The older, more experienced players have been the standouts for South Morang this season, but it was the youngsters who provided the spark on Saturday.
With only one loss in the Northern Football League division 3 season, the top-of-the-table Lions are getting used to being the hunted and they continue to stand up to the pressure.
On Saturday, a dominant second quarter set up the 15.9 (99)-10.14 (74) win against Reservoir.
Football manager Mark Muscat said the final score wasn’t reflective of the match.
“The game was probably closer than the four goals,” he said.
“Both sides had the same number of scoring shots, but we kicked better so that was the difference. It was the second term which set up the win.”
While eight goals to two in that quarter did help the Lions’ cause, it was a different story in the third when South Morang was held scoreless.
“They came out [after half-time] and played pressure football,” Muscat said.
“Their clearance work was good and we struggled to match it with them..”
Eleven Lions players got on the scoreboard with three kicking two goals each.
Muscat said young guns Aaron D’Angelo, Mathew Robinson, Daniel Watson and Mitchell Hicks stood up for the Lions.
South Morang goes into this weekend’s bye sitting two games clear of Watsonia and Epping.
“If you’d said we’d be top of the ladder going into the bye we’d have been very happy,” Muscat said.
He said his side would likely be at full strength for its next game, against Epping – the only team that has beaten them this season.
“We have been lucky with injuries,” Muscat said.
“Hopefully we will have Mitch Buckley and Jake Potter back from injury. It will just strengthen us more.”
There was one interested onlooker at the game on Saturday: young gun Jade Gresham.
Gresham, a South Morang junior, is the Northern Knights’ captain and has been one of the standouts for Vic Metro in the under-18 national carnival.
“The club is so proud of what he has achieved,” Muscat said.
