A classy nine-goal haul from Kye Declase has catapulted Montmorency into third position on the ladder following a 60-point flogging of Hurstbridge at Montmorency Oval.
The Magpies led at every change and were solid all throughout the day, which was peppered with fiery scuffles and plenty of niggle.
Declase was close to unstoppable up forward with his nine majors and was flanked brilliantly by fellow big man Patrick Fitzgerald (three goals) and the zippy James Brooker (three goals).
Up the other end of the ground, Jake Potter was the cornerstone of the Montmorency defence, while Ben Kennedy, Tyrone Leonardis and Luke Collins showed plenty of grunt through the centre of the ground.
The Magpies were fixed on making a statement from the outset, and similar to last fortnight’s clash against Whittlesea, got off to an explosive start with six goals in the opening term.
The big forwards fittingly got the ball rolling to put pressure on the Hurstbridge defence, with Declase and Fitzgerald booting the first five Magpie majors.
Despite their unwavering accuracy, the scoring blitz from Montmorency wouldn’t have been possible without the courage of Ben Walton and Brooker, who put their bodies on the line early to get the Magpies going.
With Kennedy, Leonardis and Brent Fotheringhame helping instigate the Magpies’ run and carry, the home side were rewarded for their hard work on the scoreboard.
Dangerous through their ability to find space, Declase and Fitzgerald were dominant in the one-on-one contests in the attacking half of the ground.
Hurstbridge too were effective, exposing the Magpies when transitioning out of defence through the fat side of the ground, with Cooper Perrin and Mitchell Burton capitalising with three goals for the term in the coast-to-coast plays.
But one final play from the silky Brooker restored Montmorency’s ascendancy to see them take a 19-point advantage at quarter-time.
Another six-goal term from the Magpies saw them race ahead in what was a heated and fast-paced period of football.
The Bridges got the jump early with Ryan Jackson bringing the margin down to 13 points after scoring off the back of a 50m penalty.
Yet the Magpies were quick to reply, with some Leonardis brilliance allowing the young midfielder to weave his way through heavy traffic and jag one back.
As Fitzgerald slotted his third just moments later, the home side looked well on track to record a sound victory.
Tempers soon flared however, after an errant kick made contact with Stephen McCallum’s back, resulting in a fiery fracas in Hurstbridge’s forward half of the ground.
It was just the first of many skirmishes, with Fotheringhame finding himself in the thick of it in front of the opposition interchange bench.
But the explosive hard-nut had the last laugh, booting a stunning goal on the run from the left pocket, letting both the Montmorency and Hurstbridge supporters know of his remarkable goal with a boisterous celebration along the wing.
The visitors got revenge with their second through Mitchell Dale – again coming from a 50m penalty – before Sean Jellie and Mitchell Burton made it four for the term.
Yet it did little to faze the home side, with Declase slotting three consecutive goals in an impressive show of strength to put the Magpies up by 31 points at half-time.
It only got better for Montmorency going into the third term, booting eight goals against Hurstbridge’s four to effectively ice the game.
The Magpies slotted five unanswered majors from five different goalscorers to open the quarter, with the Bridges’ defence unable to find an answer to shut down their opposition’s forward firepower.
Kennedy converted his dominance in the midfield into dominance on the scoreboard after putting through the Magpies’ first, before some solid run from fellow recruit, Matt White, gave Declase yet another.
But the highlight was undoubtedly off the boot of Kyan Westmore, who kicked his first senior goal from a skilful set shot on the forward flank.
With the crowd roaring at the youngster’s efforts, the black and white army continued their impressive display, with Walton and Brooker capping off an incredible scoring spree.
Hurstbridge must have liked the look of consecutive majors, as they too put together four back-to-back majors in the latter stages of the quarter to remain within the contest.
Yet the solid midfield work of the Magpies persevered, with Joel McLellan on top of the ruck contests and impressive with six tackles.
The big man’s efforts paved the way for the next three Monty majors through McCallum, Declase and Brooker, who ended the term with 56-point advantage.
Determined to finish the game strongly, the Magpies mustered three goals over their tiring opposition, who booted two of their own.
While the likes of McLellan found themselves head and shoulders above their opposition, Collins took the phrase literally with a massive hangar to open the final quarter.
As Walton converted his second, Declase quickly put through his ninth with a mythical 10-goal bag within his grasp.
Yet as the clock ticked down, Brooker proved to be the final goalscorer for the Magpies, finishing with three majors of his own.
Although the Bridges secured two late consolation majors through Bryce East and Ryan Jackson, their efforts came too late as the Magpies secured a comprehensive 60-point victory at their home turf.
Now sitting in third place on the ladder, the Magpies will be set on holding their position when they take on Bundoora next Saturday at Yulong Reserve.
MONTMORENCY 6.2 12.3 20.6 23.9 (147) HURSTBRIDGE 3.1 7.2 11.4 13.9 (87)
GOALS Montmorency: K. Declase 9, P. Fitzgerald 3, J. Brooker 3, B. Walton 2, L. Collins, B. Fotheringhame, K. Watson, T. Leonardis, B. Kennedy , S. McCallum Hurstbridge: M. Burton 3, R. Jackson 2, B. East 2, C. Perrin 2, S. Jellie, T. Simpson, M. Dale, T. Barbera
BEST Montmorency: K. Declase, B. Kennedy , B. Walton, J. Brooker, T. Leonardis, J. Potter, L. Collins Hurstbridge: J. Barbera, A. Butterfield, T. Loader, R. Jackson, D. Keenan, M. Dale
Comments