Moama Football Club has had a flying start to the new Murray Football League season with an impressive 80-point win over Rumbalara on Saturday.
The Magpies held Rumbalara to just one solitary point over the first three quarters at Moama Recreation Reserve, an incredible defensive achievement in their 14.10 (94) to 2.2 (14) victory.
Moama got off to a hot start early on, kicking four goals to Rumbalara’s solitary point in the opening quarter.
The one behind would be Rumbalara’s only point for the first three quarters, with a water-tight Moama defence keeping them scoreless in the second and third terms.
The Magpies were up 67-1 at three-quarter time, kicking four goals to Rumabalara’s two in the final term to close out a strong round one victory.
Moama senior coach Sam Sheldon said he was very happy with his side’s start to the new season.
“It was a good challenge for our boys,” Sheldon said. “It was a good contest for the start of the year and we did really well.
“From our point of view, we were pretty confident we could play like that.
“The scoreboard didn’t really justify the game, I don’t think — the scoreboard blew out but they had a good go. They have a few injuries and a few boys out as well, so it went our way a bit.
“I was really pleased with our start and the attitude the boys had was really good. They were just excited to get out there with the extended preseason because of COVID and hopefully we can keep getting stronger as a side and keep improving week on week.
“We’ve still got a lot of things we want to get better at, it’s a long year so hopefully we can keep improving. “
Dylan Joyce kicked four goals for the Magpies, while Matthew Costello and Stuart Taylor kicked two majors each.
Nicholas Pavlou, Callum Doyle and Dougal McKindlay were some of the best on the park for Moama on Saturday, Sheldon said.
Jye Smith was another Magpie who had a good game, with the young forward earning his coach’s praise.
“Jye played a really good game, he’s a young fella who’s come along in leaps and bounds this year which has been really good,” Sheldon said.
“His tackling in and around the contest was unreal and he got a heap of the ball himself.”
After conceding just one point in three quarters and 14 points overall, Sheldon said he was very pleased with his side’s defensive effort.
“I was really happy with it,” he said. “We have stuff that we have been working on as a team and our fitness over the summer and just working together to defend.
“It was good, the boys really knuckled in and bought into everything we’ve been training on during the preseason.
“We’ve got some experienced heads in our backline now as well which helps a lot.”
Stovell provided one of the highlights of the game, soaring high to take a spectacular mark over the pack.
Unfortunately for Sheldon though, he didn’t get to see the Magpies defender take flight.
“I didn’t see it to be honest,” he said. “I was looking the other way but I heard the crowd and I turned around and saw him coming down.
“He gets up there a lot Zac, he’s got some big hops on him and he times it well so if it’s in the air he’s always a chance.”
Moama will face a big test in round two when they take on Nathalia away from home.
The Purples are the five-time reigning premiers, but their quest for a record-extending sixth consecutive flag got off to a shaky start after a 41-point loss to Mulwala.
Even though they’ll be coming off a defeat, Sheldon said Nathalia still deserve plenty of respect.
“They have been the powerhouse of the competition for 10 years and you have to respect them,” he said.
“You go in expecting that they will have a red-hot crack because they have done it for so long.
“We’ll go in with the attitude of being ready for a red-hot contest and giving it everything we’ve got and hopefully we come out on top.”
Moama will face the Purples at 2pm on Saturday at Nathalia Recreation Reserve.