Hawks fly away with win

AMID unprecedented hype, media star and Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton made his debut in YVMDFL football to turn on a great show – but it was Monbulk who took the plaudits from a buoyant Woori Yallock in an entertaining clash at Monbulk on Saturday.
In response to media questions about Brereton’s appearance, Monbulk president Case Broekhof said, “It is fantastic for local football! We expect at least another 100 paying customers through the gate and our bar and canteen takings should be up as well.”
Perfect conditions greeted a full-strength Woori Yallock who immediately bounced into spirited attack for the elusive Daniel Williamson to goal.
Wragg quickly replied for the Hawks, but Woori were irrepressible with the media throng’s wishes being answered when Brereton marked strongly to goal, sparking an inspired Woori blitz that also saw Williams add his third for the quarter. Despite a late goal on debut from Nicholas, the Hawks trailed by 20 points.
The Hawks responded with six goals for the quarter as key forwards Wragg and Fraser exacted a heavy toll on the Tiger defence.
On resumption, Fraser rampaged through the Tigers as Monbulk shot to a 42-point lead before Joel Adams, Michael King and Brereton mounted their own challenge, only to see it blunted by the creative play of Gee and Hughson who, with the revitalised Utting, kept the Tigers contained.
Strong marking from Wragg and the return of Koole soon put the game beyond doubt, with the Hawks running out 40 point winners in a game of high interest.
Goals: Monbulk: Wragg 5, Fraser 4, Ravenhorst, Nicholas, C. Hughson, Gee 2. Woori Yallock: D. Williamson 5, M. King 3, D. Brereton 2.
Best: Monbulk: S. Koole, T. Wragg, C. Hughson, S. Utting, M. Hughson. Woori Yallock: D. Williamson, D. Spencer, D. Monkhorst, T. Selby, D. Ryan.
Reserves
Monbulk Reserves quickly put paid to Woori Yallock’s aspirations as they turned on some powerful football to take control from the outset.
Tolliday and young Langworthy were reliable avenues to goal while the stout defence of Christian Fraser, Luke Fleming and Dave Alenson held the Tigers out for most of the day. Making good use of the ball, Monbulk steadily increased its lead each quarter, maintaining second position with a solid 62-point win.
Goals: Tolliday, Langworthy 3, C. Broekhof 2. Best: D. Alenson, L. Fleming, C. Fraser, R. Mitchell, M. Langworthy.