Keilor suffered its first loss of the Essendon District Football League season on Saturday, going down to Aberfeldie by 49 points.
However, the score wasn’t a true reflection of how close the match was, with the Blues on top for large portions of the game.
PICTURE GALLERY: Keilor v Aberfeldie
Both teams went into the contest at Keilor Recreation Reserve in good form, and it was the home side that made the better start. Keilor kicked three goals in the opening quarter to take a seven-point lead into the first break.
Aberfeldie started to warm up in the second term, but inaccuracy in front of goal halted the club’s charge. The Two Blues kicked 3.8, while Keilor made the most of its chances with 4.1.
Aberfeldie showed its class after the main break and produced an outstanding 30 minutes of football.
Keilor’s six-point lead quickly vanished and an eight-goal-to-none quarter sealed the 17.17 (119) to 9.16 (70) win for the visitors.
Blues’ coach Mick McGuane gave credit to Aberfeldie for its third term heroics.
“They were clearly the better team in that third quarter,” he said.
“They dominated possession, they used the ball a lot better than what we did.
“We had six players that have played less than nine senior games of footy in that team.
‘‘They are all kids who have played for Keilor juniors and have been given an opportunity to play senior footy.
“It is a great education for them when you’re coming up against AFL-listed top talent who have been on either Essendon’s list or Geelong’s list in [Mark] Blake’s case.”
Keilor slipped from first to third on the premier division ladder. Avondale Heights is the division’s only undefeated team.
Keilor will take on seventh-placed Maribyrnong Park this weekend.
McGuane is expecting another tough encounter.
“Marby Park are always tough to beat,” he said.
“We will train with method and train with purpose and try and get the boys back into the winning frame of mind.”
