Keilor goes on goal spree

Dean Galea. Pic Marco De Luca

Keilor put in a dominate display to seal its second win of the Essendon District Football League premier division season.

The Blues started well to lead Essendon Doutta Stars by 28 points at the first break and continued the momentum for the rest of the game.

The Blues lifted their game to another level in the middle two quarters, kicking 17 goals to five, before finishing with another six goals in the last.

Final scores were 29.20 (194)-9.9 (63).

Blues coach Mick McGuane said it was a dominant display of football against a side which challenged them until the final siren.

“The ball movement was good and we had a lot of the footy,” he said.

“We then had two guys in [Dean] Galea and [Josh] Martin in front of goal.”

Galea kicked nine goals, while Martin kicked seven – more than half the team’s goals between them.

McGuane said Galea could have easily kicked 13 goals.

“He kicked 9.7 and took 15 marks, the ball use to him was elite,” he said.

“He could have kicked 13 goals by his standards … we expect him to kick some of those goals he missed and he knows that.”

Martin has 11 goals from his first three games with the Blues. McGuane said they see him moving into the midfield after finding his feet at this level.

The win has the Blues 2-1, after losing their first match of the year on Good Friday to Strathmore.

McGuane described the team as the
walking wounded in the first game and
said they looked like they were fatigued late in the game. They have addressed a few
things since.

The Blues this week face West Coburg, with McGuane saying they can’t take them lightly.

McGuane this season has help at the top, with Galea stepping up to co-coach. Last season Luke McGuane held the same role.

McGuane said it was about helping players develop further.

“A lot of clubs are aching for coaches,” he said. “We need to get as many people as well-rounded as possible for the next lot of coaches.

“Dean loves it and is loving the responsibility.

“He has taken it on board and is passionate and he cares and wants to provide the best environment. He’s always thinking about footy and always ringing me with ideas.”

In division 1, Hillside returned to the winners’ list with a 30-point win against Oak Park. Nothing separated the two teams in the first half, before the Sharks kicked away in the second half to win 16.9 (105)-11.9 (75).

Taylors Lakes couldn’t make it two in a row, losing to Airport West, 17.17 (119)-14.8 (92).

In division 2, Burnside Heights got its first win of the season, defeating Hadfield, 20.16 (136)-15.9 (99).