A huge second half gave Kilmore a 45-point victory over Fitzroy Stars Northern Football Netball League, NFNL, division three action on Saturday.
The first quarter hinted at a competitive day out as the sides were level at 5.3 (33) apiece at the first break.
Although both teams kicked four goals apiece in the second quarter, the Stars pulled ahead to lead by four points at halftime.
A rousing speech from senior coach Paul Derrick gave the young Blues the motivation needed as they came out of the break kicking eight goals in the third term to take a comfortable lead.
Kilmore’s scoreboard attack slowed in the fourth term, but the surge from the previous quarter had put the side comfortably ahead to take a 19.8 (122) to 11.11 (77) win.
Derrick said they did not play their way in the first half.
“We sort of got dictated to. It was a very physical game so for the young fellas it was a case of whether they could stand up to that,” he said.
“I just thought we were a bit unaccountable and a bit stagnant. We needed to run and carry the footy, which I thought we did really well in the second half.
“We had a good chat at halftime and the second half was probably our best for the year.
“We really ran and carried the footy well. We looked after each other and it was a really great game.”
A meeting of captains and umpires in the middle of the ground at three-quarter time left spectators confused until it was revealed a goal umpire witnessed a Fitzroy Stars player spit in the face of Kilmore’s Max Lacorcia.
The Stars player has been directed straight to the tribunal.
Kicking five goals, Ethan Derrick was named among the best.
Lachlan Chesher, with three goals, was named in the best and took a huge hanger on the wing.
“Young Lachlan Chesher again was really good. He was really good all day,” Derrick said.
“I thought all the young guys like Joe Barry were sensational. I think that was his third or fourth senior game and he was fantastic.
“The midfield guys were really solid as well. There were some really good signs especially after halftime. I thought we didn’t have a bad player on the ground after that which was good.”
In the final round of the season Kilmore will play Old Eltham Collegians away on Saturday, with the Blues in a position to disrupt the Turtles from making the finals.
“Now it’s pretty much an elimination final. We beat them, they’re out of finals,’ Derrick said.
“From a day that was going to be nothing a few weeks ago, it’s turned into hopefully a really good day and we can hopefully get the job done. That’s our target now.
“At least there’s some purpose for the week and hopefully the boys get up and about for that.”
Kilmore’s reserves also need to win for a spot in finals.
Whittlesea
Whittlesea has announced its new senior football coach, with Garry Ramsay signing on for the next two seasons as the side will return to division two.
Ramsay coached at Montmorency for four years, getting to a preliminary final last season before taking a year off coaching.
Prior to Montmorency, Ramsay coached at Macleod achieving premiership success in 2015 and four consecutive grand final appearances between 2015 and 2018.
In a statement, the club said it was excited to announce the first step to ‘build long-term, sustainable success’.
“Garry brings a wealth of experience, a reputation for driving standards and achieving success over a long, highly acclaimed career,” the statement read.
“We strongly believe Garry will lead us in ‘building for success’ and re-establishing our winning culture.”
As the current NFNL division one season continues, the Eagles had a 53-point loss to Banyule on Saturday.
Banyule led from the bounce, with the score 6.8 (44) to 2.6 (18) at halftime, before the visitors maintained its momentum for the rest of the game.
Whittlesea’s Caleb Newport kicked four goals and was named in the best along with captain Xavier Dimasi, Deakin Tennant and Curtis Taplin.
Whittlesea face North Heidelberg on the road in the second-last match of the season.
