Mid-season recruit Dylan Conway was one of the many standouts for the Pigeons in their 101 point win against the Myrtleford Saints at JC Lowe Oval last Saturday. Conway, pictured just getting a kick away as he is brought to ground, kicked 4 majors to help the Pigeons consolidate their spot at the top of the O&M ladder with 3 rounds left of the home and away season.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Yarrawonga 4.6, 11.9, 16.12, 20.14.134.
Myrtleford 1.0, 3.1, 3.2, 5.3.33.
Goals: Yarrawonga: Leigh Williams 5, Dylan Conway 4, Nick Fothergill 4, Matt Casey 3, Logan Morey 1, Will Robinson 1, Kyal Tyson 1, Mark Whiley 1.
Myrtleford: Ryley Sharp 2, Addison Bedendo 1, Ashton McPherson 1, Levi Young 1.
Best: Yarrawonga: Ryan Bruce, Mark Whiley, Leigh Williams, Cameron Wilson, Jordan Urquhart, Nicholas Fothergill.
Myrtleford: Rhys Grant, Mitch Dalbosco, Alex Jacobs, Ashton McPherson, Tom Sparks, Brody Ricardi.
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The Yarrawonga Pigeons have taken care of business with a comprehensive 101-point victory over the Myrtleford Saints at the JC Lowe Oval.
Although confident with the line-up heading into the clash against the Saints, the Pigeons had a number of star players on the sidelines including Michael Gibbons, Leigh Masters and Lach Howe.
With a clear focus on defence first, the Pigeons wanted to restrict the opposition on the scoreboard in a bid to gain important percentage in the lead up to the finals.
The Pigeons began on a strong note getting out to an early lead with the first four goals of the game. Two goals to Nick Fothergill and singles to Mark Whiley and Dylan Conway set up the break for the home team.
Leigh Williams continues his great run of form booting five majors to be leading the Doug Strang medal by just 2.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The early pressure in the first quarter only got hotter in the second term with the Pigeons dialing it up even further. A 7 goal to 2 second quarter in favour of the Pigeons completely put the Saints away with the margin out to 56-points at the main break.
The most pleasing aspect of the Pigeons performance thus far was their ability to defend first and then counteract on the back of their great defensive work.
A man leading the charge in the defensive end of the ground this year is Ryan Bruce. Bruce has been an ultra-consistent player for the Pigeons over a long period however season 2023 has seen him take his game to new heights.
At the main break, the Pigeons were faced with yet another challenge. Would they take the foot off the gas and allow the game to peter out? or would they stay ruthless and record a big win.
The answer was an obvious one as the Pigeons came out in the third quarter all guns blazing. Another brilliant quarter saw the Pigeons pile on five more unanswered goals in the term.
Jordan Urquhart was playing his best game for the season across half back. Urquhart showed poise and composure on a number of occasions winning most, if not all of his one on one battles throughout the day.
Mark Whiley lines up to kick his major for the day as he was named in the best.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Cam Wilson continues to impress as the season goes on in 2023. The 21-year-old has an outstanding work ethic and desire to win the contest and he yet again showed that he is one of the premier players in the Ovens and Murray competition.
Leigh Williams is also continuing his great run of form with another bag of five goals for the day. Williams looks as though he is getting back to his brilliant best from the set shot, kicking accurately in front of the big sticks.
The Pigeons ran out big winners at the JC Lowe Oval but more importantly restricted Myrtleford to only 33 points for the entire day.
Yarrawonga will now welcome their bye as they gear up for a huge back end to the season. The final two home and away matches are set to be big ones against the Wangaratta Rovers at home and the Wodonga Bulldogs away.
With top spot up for grabs, the Pigeons will be hoping to continue on their winning ways as September nears.
Matt Casey keeps his eyes on the ball to take a mark in front of two Saints opponents.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Stats: Cam Wilson 32, Mark Whiley 31, Ryan Bruce 21, Brayden Coburn 20, Willie Wheeler 20.
Oakfm votes in Yarrawonga’s win over Myrtleford: 5 Mark Whiley, 4 Cam Wilson, 3 Leigh Williams, 2 Ryan Bruce, 1 Mitch Dalbosco (Myrt).
Oakfm Player of the Year Leaderboard
33 Willie Wheeler (Yarra)
31 Isaac Muller (Alb)
29 Daniel Sharrock (Wang)
28 Tim Broomhead (Nth Alb) and Sam Murray (Rovers)
26 Angus Baker (Wod).
Reserves
Yarrawonga 25.11.161 def Myrtleford 6.6.42.
The Yarrawonga Reserves have recorded a big 119-point victory over the Myrtleford Saints on Saturday afternoon with a number of thirds players continuing to impress the senior coaching staff.
The dominance of the Pigeons midfield was evident right throughout the day with the likes of Jordan O’Dwyer, Tom McKimmie, Max Hemphill and Doug Arnold all having a large share of the Sherrin.
The Pigeons welcomed big Dave O’Dwyer back into the ruck from his stint overseas. The big ‘Ox’ was sighted running with the bulls in Spain which in turn has kept his fitness levels to a reasonable standard.
Up forward for the Pigeons, big man Dillon Walsh-Hall had his kicking boots on and was a headache for the Saints defenders. Walsh-Hall had a day out kicking through 7 majors which takes him to the top of the table in the league goal-kicking.
The Pigeons are slowly but surely regaining their key personnel however in the meantime, the Under 18’s players continue to step up and fill the void and are doing so with style.
Ned Harvey, Mitch Parker, Geoff Montgomery and Lochie Forge all played their roles brilliantly in the victory.
The Pigeons will be looking to get back to some of their best work which they produced through the middle periods of the season with big games coming up against the Rovers and the Bulldogs.
Coach Matt Grinter knows that there is still plenty of improvement left in this group and still plenty of things to work on if they are to get back to their premiership winning best in season 2023.
Goals: Dillon Walsh – hall 7, Luke Congram 4, Max Hemphill 4, Jobe Kennedy 2, Tom McKimmie 2, Hayden Cartwright 1, Ned Harvey 1, Ben McDonald 1, Ross Mulquiney 1, David O’Dwyer 1, Mitchell Parker 1.
Best: Jordan O’Dwyer, Max Hemphill, Beau Seymour, Tom McKimmie, Dillon Walsh-hall, Ned Harvey.
Thirds
Yarrawonga 5.8.38 def by Myrtleford 14.8.92.
Goals: Alexander Di Cioccio 1, Blake Keyes 1, Geoff Montgomery 1, Mitchell Parker 1.
Best: Ned Harvey, Mitchell Parker, Lochie Forge, Xavier Mitchell, Jack Eales, Griffin Surrey.
