Luke Frith created a contest with Michael Boland. 357900 Picture: ROB CAREW.

By Jonty Ralphsmith

Dingley big man Luke Frith played arguably the best game of his career while Cranbourne runner Nick Darbyshire found another gear in Cranbourne’s two-point win over the Dingoes on Saturday.

The Dingoes nagged all day and almost stole it at the death, with Frith’s competitiveness keeping Cranbourne’s mids from completely getting off the chain.

Frith was forced to carry the bulk of the ruck load, with Vergim Faik absent and Adam Lloyd going down early with injury.

He competed strongly with the experienced Michael Boland and negated the supremacy that Cranbourne had on paper in the ruck battle.

He engaged physically and got around the ground well, kicking a key goal against the flow of play on transition, rising to the responsibility.

“Luke has battled his own little bit of form throughout the year and we challenged him today but I thought he was fantastic,” said Dingley coach Zach Horsley.

“He played 90 per cent game time and gave his all; he was cramping and hurt his back but got straight back up.

“He created two goal opportunities for us.

“I’ve known him since he was 12, and I’ve coached him for the last eight or nine years and it’s as good a game of football as I’ve seen him play.”

Meanwhile, Nick Darbyshire played 12 home and away games but has been a step off his best as a running winger.

He gained a little bit of confidence last week against St Kilda City and rose to the increased intensity of finals footy with a best afield performance.

His fitness came to the fore as he provided an outlet from defence and gave Cranbourne territory with his ball use as neat as any Eagles on the day.

Darbyshire kicked Cranbourne’s final goal, getting the first disposal in the counterattacking chain, running in a straight line through the corridor and got on the end of it, kicking it from 30.

“He was outstanding and, by his own admission, he hasn’t had the year he would want compared to last year, but we had a strong chat four weeks ago and since then he’s got better and better,” Cranbourne coach Steve O’Brien said.

“I just commended him on his game before and he’s been fantastic in September for us over the last two years now, so hopefully he continues that.”