Tullamarine’s strong start to the Essendon District Football League division 1 season continued on Saturday with a comfortable win over Taylors Lakes.
Taylors Lake entered the match with two wins from two matches, while the Demons had a bye in round 2 after a first-round win against Glenroy.
Nothing separated the two teams in the first quarter, before the Demons started to find the goals and they kicked 13 goals to four after quarter-time to win 16.10 (106)-7.3 (45).
“I thought we were in control for most of the game but it took a while to put them away,” Demons coach Anthony Leydin said.
“We went inside 50 a ridiculous number of times and weren’t able to convert that on the scoreboard.
“They had one or two behind the ball in the 50 and it took time got get around that.”
With a new-look forward set-up, Leydin knows his side will take time to gel.
“It’s only our second match and we know there are areas for improvement,” he said.
While Tulla‘s forward line is a work in progress, the coach is happy with other areas of the ground.
“We came out on top in ruck contests and stoppages,” he said.
“We’ve also managed to restrict them to a reasonable level of scoring. “
Leydin said it was a pretty even performance against the Lions.
“A lot of players were good and we had about 10 players we were trying to fit into our votes,” he said.
“Jack Sims was in there, Adam Scott was good and Craig Steele was great all day.
“Dean Bartop was good after a slow start.”
Sims kicked four goals for the Demons in his second game for the club.
“He has settled in really well and has been involved around the club and fitted in nicely,” Leydin said.
“A happy footballer off-field always helps on field.”
The one concern for the Demons was the loss of three players with injuries.
Jack Burns, Ben Toniolo and Nathan Tieppo were all injured in the first half and look set to miss this week’s game, when the Demons face a tough task against unbeaten Craigieburn.
The Eagles were at their dominant best on Saturday, smashing Hadfield 39.14 (248)4.4 (28).
It was a field day for the Eagles forwards, with Glenn Robertson and Cameron Cloke kicking 10 goals each, while Jason Cloke chipped in with seven.
The two Clokes and Robertson were best on ground.
In other division 1 matches, Westmeadows was too good for Glenroy on Monday, winning 17.14 (116)-8.16 (64). Robert Mullen was best on ground for the Tigers kicking six goals.
Greenvale remains undefeated in premier division after coming from behind in the last quarter against Essendon Doutta Stars.
The Stars kicked the first two goals of the last quarter they open up a 10-point lead but the Jets finished the game the better to win 17.15 (117)14.12 (96).
Nicholas Maric kicked three for the Jets, while Stephen Brewer and Jacob Thompson were best.
In division 2, Jacana lost its second close game in three rounds, by seven points against Moonee Valley.
In a see-sawing game, the Jaguars couldn’t make up the 24-point three-quarter-time deficit and went down 12.9 (81)11.8 (74).
Chris Johnson kicked three for the Jaguars.
Roxburgh Park suffered its second straight loss, this time losing to Keilor Park, 10.11 (71)-7.14 (56).
