St Mary’s knocks off Macleod in early taste of NFNL Division 2 finals

The Burras thumped NFNL Division 2 joint ladder-leader Macleod by 41 points at Whatmough Park, their first win over a top-three side this season.

It follows a difficult fortnight where the club was humbled by Diamond Creek by 112 points and Whittlesea by 51 points.

With fourth spot already sown up, the 17.16 (118) to 10.17 (77) triumph is St Mary’s first against Macleod and a significant boost on the eve of finals.

Coach Jack Bianchin said the win showed what his team could do when they got their game right.

“A bit different to past couple of weeks, we executed, our effort has always been good but we got some things right executing inside 50m,”.

“We learnt a few things, Diamond Creek is certainly the team to beat – they just beat us around the footy, so we have to compete a little bit harder.

“The following week against Whittlesea it was an execution things, I thought we went OK, we just missed a bit of polish.

“It’s a good confidence boost, we haven’t taken a scalp this year.

“To win and win really well, play a consistent four-quarter game, I’m sure the boys are confident they can compete against the best and now we’ve got to do it consistency.

“We can definitely compete with those (top three) sides when we get things right and (Saturday) was a step in the right direction.

The match was an arm-wrestle for the first half, Macleod took a five-point lead into quarter-time before a six-goal burst earned St Mary’s an 11-point half-time advantage.

The Burras held a 18-point margin at three-quarter-time and ran away with the game in the last, kicking four goals to nil.

Young gun Harrison Karvellas made a dream club debut, booting four goals, while ruckman Huon Macgibbon took control of the game in the second half.

“Huon in the ruck, we identified they had a weakness with (Zac) Hudson out and Big Sauce took control,” Bianchin said.

“He marked everything and he gave us first use out of the middle, Ty Kitchell is having a ripper year in the middle and he just fed him all day.

“I think we won contested footy by 30 for the day and clearances by about 15 or 16.

“Our control of the midfield battle was key because they were quite dangerous when they went forward.

“Darcy Barden would have had 13 or 14 shots on goal and Jordan Corelli was probably the best player on the ground in the first half, then we put Ben Halewood to him after half-time and he did a good job on him.”

Ben Halewood, Josh Carelli, Ben Young and Jack Cicitta (four goals) also impressed, while Ryan Bowkett also impressed stepping up for his first senior game of the year.

“We had a guy make his debut, Harrison, and kick four. He was strong in the air and a great set shot for goal,” Bianchin said.

“He’s one that maybe gets his chance to play finals in a couple of weeks.

“Ryan came in for his first game of the year as well, he’s a NBL1 basketballer, and had a good impact as well.

“He’s a wingman, he’s got a nice kick on him and moves well, so it’s nice to find a couple in Round 17.”

There will be strong competition for senior spots come finals with a host of key players set to be available.

Bianchin hopes captain Tane Cotter will be available to return after dislocating his shoulder a month ago, while Rory Hanlon is set to return from overseas.

Lachie Read and Hayden Bickerton could also be available, while Nick Dean remains overseas and ex-AFL defender Dom Akuei is expected to be available for finals with Essendon’s VFL season coming to an end.

St Mary’s will face Old Paradians in the final round of the home-and-away season before an elimination final date with Northcote Park.

For Macleod, Darcy Barden was best afield with five goals, while Jordan Corelli, Kurt Manuel and Shane Doherty stood tall.

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The Kangas travel to wooden spooner Watsonia with Barden needing eight goals to reach the magical 100-goal mark.

A qualifying final against Whittlesea likely awaits in a fortnight.

Elsewhere in Division 2, Thomastown’s 38-point win over Old Paradians and Watsonia’s 42-point loss to Lower Plenty confirmed the Saints’ relegation.

Whittlesea proved too strong for Panton Hill in a 62-point win and Diamond Creek all but sowed up the minor premiership with an 86-point thrashing of Northcote Park.

Originally published as St Mary’s knocks off Macleod in early taste of NFNL Division 2 finals