By JARROD POTTER
SFL DIVISION 2 – Round 13
TIME will tell if Keysborough can afford the collateral cost of its 34-point win over Caulfield.
The Burra will be sweating on the diagnosis for star forward Tyson King – who was stretchered from the ground in the first term with a suspected, serious knee injury.
Keysborough had to rearrange the decks to cover for King’s loss and to their credit, the next rung of Burra boys stepped up to fill the massive forward void.
The visitors had no such issues as they managed to storm the Burra defence and take a two point advantage into the main break.
There was a bit of niggle in the contest as Keysborough and Caulfield exchanged blows, but the tables started to turn through the second half as Keysy found its way along all lines.
It was set up by a scintillating five-goal third term – led by Davor Rajic (3 goals), who became the go-to forward who relished the challenge alongside the coach Ryan Goodes (3 goals) – which pushed the Bears to the brink. Opening their wings and spreading out to feast on possession, the Burra shone in the final term.
“We lost Tys (King) – the initial shock of losing him affected us a bit, but once we realised other players have to stand up in his absence, we started coming good,” Goodes said.
“Our intensity picked up a little bit and we started to work harder.”
The coach praised Scott Chamberlain, Danny Morland, Shane Dunn and Glen Hawthorn as well as an all-round performance from the younger faces in the group.
“We went in with a young team – and it was a good chance for the rest of us to step up,” Goodes said.
“Caulfield were really good today I thought so full credit to them – they came at us and we knew their season was on the line, but I think our boys bounced back and played really well.”
Keysborough has a stranglehold on second place in the SFL Division 2 ranks – sitting two-games clear of Skye and Murrumbeena – and a win on the weekend against the Bombers keeps the possibility of a minor premiership alive in Keysy’s first season in the competition.
In a cross-town showdown, Doveton Eagles took the points away from Springvale Districts in an eight-point race to the finish.
The Demons fought back in the final term – booting five goals to one – but the Eagles’ handy lead at the final break kept the advantage with the Power Reserve lads. Cameron Ross and Trent Day (3 goals) were best on for the Eagles while Lachlan Morrey (5 goals) and Ben Laier stood out for Districts.
DIVISION 3 – Round 14
SANDOWN claimed its win of the year, coming from behind to down Ashwood in a six-point nail-biter. New faces helped the Cobras strike as Luke Newton (2 goals) and Owen Uaongo excelled while familiar forward Ciaron O’Shaughnessy (3 goals) worked well at home.
Endeavour Hills’ hopes of finals glory were dented by Carrum Patterson Lakes as the home side took a one-point triumph over a gutted Falcons’ attack led by Cedric LeGrand (3 goals), Shane Peake (2 goals) and Byron Hoe.
Lyndale was knocked over by heavyweight Mt Waverley to the tune of 28 points, despite the gutsy efforts of Veton Rexha, Brian Grundy and Alex Kerr.
Matt Neve (7 goals) proved exceptional for Hallam, but the rest of the Hawks didn’t soar as high as the fleet-footed midfielder’s bag wasn’t enough to get the home side across the line against Moorabbin.
Dandenong was knocked over by South Yarra in another heartbreaker for the Redlegs, after squandering a three-quarter-time lead.
