AS far as starts to the season go, they don’t come much better than what it did for Kilmore’s in the Northern Football Netball League division three competition on Saturday.
The Blues put Kinglake to the sword away from home, retaining the Country Cup in the process, while also announcing to the league that they plan on sticking around as a finals contender.
After a spirited start which saw both teams score goals in the opening five minutes, the Blues left Kinglake supporters and players stunned with a brutal run of seven goals in 14 minutes, with Mitchell O’Dwyer in particular all over the Lakers with two goals in that timeframe.
Chris Barton, Liam Monaghan and Benjamin Barton also got in among the goalkickers as the Blues led 49-7 at the first change.
The Blues were determined to ensure the game was over by half time, and it looked to be the case as the Blues added three goals in the second term to two, and the Blues led 71-19 at the main break.
It looked as though Kilmore was going to put a cricket score on the Lakers as it added three more goals in the third term to two behinds to lead by 71 points at the final change, 92-21, and led by as much as 76 points in the last term.
But four goals in seven minutes from Kinglake put a bit of respectability on the scoreboard, as Kilmore enjoyed the spoils of victory, 16.11 (107) to 8.6 (54).
Ben Barton kicked three goals in the win, as did Max Lehner, who was among the best players in Corey McCall’s first win as Kilmore coach. Liam Salter was named best on, while Mason Lacorcia, Kye Maher, Ryan Bailey and Jarvis Sleep were also noteworthy performers.
Kilmore’s netballers also started strongly, recording six wins from eight games on Friday night.
Kilmore 1 recorded a 36-32 win over Diamond Creek, while the Blues’ third team, fourth team, fifths, sixths and eighth teams also scored wins.
