By Luke D’Anello
TWO-TIME reigning A Grade premier Maribyrnong Park scored another convincing victory on Saturday, but it was a horror weekend for other local sides.
The Lions crushed Doutta Stars by 98 points at Buckley Park, 18.22.140 to 4.8.32, with Heath Ayres (six goals), Luke Livingston (five) and new recruit Kade Carey (three) running amok in the Essendon District Football League (EDFL) fixture.
The trio pocketed 14 goals between them in the demolition job.
Ryan Crawford and Brendon Hollow also made significant contributions.The all-conquering Lions led from go to woe and held Doutta to just one goal in the first three quarters.
Elsewhere, Keilor was hammered by 100 points against Strathmore.
The Blues trailed by just four points at half-time, but Strathmore flicked the switch in the second half and kicked 16 goals to run away with the match, 22.12.150 to 7.8.50.
Keilor could register just 0.4 in a disappointing second half performance. After starting the season as one of the leading contenders for the premiership, Mick McGuane’s team has now suffered two heavy defeats and need to find a way to stop the bleeding. While McGuane does not have his best team on the park, he will be close to pushing the panic button.
Dylan Joyce, with two goals, was one of Keilor’s few shining lights, while Josh Young and Chad Gauci also tried hard.
Meanwhile, A Grade newcomer Taylors Lakes suffered a 96-point loss against Avondale Heights and remains winless after two rounds.
In B Grade, a bumper off-season of recruiting appears to be paying dividends for Keilor Park after it powered its way to a 155-point win against Roxburgh Park. East Keilor kept its unblemished record intact with a 21-point win against Northern Saints, 12.10.82 to 8.13.61. And Hillside was far too strong for Moonee Valley and posted an 88-point win, 19.22.136 to 7.6.48.
