Tara Murray
Burnside Heights continued its good form making it three wins on the trot in the Essendon District Football League division 2.
Facing ladder leaders Oak Park, the Bears played four quarters for solid football to come away with their best win of the season.
Bears coach Cole Harvey said they were starting to click and it was showing on the scoreboard.
“It has been a big learning curve,” he said. “Learning our system and the way we want them to play and us as coaches.
“It’s been about playing together and playing our roles. Since the Taylors Lakes game everything has turned.
“It’s some reward for effort with the guys busting their arses every week.”
On Saturday, the Bears faced an Oak Park side that was coming off a rare loss.
The Bears led by two points at quarter time and then by nine points at the main break.
A five goal to three third quarter opened up the margin, with the Bears finishing it off to win 16.15 (111)-12.8 (80).
Harvey said it was a really good game of football.
“It was a really competitive game,” he said. “They have such strong bodies and we matched it with them.
“They kept coming at us all day. They controlled play a few times. We were able to absorb that when they came late.
“Both sides used the ball really well at times.”
Jacob Elia, Jordan Hughes, Jack Wylie and Samuel Beckinsale kicked two goals each for the Bears.
Harvey said captain Jordan Hughes was clearly best on ground.
He also highlighted the games of Ferdinando Petrarca, Liam Mercieca and Hayden Da Cruz.
Despite knocking off Oak Park, Harvey said the Kangaroos still remain the team to beat.
“I was talking to Todd [Clark] before and after the game, they have a few out,” he said.
“We had four out, I reckon they had six or seven out.
“Talls like Lachlan Ronaldson, Hirsi Twomey, the Hotchkin brothers [Taylor and Jesse].
“If there was a day we were going to get them, yesterday [Saturday] was the day.”
The Bears sit fourth on the ladder, percentage ahead of Coburg Districts.
Having said pre-season that it would be a close competition and very unpredictable, Harvey said nothing has changed.
“It is so tight and competitive,” he said.
“It’s so even. The Sunbury Kangaroos touched up Hadfield on the weekend and we get them next game it will be a great challenge.
“Northern Saints beat Taylors Lakes, but have a few going overseas. East Sunbury is battling a little bit but they have the talent on the list to scare a few.”
Harvey said they would likely be fighting it out for fourth spot with Coburg Districts and the Sunbury Kangaroos.
Meanwhile in division 1, Hillside easily accounted for Tullamarine, winning 15.16 (106)-6.5 (41).
Bailey Ryan continued his good form kicking three goals, as did Lucas Failli.
