Despite trailing at half time, the Panthers broke the game open with a six-goal third term to leave the Magpies in their wake en route to a 17.11 (113) to 13.14 (92) win.
Montmorency was unable to keep up with Eltham’s spread and ball movement throughout much of the second half, as the Magpies found it difficult to break through the Panthers’ defensive zone.
Eltham coach Mario Bandera was proud of his side’s second half display after back-to-back losses to last year’s grand finalists in the opening two rounds.
“Up until half time we weren’t playing well, then in the third quarter and 75% of the last quarter we played the sort of footy that we know we can play,” Bandera said.
“The first two weeks of the season haven’t been that good so we were shaky early, but the way we finished off the game was pleasing.”
Anton Woods, Billy Glasgow and Gavan Connelly were key cogs in Eltham’s midfield and had a hand in many of the Panthers’ forward attacks.
Josh Merkel won his battle with Craig Flint inside Eltham’s forward 50 with five goals, whilst Daniel Coffield was important across half-back.
Montmorency was left to rue its inaccuracy throughout the second term, converting just four of its 11 opportunities for the quarter.
Ben Fennell didn’t miss a beat in his first game of the season for the Magpies with an excellent display through the middle, with Daniel Keenan and Liam Nunan also continuing their hot starts to 2016.
Eltham was able to control the contest early and open up an 11-point buffer at the first change, largely off the back of Tom Rogers’ run.
The Magpies’ attempts to switch and move the footy at speed were often closed down by the Panthers, however after an early goal to Eltham’s Chris Brannan in the second quarter it was all Montmorency.
Keenan was able to find space inside forward 50 and convert for Montmorency against the run of play, before goals to Mitch Dillon and Nunan suddenly had the Magpies ahead.
Montmorency’s tackling pressure was paying dividends, as it began to arrest momentum through midfield and seemingly be first to every contest.
Staring at a seven-point half time deficit, the Panthers responded.
A goal to Merkel was cancelled out soon after by Ned Taylor, however goals to Connelly, Jye Lorey and Kieran Malone soon had Eltham back in control.
Montmorency continued to hang around through Patrick Fitzgerald, however ill discipline cost the Magpies dearly as Glasgow converted a simple set shot immediately following a 50-metre penalty at the centre bounce after Chase Caulfield’s goal.
Eltham’s intent at the stoppages was key in its 22-point three-quarter-time lead and it continued to press home its advantage with five of the first seven goals in the last term.
The Magpies were able to add some respectability to the scoreboard late in the piece with goals to Fitzgerald, Jesse Donaldson and Stephen McCallum, however it was unfortunately all too late for Montmorency.
Winless so far in 2016, the Magpies return home to face a Greensborough outfit coming off its first loss of the season in Round 4, whilst Eltham will head up Plenty Road to tackle newly-promoted Whittlesea.ELTHAM recorded its first win of 2016 with a 21-point victory over Montmorency in a free-flowing game at Eltham Central Park.
Despite trailing at half time, the Panthers broke the game open with a six-goal third term to leave the Magpies in their wake en route to a 17.11 (113) to 13.14 (92) win.
Montmorency was unable to keep up with Eltham’s spread and ball movement throughout much of the second half, as the Magpies found it difficult to break through the Panthers’ defensive zone.
Eltham coach Mario Bandera was proud of his side’s second half display after back-to-back losses to last year’s grand finalists in the opening two rounds.
“Up until half time we weren’t playing well, then in the third quarter and 75% of the last quarter we played the sort of footy that we know we can play,” Bandera said.
“The first two weeks of the season haven’t been that good so we were shaky early, but the way we finished off the game was pleasing.”
Anton Woods, Billy Glasgow and Gavan Connelly were key cogs in Eltham’s midfield and had a hand in many of the Panthers’ forward attacks.
Josh Merkel won his battle with Craig Flint inside Eltham’s forward 50 with five goals, whilst Daniel Coffield was important across half-back.
Montmorency was left to rue its inaccuracy throughout the second term, converting just four of its 11 opportunities for the quarter.
Ben Fennell didn’t miss a beat in his first game of the season for the Magpies with an excellent display through the middle, with Daniel Keenan and Liam Nunan also continuing their hot starts to 2016.
Eltham was able to control the contest early and open up an 11-point buffer at the first change, largely off the back of Tom Rogers’ run.
The Magpies’ attempts to switch and move the footy at speed were often closed down by the Panthers, however after an early goal to Eltham’s Chris Brannan in the second quarter it was all Montmorency.
Keenan was able to find space inside forward 50 and convert for Montmorency against the run of play, before goals to Mitch Dillon and Nunan suddenly had the Magpies ahead.
Montmorency’s tackling pressure was paying dividends, as it began to arrest momentum through midfield and seemingly be first to every contest.
Staring at a seven-point half time deficit, the Panthers responded.
A goal to Merkel was cancelled out soon after by Ned Taylor, however goals to Connelly, Jye Lorey and Kieran Malone soon had Eltham back in control.
Montmorency continued to hang around through Patrick Fitzgerald, however ill discipline cost the Magpies dearly as Glasgow converted a simple set shot immediately following a 50-metre penalty at the centre bounce after Chase Caulfield’s goal.
Eltham’s intent at the stoppages was key in its 22-point three-quarter-time lead and it continued to press home its advantage with five of the first seven goals in the last term.
The Magpies were able to add some respectability to the scoreboard late in the piece with goals to Fitzgerald, Jesse Donaldson and Stephen McCallum, however it was unfortunately all too late for Montmorency.
Next Saturday, Eltham will head up Plenty Road to tackle newly-promoted Whittlesea.
