THE Central Murray Football Netball League inflicted Heathcote District Football Netball League’s second consecutive loss in the AFL Victoria Community Championship.
Saturday’s 43-point win at Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval ensured Central Murray remained ranked as one of AFL Victoria’s top 20 leagues, with Heathcote District dropping to 21st in the rankings and the prospect of playing the Southern Football Netball League in 2018.
Kerang midfielder, Marty Kelly was instrumental in the win, with his efforts earning the Central Muray’s best player medal, whilst Doug Palmer was a dominant force in front of goal with three majors.
The visitors’ win – which reversed Heathcote District’s 29-point win when the sides last met in 2015 – was set up in the first and third quarters, with Central Murray restricting the hosts to one goal in each stanza.
Central Murray’s midfield drive – an emphasis coach, Troy Coates has worked on both during his time leading Kerang and with last year’s championship side – set up a frenetic start to the match, which saw the visitors kick the first three goals of the game.
Tom Hill opened Heathcote District’s account, but Central Murray finished the opening quarter with the next three goals to hold a 32-point lead at the first break.
Brett Strange’s ruck work – which kept Heathcote District in the match in the opening term – reaped benefits in the second quarter, with Matt Perri and Sam Barnes beginning to get the ball in the hosts’ forward line.
Heathcote District kicked the first four goals of the second term to reduce the margin to eight points at the 11-minute mark, before Corey Kelly helped Central Murray stem the flow.
Central Murray held a 12-point lead at half-time, before the visitors began the third term like they did the first stanza.
Palmer and Kelly increased the lead beyond four goals early in the quarter, but inaccurate kicking – thanks to seven behinds by the 15-minute mark of the term – cost Central Murray the chance to seal the win early.
Perri’s goal after the three-quarter time siren was Heathcote District’s only major for the term, reducing the deficit to 49 points.
Heathcote District coach, Dean Laidley – who did not arrive at the game until midway through the third quarter due to coaching commitments in Melbourne – asked the side to lift in the final term, with Barnes kicking the opening goal of the quarter.
However, goals to Harrison Keely and Adam Tipungwiti sealed the win and 18th in the rankings for Central Murray, with a meeting against the 17th-ranked Wimmera on the cards for 2018.
Kelly, Luke Teasdale and Bradlee Pay were best on ground for Central Murray, which had seven players kick multiple goals in the win.
Joel Helman (two goals) received Heathcote District’s best on ground medal, with Perri, Barnes and Danny Brewster also kicking two goals in the loss.
