Tara Murray
The top of the table clash between Keilor and Pascoe Vale turned into a one-sided affair with the Blues remaining undefeated in the Essendon District Football League premier division.
In an eagerly anticipated match, the Blues showed why they are the premiership favourites with a 14.16 (100)-6.5 (41) win.
Coach Mick McGuane said it was a really impressive performance by the side.
“There was a great balance of offensive and defensive,” he said. “We scored 100 points in those conditions and kept them to 35. They are a side that averages 100 points a game.
“That is the way that we build our game on. We’re number one for offensives and number one for defensive.
“You can’t pick and choose when you have effort.”
The Blues set the win up in the first quarter with seven goals and 12 scoring shots to one, to lead by 41 points at the first break.
McGuane said it was the Panthers that were the better earlier in the quarter.
“The start is always at the forefront of our minds,” he said.
“We started slowly and they were really good in terms of defensive pressure. After about 12 to 14 minutes we started to control the game and in the last eight to 10 minutes we kicked six out of our seven goals and opened the game up as we had the wind.
“The rain came and the wind still favoured one end. We were really good after half time.”
The margin was 33 points at the main break.
After that time the Panthers were kept to just one goal as the Blues increased the lead in trying conditions.
McGuane said they were able to strangle them defensively to make sure of another good win.
The Blues had 11 goal kickers in the win with Harrison Kennedy, Corey Ellis and Nathan Colenso kicking two goals apiece.
McGuane said the ability to have the spread of goal kickers they have had this season, continues to be a point of difference in the competition,
“The forwards we have the last couple of years, most of the personal are gone,” he said.
“It’s a point of different that is coming to fruition. We had 11 goal kickers yesterday [Saturday], it’s starting to fall into play.
“It’s not a reaction, it’s proactive coaching. More pleasing we were missing [Damien] Cavka, [Keighton] Matofai-Forbes, Ben Stillman and Jack Brown got a VFL [Victorian Football League] call up at 10am.
“Jovan Petric, who had eight scoring shots against Essendon Doutta Stars was back playing with the Western Jets.
“It’s working at the moment.”
In a scary sign for opposition sides, McGuane said they still have plenty of things to work on in the back half of the season.
After 10 rounds, the Blues are on top, two games clear of the Panthers.
“I think so,” McGaune said about improvement.
“We’ve got a lot of young guys that have not played a lot of senior footy or senior footy together.
“Everything is pretty good at the moment. Hopefully we maintain a healthy list and competitive edge and do not get complacent.”
The Blues this Saturday face Airport West.
