MPNFL

DIVISION ONE

AFTER a split round to kick off 2023, there were just two games this weekend in Division One.

It was a home ground advantage for Dromana in their Good Friday clash with Red Hill and they wasted no time in getting some serious scoring on the board.

It was an onslaught in the first quarter with seven scoring shots to one in favour of the Tigers, with the quarter time scoreboard reading 5.2 to Red Hill’s single goal.

The second quarter was an entire turnaround, with Red Hill controlling the play while slamming on three goals and three minor scores, all the while holding Dromana to just three points. With only eight points in it, it was still anybody’s game.

After the long break, Dromana squeezed the pedal, and steadily pulled away from Red Hill. It was their turn to dominate in the third quarter, putting on 21 points and holding Red Hill to just four minor scores.

Although Red Hill got their mojo back a little in the final quarter and slotted a couple through the big sticks, Dromana answered with a couple of their own, and won the day. The final scores were 10.10 (70) to Red Hill’s 6.8 (44).

After a dismal 2022 when they managed only two wins for the season, Rosebud would have been keen to get 2023 off on the right foot. They had their chance in the first-round playing Sorrento. Sorrento fared better than Rosebud in 2022, but still ended up in the bottom half.

But Sorrento were going to have none of it and set about a persistent breaking down of Rosebud over the four quarters.

The first quarter was a solid start for the Sharks, as they put 24 points on the board with nine scoring shots. Greater accuracy in front would have seen them much further in front at the first break. In response, Rosebud only managed seven points.

Only a couple more goals were added for both teams in the second quarter, with Sorrento going into half time with a handy, but not insurmountable, 16-point lead.

It was the third quarter that won it for the Sharks, punching on five goals while leaving Rosebud with just a single point.

Over seven goals ahead at the final break, the last quarter was pedestrian, with Sorrento kicking a couple and leaving Rosebud goalless. The final score was Sorrento 12.10 (82) to Rosebud 3.11 (29).

Next week, Sorrento takes on last year’s Premiers, Frankston YCW, in a test to see what will come for them in 2023.

DIVISION TWO

FRESHLY relegated to Division Two, Edithvale-Aspendale are a team with something to prove in 2023. But it didn’t all go to plan when they met Chelsea on Good Friday.

The seagulls were quick out of the blocks and left Edi-Asp in their wake. At quarter time, Chelsea had slotted three goals and three minor scores, and left the Eagles with just two points on the board.

There must have been a significant ‘revving-up’ from the coach at the break, as Edi-Asp came back a different team, slotting five goals to one in the second quarter and turning a 19 point deficit at quarter time into a seven point lead at the long break.

The third quarter saw significant scoring on both sides with Chelsea adding 7.6 for the quarter and Edi-Asp adding 8.9. By three-quarter time, Edi-Asp held a handy 16-point lead.

The final quarter was a war of attrition, with no score changes leaving Edithvale-Aspendale the eventual winners on 13.15 to Chelsea’s 11.11.

Perhaps inspired by last week’s gutsy win by 2022 wooden-spooners, Crib Point, Tyabb set out with something to prove.

Languishing second last on the ladder last year, with only two wins and a draw for 2022, the Yabbies needed to get 2023 off on the right claw.

Their opportunity awaited with Rye. The Demons finished in the bottom half last year, but with a much better record than Tyabb with eight wins for the season.

The game was a tight tussle at the start with only six points separating the teams at quarter time with Rye in front.

Tyabb fought back hard in the second quarter, putting on four goals to Rye’s three, and getting their noses three points in front at the main break.

The third quarter was much the same; a back and forth between the teams that saw Tyabb just six points up at three quarter time.

The final quarter, though, was an onslaught. Tyabb punched on 8.5 to Rye’s 1.3 to give Tyabb a significant 50-point win.

For Tyabb, the 19 goals scored in the match were kicked by ten different players, showing a depth that has been missing the last few years. Hopeful signs that 2023 will be a better year for the Yabbies.

First published in the Mornington News – 11 April 2023