Border Mail |
LET’S be honest, Saturday’s contest at J.C. Lowe Oval was always about Lavington.
That’s no disrespect to Yarrawonga, it’s just we already know how good the Pigeons are.
There were a few other things Ovens and Murray fans wanted to find out as well.
Firstly, would Lavington’s strong early season form stand up against the league heavyweight?
Could the Panthers get themselves in a winning position against the Pigeons, or at the very least push them all the way?
Basically, could Lavington show enough to suggest the premiership race wasn’t down to two horses once again?
Despite Yarrawonga skipping away to a 37-point victory, the answers to those questions were yes, yes and yes.
We have a new contender, folks.
Lavington coach James Saker was savage in his criticism after the game but one feels he will take plenty out of it when he studies it in the cold, hard light of day.
Either way, it’s good to see the Panthers do not accept an honest showing.
They expect to win these games.
And you know what?
They should.
There’s plenty to like about them.
Lavington got off to flyer, booting four of the game’s first five goals in the opening five minutes, while Mitch Palmer, Alex Jones and Sam Harris are all fast becoming top-line players in the league.
Nobody can doubt the quality of Luke Garland, Matt Pendergast and Kade Stevens, either.
Michael Gibbons is the Murray Bushrangers’ captain, and with good reason, judging by Saturday’s strong showing.
Saker and Brant Dickson are unquestionably better players than they were last year, while inclusions like Rory Muggivan, Luke Brauer and Kane Westlow has given Lavington added grunt around the ball.
They’ve got some talent running around in the reserves, too.
Adam Flagg kicked five goals in the Panthers’ shock thumping of the reigning reserve-grade premier and is all but certain to make his senior debut this week.
Jay Banks is on the cusp of a return, too.
While rightfully thrilled with Saturday’s win — due to a host of absentees — Yarrawonga co-coach Drew Barnes said there was little doubt the Panthers had improved.
“For sure,” he said.
“They’ve inserted a couple of bigger bodies and really came over here to play.”
But the Pigeons had plenty to come away with, too, aside from yet another win.
Craig Ednie, Steve McKee, Luke Hammond and Brad Ottens are still to come into the side.
But have fun finding four Pigeons to take out.
Barnes, who coached Yarrawonga by himself on Saturday with Chris Kennedy overseas, admitted he put the acid on the club’s bottom-tier players to perform.
They passed that test with flying colours.
Corey Greer, in particular, is one player worth noting.
He was brilliant on Saturday, as was former AFL star Kayne Pettifer.
The former Richmond forward put Lavington’s 300-gamer John Hunt to the sword in the first term and was prominent late in the game.
Tim Hargeaves added plenty, too, in his first match for the year.
He was strong overhead, accurate when kicking for goal and gives Yarrawonga another dimension up forward.
“That’s the most pleasing part,” he said.
“We really put the heat on our younger guys during the week.
“I thought our second tier took another step in this game and that was the most pleasing part.”
