By Callum 'Articles' Ludwig
Lilydale managed to pick up a couple of wins against local rivals Mooroolbark away from home over the weekend.
Starting the day with a wet, chilly and sleepy 8.50am start, the U19.5s managed to hold on to keep out the Mustangs in a desperate one-point win, 7.6, 48 to 7.7, 49.
With usual full-forward Lachlan Baxter out due to a shift at Genesis Health and Fitness, Bailey ‘Bounces’ Bateman stepped up to kick a couple of goals throughout the game and showcase his acting credentials in the dying seconds to help get Lilydale over the line, joined by ice-man Ryan ‘Ninja’ Haley who also kicked two including the winning goal for the second week running. Austin ‘Oz’ White, Bailey ‘Tall Skinny Guy’ Grant and the birthday boy and serial scab Zac ‘Scags’ Scagnetti all bagged a goal each.
Oz led all comers to take best on ground honours in a dogged performance, followed by Zac ‘Chicken Schnitty’ Carolan, Ashton ‘Dobby’ Dobbin, Mitchell ‘Gym Rat’ Van de Maat, Luke Phillips and Lachlan ‘Dangerous Dust’ Isbester.
The desire shown by the Dales to hold on for the win was embodied by a couple of big knocks suffered by Luke ‘Turkey’ Bates, who was quite worse for wear as a delayed concussion kicked in after the game and brought up breakfast, and Liam Cox with a huge clash of heads leaving him a bit sore and sorry following his first game on return to the club. However, it would be ideal if their own teammates Astin Bucci and Luke Phillips dealt the damage to the opposition going forward!
The win sees the U19.5s go two games clear in fifth spot.
The Reserves came out following a brief intermission for the women’s game and managed to secure a victory, doubling Mooroolbark’s score 2.6, 18 to 5.6, 36.
A slow start saw Lilydale trailing at quarter time and goalless, before Sean ‘Ranga’ Hadju got the Dales going in the second with a beautiful snap on the run/jog and James ‘Jimmy’ MacFarlane kicking one the halftime siren to give the Dales the lead and Jarrod ‘Blue Clouds’ Thompson free dinner on Thursday night.
Harry ‘Tiktoks’ Mitchell ended up finishing the day with a customary two goals that snuck him into the league’s top five leading goalkickers and Ranga grabbed another to end up with 2 for the day.
Alan Love dusted off the boots in a big, gut-busting return, stepping out of the coach’s box and into the best players list in what was definitely a deserved recognition of his output on the day. He was joined by the reported Alex Carrigan, Matthew ‘Dip’ Di Pietrantonio, Jack ‘Weasel’ Leithhead, Will ‘Fishy’ Pleming and Mitchell ‘Peanut’ Blake.
Lilydale leapfrogged Mooroolbark with the win to take the eighth spot on the ladder.
The Seniors faced the arduous task of taking on the undefeated Mooroolbark side and went down in a respectable 12.12, 84 to 5.5, 35 loss.
Jayden ‘Jib’ Depace was Lilydale’s best on the day as he battled in the midfield and down forward, closely followed by Mitchell ‘DeFran’ De Franceschi who was admirable in a shutdown role of former North Melbourne player Aaron Mullett. Jordan ‘Jaw’s Jaworski, Liam ‘Jeffa’ Jeffs, Lachlan ‘Old English’ Cox and Nick ‘Noodles’ Del Biondo rounded out Lilydale’s best.
There were no multiplied goalkickers for Lilydale on the day, with one each for Macauley ‘Bags’ Beckwith, Jaws, the man who resembles a Thumb Thumb from Spy Kids Isaac ‘Bazinga’ Biasuzzo, Jack Bateman and a long bomb from Jack Nichols that marked his first senior goal and earned him a knock to the nether region in the process.
The Dales remain in ninth on the Seniors ladder.
Next week, Lilydale welcomes Bayswater to ‘The Nest’ for Round 14.
