s end.

“We got our running game going today, pressured the ball carrier and chased hard,” a contented coach Matthew Sleeman said.

Sleeman was pleased that the Demons were not able to string consecutive goals together when the game was up for grabs.

He named Thomas Cleary best – noting that he was always in the right spots the entire game, while the reliable midfielder Corey Ray impressed and debutant Jacey Winter contested well.

Old Eltham Collegians have back-to-back home games and will host Reservoir in Round 6.

After consecutive away games, Mernda heads home to Waterview Recreation Reserve to tackle the in-form Kilmore outfit.

Final score: Old Eltham Collegians 14.9 (93) def Mernda 8.3 (51)

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