After one of the saddest weeks in the club’s history, St Mary’s has produced an impressive performance under the lights of Anthony Costa Oval, handing St Joseph’s a 65-point hiding.
The Saints mourned the deaths of women’s team player Brittany McLaughlin and former president Rob McCurdy in the lead-up to the clash with their grand final combatants.
“It’s obviously a tragic position for everyone associated,” co-coach Luke Rayner said.
“From our perspective, we kept things quite simple, and certainly opened our arms to all around the club.
“There are so many great people at St Mary’s, and also a lot of professional avenues that are afforded to players these days, whether it be through AFL Barwon or through St Mary’s itself.
“We didn’t touch on it too much. What we spoke about was just that: ‘We love St Mary’s, we love the jumper, and we get the opportunity to put that jumper on and represent it and, in some way, we try to represent those two previous members of our club through our performance on Saturday night’.”
After a tight opening quarter, in which the home team lost veteran Jarryd Garner (hamstring) and youngster Josh Sanders (calf), St Mary’s took control of the contest with a five-goal to two second quarter.
The Saints opened up a 30-point half-time buffer before they pushed the margin to 43 points at the final change, before banging home eight goals to four in the last quarter to record a 21.8 (134) to 11.3 (69) victory.
“Night games are always a little bit interesting too, I think, and it does take a while for adjustment, I reckon, from a player group point of view, and that goes for both sides,” Rayner said.
“I’m pleased with how the boys were able to push through.
“We were down to 20 men pretty much at quarter time, so it was a pretty big load for 20 players in the end.
“We were really proud of how they were able to push through and sustain a really high level of pressure, which I think was the key to us winning the game.”
Midfielder Bayley Cockerill continued his impressive start to the season, while talisman Paddy Dowling produced a Paddy Dowling-type performance, kicking a season-best six goals.
However, it was the four-goal return from key forward Lachie Peck in just his fourth match back from a knee reconstruction that pleased Rayner.
“He’s just really loving being back out there, and really enjoying his opportunity to contribute again,” Rayner said.
“He’s a genuine key forward. He can play that deep key forward role really, really well, and provides a great contest.
“But he also really enjoys going into the ruck, so he’s a great foil for Fletch (Hughes) when we need to give him a rest.
“For him to get a little bit of reward on the scoreboard is just terrific for him.”
Rayner expects Garner’s hamstring to sideline him for at least a month, which is not ideal timing for St Mary’s
The Saints will lose two-time Mathieson medallist Harry Benson for the majority of the remainder of the home-and-away season following next week’s meeting with North Shore.
James Hose was named best for St Joseph’s. He kicked two goals along with Jack Mullen, Max Adams and Jack Jovanovic.
Newtown & Chilwell maintained top spot on the ladder after seeing off Leopold by 36 points at Memorial Park, 17.11 (113) to 12.5 (77)
The Towners led by as much as 60 points late in the third quarter, but were outscored six goals to two in the final term.
Veteran Liam Nash kicked five goals for Newtown & Chilwell, while Darcy Brislane managed three for the Polders.
A second five-goal haul in as many weeks from the dynamic Jack Sarcevic spearheaded Bell Park to a 64-point win over Grovedale at Burdoo Reserve.
He received good support from Tyler Pidgeon (four goals) and debutant Ayden Osborne (two) in the 17.12 (114) to 7.8 (50) victory.
Joe McCarthy was the only multiple goalkicker for the Tigers, finishing with two majors.
Geelong West retained the Ron Sells Cup, moving into the top five after a 75-point victory over North Shore at Windsor Park.
Lachie Horniblow was the standout, finishing with six goals, while Tom Handley and Luke Wittman each kicked three, in the 19.16 (130) to 8.7 (55) result.
Colac has outlasted St Albans by 31 points to record its second win of the season, and first at Australian Lamb Company Stadium, 17.13 (115) to 12.12 (84).
The Tigers led by just eight points at half-time before breaking the game open with a five-goal to two third quarter.
Micah Robb and Kane Smartt each kicked four goals for the home team, while Lara recruit Tom Gunther returned from injury to contribute four goals of his own.
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