No choccies for Saints

A DEVESTATING final quarter spelled disaster for the Myrtleford Alpine Saints in their first senior football match at home in season 2025. After keeping pace with Lavington Panthers for three quarters on Easter Sunday in wet conditions, the Saints fell away to eventually go down 5.12 (42) to the Panthers’ 10.17 (77). The match was intense from the first siren and made for scrappy footy early, as the contested game was evenly fought out between the two sides. It was a tough day for the forwards, but ex-AFL gun Matt Taberner opened the scoring for the Saints in his first game of the year. There was barely a kick in it for the first half, with Myrtleford leading by a point at the major break. The Panthers came out with intent in the third quarter, kicking the first two goals and putting the Saints’ backline under repeat pressure to lead by 11 points heading into the final quarter. Momentum was against the Saints, with the Panthers able to convert on their chances, kicking four goals on the trot to close out the game. Myrtleford coach Craig Millar said their second half was simply not up to scratch. “I thought our second half was extremely disappointing,” he said. “Lavington in the second half were super – we kicked four points in the third quarter and they kicked two goals four, they definitely had the ascendancy in the third quarter and in the last quarter they really stepped it up. “That was probably the disappointing part, we didn’t play the way we have been playing over preseason and last week, and we need to get back to that because we know that works for us. “We just need to get back to the way we play footy, we know that works for us, and unfortunately we were just inconsistent with that on Sunday.” The Saints will be without Lachy Murphy-Dale for at least three months after he sustained a broken jaw colliding with a spoiling fist in a contest. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, with several Saints standing up and performing well. Riley Smith was incredible in the ruck and around the ground, while Riley Calvene, Zac Pethybridge, and Simon Curtis were all impressive. “There was no malice in it, it was just one of those unfortunate accidents in footy,” Millar said of Murphy-Dale’s injury. “It was just one of those heavy knocks and he came off second best, but we won’t have him for the next three months which is really disappointing, but it’s an opportunity for someone else to take hold of. “That was Riley’s [Calvene] best game for us at the club, I think he’s found a place down back for us - his desperation and commitment at the ball was a real feature, his endeavour and appetite to be a real competitor stood out. “Simon’s been consistent since he came across to the club a few years ago, Zac Pethybridge was good, Riley Smith, our ruckman, was outstanding, and Matty Munro’s started the season well. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t have enough contributors on the day, and they just had a more rounded match with more contributors.” The Saints have a short turnaround for their next outing, an ANZAC Day blockbuster against the Wangaratta Magpies at the Wangaratta Showgrounds this Friday. The Magpies are undefeated this year and are coming off a hearty 11-point win over Yarrawonga, and will present a significant challenge for the Saints. “It is a short turnaround but they’re on a short turnaround as well, we’re both working on a five-day break which is really unusual for community footy, but we love the fact we’ve been given the opportunity to play on ANZAC Day,” Millar said. “It’s an important day on the Australian calendar and we feel privileged to be a part of that. “We’ll just have to make sure we represent our community with distinction on Friday in what should be a good game.” Footy action this ANZAC Day commences at the Wangaratta Showgrounds from 1pm with the reserves, followed by the seniors at 3pm and the thirds at 5.30pm. In other matches from the weekend, Myrtleford’s reserves fell 10.3 (63) to 10.7 (76), while the thirds were demolished 2.1 (13) to 22.11 (143).

No choccies for Saints

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