Greenvale fire after slow burn

Addam Maric is dominating Greenvale’s start the season. Picture Damian Visentini

Greenvale continues to build in the Essendon District Football League premier division winning its third straight match.

Facing Maribyrnong Park, which Jets coach Paul Chapman considers the best team in the competition, the Jets took off after a slow start.

They trailed at the first two breaks and scores were level heading into the final quarter. The Jets saved the best for last kicking six goals to four in the final term to win 16.7 (103)-14.8 (92).

Chapman was more than pleased with the win. He said the team had worked on their slow starts in games during the week.

“It was a great win, the boys played really well,” he said.

“We were competitive early on in the game but gave up some easy goals.

“The guys just kept playing footy and backed the structures we have in place.”

Addam Maric continued his great start to the season, kicking six goals. It’s the third time in four games he’s kicked five or more goals

Chapman said Maric would be close to leading the competition’s best and fairest after the first four rounds.

He said Maric was kicking goals in the midfield and then when he was moved forward, as well as bringing other players into the game.

Jacob Thompson was best on ground. After a slow start to the season he’s kicked nine goals in the past three weeks.

Chapman said the side was still a fair way off its best as they continued to learn a new game plan, a new coach and new players.

“We went to preseason and we knew we had lost some experience and some quality tall players,” he said.

“As a fresh face I didn’t know a lot about the players. I didn’t know if they’d played 150 games or three games.

“Everyone was a chance to play. Some guys realised there’s opportunities to play senior football and worked their backsides off.”

The Jets are 3-1 ahead of a clash with Pascoe Vale.

Chapman said he was enjoying the challenge in his first year at the club.

“I’m very happy,” he said.

“We’ve been building each weekend and getting a better understanding of each other. Hopefully we can continue to improve each week.”

In other matches, Craigieburn suffered another big loss, this time to Aberfeldie. The Eagles trailed by 50 points at quarter-time and it didn’t get an easier with the Gorillas winning 25.21 (171)-8.6 (54).

In division 1, Tullamarine lost to Glenroy, while Westmeadows had a bye.

Roxburgh Park had its worst performance of the season in division 2, losing to Coburg Districts 20.12 (132)-13.7 (85).