Behnk with a bang! Tigers tyro steals the show on return

St Bedes/Mentone Tigers forward Jack Behnk powered his side to a 17.8 (110) to 13.7 (85) victory over fellow top four side AJAX, with a commanding 11 goals on return from a medial strain.

The VFL-listed youngster started in a mood, slotting four majors in the first quarter, leading Jackas coach Lachlan Buszard to concede that his side ‘had no answers’ for the precocious talent.

“Everything he did turned to gold, and he is a beautiful player to watch when he is in full flight,” Buszard said.

Tigers coach Brad Berry echoed Buszard’s sentiments. “He’s just rapt to be back amongst his mates playing footy – he’s very popular amongst the boys. He was diligent in his rehab and seeing him get rewarded today was very pleasing.”

The outing marks the second time Behnk has crossed the double-digit threshold for goals in a match this season, after he put 12 past Glen Eira/Old McKinnon in Round 3. Behnk leads the Premier C goalkicking table with 35 majors, despite missing six matches.

In news that bodes well for Tigers faithful as the finals edge closer, the Mentone natives fielded arguably their strongest side for the year, with important figures like Zac Calvez and Jack Hellier also taking the field after their respective layoffs. The Tigers will however be sweating on scans for skipper Lachlan Palfrey, who injured his AC joint just 20 seconds into the contest.

Other players to stand out were Jake Ryder, who Berry says has ‘gone to another level’, Jake Harding and Pat Tyquin, who combined well to kickstart offensive chains from the back half, and Max Sullivan, whose front half pressure was key to the victory.

Berry also praised his brigade of assistant coaches, for their work in revisiting aspects of the Tigers’ gameplan over the recent break, culminating in a strong victory over a team that handed the Tigers their biggest loss of the season in their first meeting.

Beaumaris’ peerless form continued, with their tenth consecutive victory coming in the form of a 20.11 (131) to 8.3 (51) domination of Mazenod. Eight goals in the first quarter set the tone for Josh Bourke’s men, who registered a professional performance in the absence of two key needle movers, in Big V skipper Callum Linehan, and dominant ruckman, Callum Heath.

“(It was) probably in our eyes, one of our best performances of the year,” offered Sharks coach Josh Bourke. “We continue to be really pleased with the kids; however our senior players were terrific, and certainly led from the front.”

Riley Virture, Riley Mihailovic, Joel Cusack, Riley Wilce and Liam Hayes all drew Bourke’s praise, alongside Jai Florent, whose four goals and constant presence were key to the victory.

“Jai was absolutely everywhere, and is putting together a fantastic season,” Bourke said.

Mazenod’s engine room, led by skipper Matt Fewings, is an ever-present threat. “We really respect Mazenod’s ability around the footy and in the contest, so we were really focused on ensuring we matched them in that space,” Bourke said.

Nodders coach Peter Banfield praised Beaumaris’ ability to do just that. “They were too good, too much class. They’re very good at getting from inside to outside,” he said.

In Alphington, ladder leaders Parkdale Vultures took care of business against Parkside, registering a 16.13 (109) to 8.6 (54) victory, in a game Vultures coach Owen Lalor described as ‘not a great spectacle’.

“It was a bit of a ‘cobwebs’ game,” he said. “There were lots of skill errors and fumbling from both sides.”

“Parkside was really strong for two and a half quarters, particularly around contest and pressure. With about 10 minutes to go in the third, things really started to click for us; we were more clinical than we had been with our ball movement, and our own pressure really lifted.”

Last year’s leading goalkicker Mitch Brown slotted six majors, with Lalor pleased to see his star forward moving freely after missing considerable chunks of football with two calf injuries and a concussion this season.

Matthew Emmanouil, labelled a ‘barometer’ for his side, was again influential in midfield, while Jarrod Peake looked ‘very fresh’ after the break, having played every game this season in the combative ruck position.

Devils coach Rick Frost was pleased with his side’s ability to match the Vultures for large portions of the match.

“We kicked with the wind in the first quarter, and Parkdale kept us honest, using the ball well to own possession, killing time,” he said.

“In the second, we were also competitive, going in marginally down at half time. As the game progressed, they (Parkdale) played really well, out-scoring us, before running away with it in the last. I was proud of our boys for keeping the intensity as high as possible throughout the game.”

“I was very pleased with Lewis Daniels giving us an option up forward, and Riley Williams was brilliant on the ball. Matthew Holden racked up the stats on the wing, and Hemi Dietrich strung another excellent game together up forward,” Frost finished.

Marcellin coach Bernie Dineen labelled his side’s 19.13 (127) to 7.12 (54) loss at the hands of Glen Eira/Old McKinnon, as ‘disappointing’.

“I put it to the boys that it was a crucial game, not only in the context of our season, but where we’re looking to go beyond this year, so to lose in the manner we did, was very disappointing.”

“We started well; I thought we controlled the game for the first 25 minutes, kicking into a strong breeze,” he said.

“They changed things up in the second, rolling an extra up to the stoppage to quell the clean ball use we’d had in the first – we lost our competitive edge around the contest, and attack on the man and the ball.”

“The third quarter was an abomination, not around effort, but rather execution and smarts. We floated the idea of rolling one behind the ball, but it wouldn’t have helped as most of their goals were kicked from 40 metres out, on the run.”

“Credit to them, they played the ground and the conditions better; they lowered the eyes,” Dineen finished.

Injuries and inaccuracies saw the margin blow out – the Eagles finished the contest with just 17 fit players – with Dineen adamant his side could have given a better account of themselves under different circumstances.

The result sees the Gryphons seemingly safe from relegation – a far cry from their poor start to the season – while Marcellin are up to their eyeballs in a fight to stay in the division, sitting eighth, above Parkside on percentage only.

Five majors to Riley Simmons steered PEGS to a 15.12 (102) to 8.5 (53) victory over Prahran, at Toorak Park.

The Bombers played the conditions well, utilising the breeze in the first and third quarters to create, and extend upon, a buffer.

Mitch Baker-West continued his strong season, joining Simmons in coach Rob Kerr’s bests, while youngster Otto Langtry-Kierce enjoyed his first nomination in Two Blues’ coach Craige Milward’s bests, having started the season in the reserves.

Fifth-placed PEGS now face an ‘eight-point game’ against fourth-placed St Bedes/Mentone, with a win necessary to keep the flame of an unlikely finals berth alive, while the story of Prahran’s season has been all but written, with a player unavailability crisis the likes of which are rarely seen, condemning them to a winless campaign to this point.

Prahran faces a daunting trip to Beaumaris this week, while AJAX host Parkside. Mazenod welcome Marcellin to Glen Waverley and Parkdale Vultures face off against Glen Eira Old/McKinnon.