KILMORE’S senior footballers got a taste of the unknown in their first meeting with Northern Football Netball League division three newcomer Kinglake on Saturday, but the unknown proved unpalatable in a 7.8 (50) to 10.15 (75) loss for the Blues.
Playing in front of a home crowd for the first time in 2023, Kilmore made a strong start to lead by a point at quarter time.
In the second quarter the Lakers began to assert themselves, although an inaccurate 1.5 from the visitors kept Kilmore within striking distance at the main break.
It was the third term where most of the damage was done, with the red-hot Lakers piling on six goals to two to take a nearly unassailable 31-point lead into the final quarter.
Kilmore made some belated inroads, kicking three goals to one in the fourth, but could not reel the Lakers in.
Kilmore co-captains Leigh Irons and Mick Marrett were among the best for Kilmore, as was key defender Mitch Portoglou for a second straight week.
Aaron Speak was the side’s sole multiple-goal kicker, slotting two for the afternoon, while Bailey Derrick, Mick McCulloch, Grant Paxton, Cole Isbister and Riley McLaughlin registered singles.
The Blues will have time to regroup with a bye in round three before hosting perennial cellar dweller Reservoir on May 6.
Whittlesea
Whittlesea was also left licking its wounds after a loss to reigning division one premier Heidelberg, going down 8.7 (55) to 20.17 (137).
The Eagles were outclassed in the first half, trailing by nearly 12 goals at the long break, but put in a much improved showing to win the second half by a kick.
Christian Prestopino’s five-goal haul gave the supporters at Whittlesea Showgrounds something to cheer about, while wingman Mitch Andrews, centre half forward Riley Powell, ruckman Thomas Flood and onballer Taidhg Bland impressed.
The winless Eagles face another challenge in round three as they travel to Yulong Reserve to play Bundoora, which is coming off a 54-point win against North Heidelberg.
