Border Mail |
MYRTLEFORD has laid legitimate claims to be the best side outside of the top five with a resounding win over Corowa-Rutherglen at Myrtleford on Saturday.
The Saints have jumped Wodonga into sixth place and with the two teams facing off in a fortnight at Wodonga, the title of best side out of the five is officially up for grabs.
Myrtleford doubled the young Roos’ score in winning by 56 points, with a standout performance from gun small forward Kristan Height being the headline act.
Height was best on ground with seven superb goals that all came in the first three quarters, with his three third quarter goals adding to his half time tally of four.
Height’s impressive haul has taken his season tally to 47 and not that far behind the rock stars of the league Fevola, Pettifer, Wong and Prior.
Myrtleford coach Brad Murray, who was again outstanding and just as good as Height, was a very content man in his post-match appraisal of his charges.
“It was a really pleasing effort today, I thought,” Murray said.
“We were not at our best last week at Yarrawonga and we were keen on arresting that form straight away.
“Heighty was magnificent today, he plays the role as good as anyone in the league and provides another option heading forward.
“We reckon we can win three of our last four games and today got the ball rolling against a side similar to us.
“With the Pink Ladies function upstairs, it’s a great day for the club and we are pretty happy with the way we played and committed to the cause.”
Corowa-Rutherglen coach Adrian Pavese was very disappointed and frustrated with his team’s effort.
“We prepared well all week with training and planning, but once on the ground we lost our way quickly and never recovered,” Pavese lamented.
“Our first half was terrible and at times we did not raise a yelp.
“We had more inside fifties than Myrtleford but just wasted our chances with poor options and bad disposal.”
Murray, along with the class act that is Lee Dale, dominated the midfield, particularly in the first-half that set up a 39-point half-time lead.
Matt Dussin spent most of the day at half-back and — along with a wonderful game from Leigh Corcoran and a blinder from Josh Chapman — they dominated.
One of the highlights of the day was the battle between Jarred Lane (four goals) and his opponent Luke Chapman, with honours being split.
Lane’s booming 70-metre goal late in the second term matched a similar effort a fortnight earlier at Yarrawonga.
Lachy McLarty and Matt Witherden were excellent across half back for the Roos, while midfielders Matt Gadsden and Hayden Filliponi never gave up trying.
The Saints are certainly not the most polished side in the history of the league, but pound for pound in the honesty hard working stakes — they rate high indeed.
Murray — who may win another Morris Medal such is his form — has a committed team of followers behind him and acts himself as a wonderful leader in front of them.
