Sport
30 May, 2024
Bears break free - Mellington's 13
GOAL gun Josh Mellington was like an angry genie locked in the bottle for the first quarter of Saturday’s Loddon Valley clash between Bears Lagoon Serpentine and Mitiamo. The Bears’ star was tagged by not one but at times three Mitiamo players...
GOAL gun Josh Mellington was like an angry genie locked in the bottle for the first quarter of Saturday’s Loddon Valley clash between Bears Lagoon Serpentine and Mitiamo.
The Bears’ star was tagged by not one but at times three Mitiamo players and unable to escape and kick majors.
Mitiamo was repeating its opening term efforts against Inglewood the previous week.
Playing tight, turning over forward moves by opponents and leading on the scoreboard.
Brayden Baines had two early goals while Serpentine worked out the best avenues to Mellington.
Nathan Twigg and Justin Laird were standing up against the incessant application of Mitiamo pressure. It was that close checking pressure that had the Bears registering behind after behind.
It took the Bears until mid-term to score a goal. Farran Priest punished a poorly-timed kick from Mitiamo and then late in the quarter Mellington kicked his first for the day.
Three early behinds in the second term came as Serpentine started to stamp real authority.
Mellington picked up a free metres from the goal line and scored. Mitiamo’s Liam Shiell immediately replied with a Superoo goal before Mellington was starting to dictate for the Bears - a rare poster and then two quick goals.
Mellington went on to finish the game with 13 goals in another masterclass display in front of goals,
He shrugged off the taggers, darted to position and kicked goals from every angle possible at John Forbes Oval.
Baines was clearly best for the Superoos and received support from Waylon Draper, Liam Shiell, Ryan Duncan and Ryan Byrne.
For the Bears, the big names of Mellington, Twigg and Laird were key to the win. But there’s another success story at Janiember Park this season.
Jaxon Addlem, in his first year out of the under 18 competition, was named in the best for the second time this season.
Addlem played a handful of senior games in 2023.
This year, he is proving a key cog on the wing and has been in the Bears’ best twice.
Serpentine finishes the first half of the season with the match against Maiden Gully on Saturday before the King’s Birthday weekend bye. Mitiamo comes up against Bridgewater, coming off the bye. The Mean Machine could have several players right for selection after the week off to get on top of injuries.
Marong and Pyramid Hill were little troubled on the way to recording big wins over Newbridge and Maiden Gully.