Trevor Jackson
Mount Burr 17.24 (126) d Nangwarry 5.7 (37)
PLENTY of hype surrounded the opening round of the 2023 Mid South East football season, with Nangwarry boasting the services of Dane Swan on their home deck.
The game was well attended accordingly, but it was Mount Burr that stole the Saints’ thunder and claimed an easy victory.
The contest was close for the opening term, with just four points separating the two sides.
Whether it was the Swan factor or simply the Mozzies shaking off a bit of rust, winning coach Reece Duncan was not sure.
“Nangwarry was up and about, but we just wanted to focus on our game and do what we wanted to do,” he said.
“Whether it was him or first-round jitters, whatever you might call it – once we started implementing the things we spoke about it was a lot cleaner game on our behalf.”
Duncan said once his players settled down the game plan began to come together.
The Mozzies began to find their feet and banged on six majors in the second term to just one from the hosts.
That put the Saints on notice and they were unable to fight back as the Mozzies stifled their attacking forays and pushed hard to link up the ground and score.
By the long break Mount Burr was up to the tune of 36 points and simply continued to build on the lead from there.
They added a further five majors in the third term, before four more in the final stanza to run the game out for an easy win.
Dylan Ridley kicked four goals, While Jack Gregory, Josh Wallis, Taylor Allen and Will Bowering added two each.
A host of others added single goals as the Mozzies simply played their own game.
“It is pleasing to have so many options going forward,” Duncan said of his goal kickers.
“We had guys from our back-line, a guy from the bench kick a goal … it is good to have so many avenues.”
Allen, Cory Gamble and Sam Wallis were the three best players, who Duncan said were worthy recipients.
“Taylor is still a young guy and continues to build on his game,” he said.
“He is a competitive beast and gets in and does what he needs to do.
“Corey was a welcome addition in the off-season.
“Everyone at Mount Burr knows what he is about.
“He is a good hard football player and got a lot of the ball.
“Sam Wallis, as always, repelled everything that came his way.
“He doesn’t get beaten.
“Those three guys set the tone but I couldn’t fault anyone.
“Everyone did what they needed to do, just those guys stood out.”
As for standing out, it is Allen’s second year as assistant coach.
Duncan said he is still a young leader and had taken to the role well.
“He is footy mad, he loves his footy, loves the club and loves the boys,” he said.
“He wants to take that step in leadership so I threw it to him last year with a bit of guidance and he did a good job.
“He is vice captain again this year and we are looking for him to build on that leadership.”
At the end of the day the Mozzies claimed a comfortable win, but Duncan was more pleased with how they responded to early pressure as the game unfolded.
“The final result was good, but it was scrappy and an even affair in the first quarter,” he said.
“I told the boys the first 10 minutes would be scrappy and a hot footy – it is all about settling first.
“It took us a quarter but we settled and played the footy we wanted to play.”
