Finals calibre

Myrtleford made it five wins from the last six matches of senior football, and their third consecutive victory over the Tigers at Albury Sportsground on Saturday. After a tone-setting first half which saw the Saints slam on 10 goals to Albury’s four, the visitors were able to run out winners 21.9 (135) to 6.10 (46). Myrtleford made the most of their early chances in a bizarre reversal from their last match with the Tigers, in which the Saints kicked 9.21. Lachlan Murphy-Dale lit up the opening term with two goals before Brody Ricardi booted 4.2 in the second to set up the 35-point lead at half-time. While the Tigers tried to fight back, they were getting killed by the Saints transition out of half back and slick skills. With a convincing nine-goal advantage heading into the final change, Myrtleford had their foot on the Tigers’ throat, and continued to punish them on the scoreboard. Precision ball movement and clinical execution in front of goal saw the Saints pile on seven goals in the final term to put their highest total and largest winning margin (89 points) of the season. Coach Craig Millar said it was gratifying to see the team run a game out and put a score on the board. “I was really pleased with the way our boys approached the week at training, we had a good opening quarter, and I was really pleased with the way we finished the game off,” he said. “We knew we had to keep the ball moving, and I think we had 25 marks inside 50, which is just an extraordinary number when we average about 10 or 11, and that gave us plenty of looks at goal. “The thing that stood out the most is we were able to cash in on our opportunities – I think we kicked 21.9 whereas last time we played them we kicked 9.21 so that definitely helps. “We spoke about that at three quarter time, that we hadn’t really capitalised on those three quarter time leads, and it was a really mature way to finish the last quarter.” Kye Agosta at centre half back ran the show, racking up 23 disposals and six marks, while Ricardi and Murphy-Dale finished with five goals apiece. Consistent ball-winners Jaxon East (26 disposals, one goal), Bowen Calogero (25, one goal) and Mitch Tenardi (23, five tackles) were impactful throughout, while Matt Munro and Josh Muraca were driving the Saints forward with six inside 50s each. “Kye was outstanding at centre half back for us, that was his best game for us,” Millar said. “He’s been quite lively in a number of performances throughout the year, but that was his best four-quarter performance. “Lachy Murphy-Dale just had a really consistent four-quarter match. “Brody Ricardi hadn’t had the best last month – his tackling numbers and score involvements have been really high but he hadn’t been hitting the scoreboard, he’s been working hard over the last month, so I was pleased he was able to get a return on his effort. “Brody’s second quarter was one to remember, he could’ve easily kicked five or six goals, and it really changed the momentum of the game.” The win solidifies Myrtleford’s position in the top three with less than a month until finals, but it’s going to be a tough run home. The Saints are due to face Wangaratta Rovers (first) and North Albury (fourth) in the run-up to finals, but they’ll first have to get through the sixth-placed Wodonga Bulldogs, who embarrassed the tricolours in their earlier meeting. “We’ve probably got the toughest run home with Wodonga, Rovers and North Albury,” Millar said. “If we win this, I think it helps [secure finals], but our focus at the moment is not what three or four weeks could look like, it’s about trying to get as many consistent performances as we can, and if we’re good enough to get to finals, we’ll get there. “All our energy is going into beating the Bulldogs this week.” In other matches, it was a successful day for the reserves, who took the win 10.8 (68) to 6.9 (45), while the thirds fought hard in their 3.4 (22) to 14.20 (104) loss.

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