A Flynn Young-inspired Newtown & Chilwell has taken over a half to shake off a plucky North Shore to claim a 46-point win at Elderslie Reserve yesterday (Saturday).
Young, who managed just 18 goals during an indifferent 2023 campaign, finished with a career-best seven major in the Eagles’ 19.20 (134) to 13.10 (88) victory.
Whether in the air or on the ground, the Werribee-listed Young was nigh on impossible to contain in a performance witnessed by the VFL club’s coaching staff.
“It probably took me a while to get going, really, last year,” Young told krockfootball.live.
“I had a bit of a not-great run with injuries and whatnot, but I’ve put in a lot of work down at Werribee this pre-season.
“And it’s just been good to get some reward for effort and hit the scoreboard off the back of all the boys work up the field.”
Coach Damien McMahon was also impressed with Young’s performance.
“His game was no doubt his best game he’s had at Newtown & Chilwell since he’s been on board,” he said.
“And that’s not based on how many goals he kicked; it’s probably based on how well he moved up the ground and how much pressure he put on.
“Clearly, he’s fitter and in better condition than he’s probably ever been.
“Going back early pre-season, all the reports at Werribee were that he was flying.
“Then, unfortunately, (he) ended up having an injury and was in a moonboot for a period of time, which, I suppose, everyone was concerned about, but mostly ‘Youngy’.”
GFNL: SCOREBOARD – OPENING ROUND
If Young was the star, the supporting cast was just as impressive.
Newly-appointed co-captain Luke Maddock made the most of permanent stay forward.
He kicked three goals – having kicked just four for his entire 80-game career coming – but should have finished with more after making a mess of some gettable shots.
And Zach Walters and Gennaro Bove, who both endured injury-impacted 2023 seasons, showed there will be life after Matt Boag and Blake Sutterby.
There were plenty of positives to take away from North Shore’s performance after getting to within 11 points at the 12-minute mark of the third quarter.
A permanent move forward for Harry Purcell is already reaping rewards following a six-goal haul, including one effort in the opening quarter that will be tough to top for the goal of the year.
In his first game for the Seagulls since 2022 after playing 17 games at Werribee last year, big man Kobe Annand was part of an absorbing ruck battle with Eagle Cam Wilkinson.
“We were happy with the effort, the way they went about it,” North Shore coach Darren Winter said.
“They certainly challenged Newtown at different stages.
“We gave them a few easy goals. If we had of locked down, it could have kept us in the game a little bit longer.
“Just little things like that, we need to get better at.”
Newtown & Chilwell will get an early indication of where it sits in the pecking order when it hosts St Mary’s next Saturday as the rest of the competition gets under.
North Shore returns to Windsor Park for a battle with northern neighbours Lara for the Paddy Cahir Cup.
X: @krockfootball
