PORT FAIRY'S Kaine Mercovich showed he has the credentials to not only play at a higher level but that he can thrive on it too.
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The two-time Hampden league representative continued his stellar form at the AFL Victoria Community Championships with a best on ground performance in the Bottle Greens' 80-point win over Ballarat at Mars Stadium on Saturday.
Coach Jonathan Brown gave the 2018 Vic Country representative a huge compliment following his star performance in the 20.15 (135) to 7.13 (55) victory.
"He was outstanding for four quarters and he was a real leader of that midfield," he said.
"Hopefully we can see him represent Vic Country again this year and I think he could push to higher levels. I think he is certainly a VFL-calibre player at least."
Hopefully we we see him represent Vic Country this year and I think he could push to higher levels. I think he is certainly a VFL-calibre player at least.
- Jonathan Brown
Mercovich's day started with him kicking the first goal of the game after three minutes of playing time. Twenty-one minutes later he assisted in another to give his Seagulls' teammate Tom Sullivan his second of the quarter.
The midfielder's influence helped the Bottle Greens open the flood gates to pile on six goals to zero in the opening term to set up a match-winning margin at the first break.
Mercovich bobbed up again late in the second term to lay a defensive spoil at a forward-50 contest, before gathering and running in to split the middle for his second goal of the match, helping Jonathan Brown's side enter the main break with a 54-point buffer.
He did not score again in the second half but his work around the ground lifted as his side was challenged in the third quarter before he again stepped up again in the last term to help the Bottle Greens run away with the victory.
"It's really pleasing to get acknowledged at this kind of level. I'm pretty rapt about it," Mercovich said after being announced as the best on ground.
The right-footer said he did not expect the Bottle Greens to get up by as much as they did.
"It just showed our first-half effort was exceptional," the 21-year-old said.
"Our forward effort to turn the ball over in our forward half was what probably bought the lead by half-time.
"I think we only kicked three set-shot goals out of 10 (shots at goal) to half-time so it just shows the forward pressure that we were able to put on the opposition."
Mercovich said a hunting mentality was the key for the Bottle Greens' small forwards kicking 12 of the team's 20 goals.
"The focus was when it's your turn to hunt, hunt hard and if there is someone in a better position than you give it to them straight away," he told The Standard.
"That's what I think everyone did, everyone was willing to flick the ball out to everyone else and everyone benefited from it in the long run."
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Mercovich was eager to return to his club's senior side, which is 4-1 after five rounds of the 2019 Hampden league season, and continue his impressive start to the year.
"It's a bit different going back to the Hampden league in terms of how games are played but you can take a few things out of it," he said.
"You can take a bit of confidence and maybe a bit of leadership (back to the club)."
If he didn't win the best on ground medal Mercovich had a few teammates he would have gladly given the award to.
"I thought there were a lot of good players. I thought (Port Fairy teammate) Tommy Sullivan was very good in the forward half," he said.
"He kicked three and probably had another three shots on goal and in the back-half Dallas Mooney was exceptional with his intercept marks.
"So those two and obviously (Seagulls playing-coach Dan) Nicholson really stood out."
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