A DOMINANT four-quarter performance saw the Mallee Eagles record their biggest win of the season with a 125-point thrashing of last year’s grand finalists Kerang on Saturday.
The Eagles led from start to finish, with a six goal to one first term helping establish their advantage over the young, developing Blues.
Mallee refused to take their foot off the pedal after establishing a 36-point lead at the first break, with Kerang managing just one goal in each quarter in the 22.21 (153) to 4.4 (28) defeat.
The win sees the Eagles retain second place on the Central Murray ladder and close to within two games of unbeaten ladder leaders Woorinen, with Kerang sitting three games outside the top five in seventh with three wins for the season.
It proved to be a much-needed percentage boosting win for the home side, with Mallee Eagles co-coach Harry Allen highlighting the need for his team to get back to playing the consistent football they know they are capable of following their two week bye earlier this month.
“Coming off the double break and even though it was a big enough win against (Lake) Boga last week, we knew that we just needed to get back to playing the footy that we know we can play,” Allen said.
“When we play well, we’re hard to score against, which we proved on Saturday and then we were efficient in front of goals as well.
“We had 40-odd shots on goal and we still missed enough, but all in all to score what we did and keep them to just four goals for the game, that’s the Lalbert footy of 2025 that will hopefully take us to the promised land if we can continue it.”
The Blues went into match without several key players, with experienced duo Marty Kelly and Bradlee Pay both on the side lines.
Their absence forced Kerang to continue down the development path, with the Blues imparting more time and experience into their young and developing midfielders.
That left them exposed at times to the Mallee Eagles midfield depth, with Brent Macleod, Brady Fordham and Harry Allen all among their better players.
“It was one of those days were everyone really contributed, but Brent Macleod was probably our best I felt,” Allen said.
“He (Macleod) kicked five goals and spent a bit of time forward.
“Clinton Cummins was one of our better players as well and Isaiah Bull was really solid and has provided plenty of run in the absence of Zac (O’Meara) over the last couple of weeks and has given us that run and carry off half back.
“They (Kerang) have the new generation coming through now and were very young and they still have a few players that we were wary of in the midfield, but I think our overall class was an advantage.
“We got our transitional game back in terms of our pressure at the contest and getting the ball going our way.
“On the occasions they did get the ball forward we were able to create pressure and from our back half we were able to spread hard and wide and make the ground big and really open the ground up that way.”
Scott Pay, Bohden McKnight and Tyson Clingan were among Kerang’s better players, along with youngsters Hugh Bremner, Flynn McKnight and Cooper Meehan.
The Mallee Eagles will travel to Tooleybuc to take on the Saints this Saturday, while will play Lake Boga in a match that will likely end the losing team’s faint finals hopes.
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Mallee Eagles | 6.6 | 10.11 | 17.17 | 22.21 | 153 |
| Kerang | 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 28 |
VOTES
3 – Brent Macleod (Mallee Eagles)
2 – Isaiah Bull (Mallee Eagles)
1 – Clinton Cummins (Mallee Eagles)
