29-06-2025
NFNL Northern Football League: South Morang defeats Montmorency
South Morang swept to the NFNL Division 2 premiership last year with a sublime month of football.
The Lions showcased that quality again on Saturday to secure a stunning 46-point win over high-flying Montmorency at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
Five goals to nil in the third quarter broke the game open as the hosts marched to their second win of the NFNL Division 1 campaign, 14.13 (97) to 7.9 (51).
With relegation rival Bundoora also claiming a critical win, defeating North Heidelberg by eight points, the result keeps South's survival hopes alive and puts Eltham back in the firing line for the run home.
After breaking their drought against the Panthers a fortnight ago, Lions coach Gary Hall said it was a matter of enjoying footy again.
'It was the best four-quarter effort and game I've seen them play in a couple of years,' Hall said.
'When you're used to winning and then all of a sudden lose games, it gets in your head a little bit and it's tough.
'We snapped out of it, we went out and enjoyed it and had a crack.
'It was really good through the week and the boys' attitude when they turned up and through the warm-up, you could see they were on.
'When we got headed a little bit, we steadied and stayed composed which was good and were strong through to the end.'
South Morang burst out of the blocks, taking a 19-point lead at quarter-time, and could have been even further in front if not for kicking 4.4.
Montmorency, last year's grand finalist and second on the ladder, closed to within six points in the second term before Josh Lansfield answered to send the Lions into half-time with a 12-point advantage.
Lansfield took control of the game in the third term as the home team piled on a further five unanswered goals.
When Noah Cumberland made it seven majors on the trot early in the last, the margin was 50 points and the game was over.
Lansfield finished with five goals and Cumberland three, while Bailey Brown was named best-on-ground for his prolific performance in midfield.
'Bailey led by example but there wasn't a bad player out there,' Hall said.
'They all played their role and contributed when it mattered.
'Josh played really well, we played him at centre half-forward because he's such a strong mark and a lovely kick for goal.
'With Noah down there as well, when the ball hits the ground our small forward were fantastic, the pressure they applied, we got a lot of turnovers and a lot of goals.'
Along with Brown and Lansfield, James Traianou, Christian Mardini, Ben Power and Kain Hall were among the standouts.
For Montmorency, Hudson Holmes was best afield, while Jordan Steele, Brock Binion and Nick Uzelac stood tall.
South Morang remains bottom of the Division 1 ladder but is only a game behind Bundoora and Eltham with a superior percentage to the Bulls.
The Lions will host Bundoora in Round 14 and travel to Eltham in Round 18.
'We can't rely on or worry about them or anyone else,' Hall said.
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'If we play that type of football we're going to be super competitive in a lot of games.
'We need to control what happens ourselves and we'll get a chance to play them again and see what happens.'
Elsewhere in Division 1, Eltham suffered an 11-point loss to Hurstbridge, while Bundoora pipped North Heidelberg by eight.
Greensborough was too good for Banyule with a 50-point win and Heidelberg cleaned up West Preston-Lakeside by 88 points.
