Burnside Heights has caused yet another upset this Essendon District Football League division 2 season.
Having already knocked off Coburg Districts for the first time, the Bears took an even bigger scalp against Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The Fog entered the game in second spot with just two losses for the season and started the better of the two sides, leading by 20 points at quarter-time.
The Bears weren’t daunted and once they hit the front in the second quarter they stayed there, winning 14.11 (95)-11.11 (77).
Bears president Justin Peagram said the result was up there with their best-ever wins.
“It was a ripper of a game and we played really well,” he said. “The guys went out there with a bit of focus.
“The Coburg Districts’ win was certainly a good one as they had belted us around [but] Moonee Valley is one of the teams pushing for a finals’ spot. It’s the first time we’ve beat a team pushing for finals.”
The Bears trailed at quarter-time, but Peagram said the scoreboard could have been a lot closer had they made the most of their opportunities.
They opened up their forward line and it proved to be a match-winning move.
“Ruckman Anthony Fawcus turned the game around. He roamed around the forward 50 and took marks and kicked a couple of goals,” Peagram said.
“Our midfield then got on top.”
After kicking the first couple of goals of the second half, the Bears remained in control.
The Fog kicked a couple of goals in junk time, to bring the final margin back.
Jordan Hughes, who kicked three goals, controlled the midfield and was the side’s best.
Fawcus was brilliant, as was Marcus Giuliano, while Vincent Angelone was good in his return to the side.
Josh Covelli kicked five goals, after being held goalless the week before.
Peagram said the result continued to build the playing group’s confidence.
With the exception of their loss to East Sunbury in the previous round, they have been playing some good football.
“We’ve got 10 or so changes from last season,” Peagram said.
“On paper we’ve got a really good side and it’s about getting that belief. We’ve ticked off a few boxes and Aidan [Stott] is a pretty proud coach. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The win keeps the Bears two games outside the top four ahead of a match with bottom-side Hadfield.
The Bears will find themselves in the rare position of going into the game as favourites. They then face Roxburgh Park and Moonee Valley in the following weeks.
“It’s a good month of footy to see where we are at,” Peagram said.
