St Albans has claimed its first Round One win in 18 years in style, handing Lara a 138-point thumping at St Albans Reserve.
The Supersaints’ score of 22.20 (152) was its highest since it defeated North Shore by the same margin in mid-2019.
They kept the Cats to 2.2 (14) for the contest, with both goals kicked by recruit Lachie Grima.
For first-game coach Rick Munn, it was how his players didn’t deviate from what was expected despite the ease in which they took control of the contest.
“We’re a big role side, and so we want players to play their role,” he told krockfootball.live after the game.
“I don’t think we went away from our roles.
“And then selflessly running to open up space for others, especially forward of the ball – emptying out.
“I think we have some certain roles that players play, and they might not have gotten the end of it, but they were playing really important roles, especially to isolate ‘Higgo’ (Tom Higgins) deep there a couple of times, especially early.
“The role compliance is what we’re most proud of and what we spoke about after the game.”
Seven new faces played their first senior matches for St Albans, with all having an impact, especially a quartet of forwards that kicked 13 goals between them.
Higgins, who had good mate and emerging Geelong defender Lawson Humphries among his supporters in the crowd, finished with three goals, while Clunes recruit Nic Clarke led the way with five.
Point Cook addition Jim Botsaris kicked three goals and was a handful with his pace and nose for a goal, while teenager Lucas Gray (ex-Torquay) contributed two majors.
St Albans will face Geelong West following the Easter Break, with Munn keen to carry the momentum into a winnable game against the Giants.
Labelling themselves a “division three” club in the GFNL competition, he’s keen to climb into the next tier.
“We’re not a pretty side, and we don’t want to play pretty footy,” Munn said.
“We’re going with a certain mix, and we’re creating some Div 1 habits, and that’s the only way you can rise up the ladder.
“It starts with the standards and the players really buying into it, and we’re fortunate enough that we’ve brought in 15 to 20 new players and they’ve really raised the standards.
“And then the current playing group or the playing group from last year really bought in, and they’re really driving each other.”
While Munn’s first game in charge of was one to remember, one had to feel for new Cats mentor Brett Henderson.
“I haven’t had a drink for a while. I reckon I might start with a bottle or two of red tonight,” he joked.
“I’m not going to throw everything out; we’ve worked really hard.
“We’re really young, and I think a couple of boys just get caught up in the moment and don’t sort of take on board some of the instructions.
“So we’ve just got to get better at giving them the instructions for them to follow through on it because at the moment we just played so skinny today.
“We were just up and down the whole time and kicking to the same spot. They got numbers there, and they just bounced out with hands.”
The Cats will face Grovedale in the annual Spirit of Anzac match in Round 2.
In the rounds other games;
Newtown & Chilwell registered its first win under Steve Johnson after outlasting Bell Park in another thriller between the two clubs at Elderslie Reserve.
Trailing by five points at three-quarter time, the Eagles kicked the only three goals of the final term, including two to young gun Ben Pennisi, to claim a 12.9 (81) to 10.10 victory.
Mitch Dodos kicked another three goals for Newtown & Chilwell, who lost GWS Giants VFL-listed midfielder Perry Lewis-Smith to a concussion early in the contest.
The Dragons had access to Geelong VFL trio Osca Riccardi, Hamish Lucas and Jack Sarcevic, with the latter impressing with four goals.
Colac kicked its highest GFNL score and the seventh-highest tally in GFNL history, obliterating an inexperienced North Shore by 264 points at Central Reserve.
A 15-goal third quarter highlighted the 41.27 (273) to 1.3 (9) romp.
15 Tigers finished with a goal, led by six from Joffy Simpkin and Luke Hillman.
However, Ben McCarthy, who was one of the seven not to contribute a major, was named their best.
Debutant Declan Clark kicked the Seagulls’ lone major eight minutes into the contest.
St Mary’s showed there will be life following the departure of numerous premiership heroes in the off-season with an 82-point victory over Geelong West at Anthony Costa Oval.
The Saints outscored the Giants each quarter, with six goals in the second and last terms to the southern end contributing to the 17.12 (114) to 4.8 (32) result.
In his first match back in navy blue and green after a year at Geelong Amateur, Paddy Dowling kicked four goals.
Hamstring injuries suffered by Noah Biggs and Jesse Travaglini and a rib issue for Charlie Vallelonga took some gloss off the victory.
South Barwon retained the John Nankervis Shield after posting a comfortable 76-point win over Grovedale at Burdoo Reserve.
The Swans were never seriously threatened as they posted a 20.17 (137) to 9.7 (61) result.
Small forward Lachie Noble finished with five goals, captain Matt Caldow kicked four, and Fraser Fort managed three majors.
In the absence of Tom Gillett, the returning Leigh Ellis, veteran midfielder Nathan Deans, and under-18s graduate Bailey McDonald each kicked two goals for the Tigers.
