The Murray Football League roared back into the Victorian Country Football League’s top 10 rankings with an emphatic 64-point win against Bellarine Football League at Tocumwal on Saturday.
Murray controlled the match from the outset, moving the football from defence with speed and capitalising on its forward entries to win 21.12(138) to 10.14(74).
Deniliquin’s Ash Morris starred for Murray, dashing along the wings and kicking two goals to be named best on ground.
The home side dominated the centre clearances early as Echuca United and Murray coach Scott Beattie combined with O’Dwyer medallist Rowan Priest to send the ball forward.
League leading goal-kicker and Moama forward Tyler Jones marked strongly, but it was Finley’s Ryan Bongetti and Priest who would score the opening two goals.
Bellarine seemed star struck in the first 10 minutes, missing simple targets off half-back and coughing the ball up due to Murray’s pressure.
The visitors went inside their forward 50 for the first time after 12 minutes, but a strong Murray defence sounded its intentions for the next two hours.
The home side had players out the back and consistently spread into space on the big Tocumwal Recreation Reserve.
Finley’s Matt Jackson and Mulwala’s Sean Robinson combined solidly in defence, running the ball forward and hitting targets by foot.
United’s Ryan Prendergast played his role at centre half-back, constantly bringing the ball to ground in the aerial contests.
Numurkah coach Brent Chapman was another who regularly found space, linking up from defence and on the wings to help Murray set up a 23-point lead at quarter-time.
Beattie was pleased with his players’ intensity in the first term but asked them for cleaner disposal going forward.
The Baysiders wasted an early opportunity and Cobram’s John Lucas made them pay at the other end.
Lucas and Mulwala’s Anthony Giuliano were dangerous across half-forward, while Morris continued to run free along the wings.
Finley’s Reid Crowe made the most of his late inclusion after Cobram’s Tom Thorsen withdrew with illness, marking strongly and using the ball cleanly.
Bellarine’s midfield came alive midway through the second term, moving the ball faster and hitting up its forwards.
But inaccurate kicking dogged the Baysiders, kicking point after point before Giuliano made them pay once again.
Bellarine outscored Murray for the term but still trailed by 19 points at half-time.
When Jones and Farran Priest kicked the first two goals of the third term, the likelihood of a Bellarine win looked shot.
The visitors continued to waste opportunities up forward as Morris, Beattie and Rowan Priest ran riot through the centre.
Congupna’s Daniel Bowles came into the match after half-time, winning contest after contest across half-back and driving the ball forward.
Lucas’ pressure in the forward line ensured Murray capitalised on its forward 50s, while some Farran Priest magic even had the opposition fans in applause.
Bellarine kicked the last two goals of the third term to remain in contention, trailing by 27 points at three-quarter-time.
Beattie encouraged his players to enjoy the final quarter and run out the game.
They did exactly that.
Goals to Marcus Jackson, Jones and Morris were reward for effort as Murray heaped on nine goals to three.
Jones, Lucas and Farran Priest finished with four goals each, while late goals to Chapman took his tally to three.
Bellarine’s Tim Clark starred with six majors and Baden Dodd was the Baysiders’ best player.
Despite the margin, the match was still played at a high standard.
Tenth-ranked Murray will continue to climb the VCFL rankings when it faces ninth-ranked Sunraysia at Mildura next year.
