In a rough end to a strong second half of the season campaign, Kilmore suffered an 80-point loss to Old Eltham in the final round of the Northern Football Netball League, NFNL, division three season.
Heading into the game with seven changes, Kilmore debuted three under 17s and an under 19s player.
The Blues were right with the Turtles in the first quarter, trailing by a goal before Old Eltham took a 22-point lead heading into the half 6.6 (42) to 3.2 (20).
Kilmore lost Chris Barton at halftime with an ankle injury and senior coach Paul Derrick said the loss changed the side’s energy.
“The belief was gone then. It made it a bit hard in the second half,” he said.
In the second half, the Turtles got on a run, kicking four goals in both the third and fourth quarters, while Kilmore did not score and lost 3.2 (20) to 14.16 (100).
“The first half was pretty good and the second was just pretty bad,” Derrick said.
“They were a very good side and they were aiming for finals.
“I thought the first half we matched their intensity and matched their scoreboard efforts, but after halftime the young guys were a bit overrun I think.
“But they all enjoyed it and they’ll get experience from it which is good considering the outcome. But we’ve got to get better than that.”
Mitchel Portoglou had a great game in fullback playing on Old Eltham’s leading goalkicker, only letting him kick two goals.
With two ruckmen out, Grant Paxton stepped into the role, alongside playing centre-halfback, centre-half forward and full-forward.
Throughout the season, the Blues have fielded a young side with many players making their senior debut.
“The positive we take is except our last half for the season, the second half of the year was bloody good compared to where we started,” Derrick said.
“Just gaining experience was good for the year but obviously going forward finals is the aim so we’ll look to recruit in areas we need to, but we’ve also got a lot of faith in our young guys coming through, and another preseason will do them good.”
In the NFNL division one competition Whittlesea had a 37-point loss to North Heidelberg despite strong second quarter efforts.
The Eagles brought the game to within seven points at halftime after trailing by 22 points in the first term.
The third quarter remained close as North Heidelberg pushed out to a 16-point lead but the Eagles couldn’t hold on, going down 9.8 (62) to 14.15 (99).
Xavier Dimasi, Deakin Tennant and Harrison Draper were named among the best.
Whittlesea plays Greensborough, at Greensborough, on Saturday in the final round of the home and away season.
