By Mark Gullick
A STUNNING six-goal final term slung ROC past a disappointing Keysborough by 29 points at Officer Recreation Reserve.
The Kangaroos used their blend of pace and youth to overrun Keysborough, who held a five-point lead at the final change.
The first half was an even, tight contest with ROC leading by eight points.
“Second week in a row that we’ve led at three quarter-time and capitulated,” Keysborough coach Brad Canavan said.
“We’ve dominated both third quarters, but haven’t put the score on the board. We had really good momentum at three quarter-time and Waata Wells kicked a goal after the siren, but we just capitulated and embarrassed ourselves again.”
Canavan has identified several issues for his team to work on.
“We had a lengthy chat after the game and looked at all our stats, and I think our biggest issue is goalkicking,” he said.
ROC coach Greg Tivendale was rapt with the win.
“The way the guys went about it was sensational,” he said.
“It was the first home game of the year and to get up with all the supporters there was fantastic. The Twos had a win as well, which hasn’t happened much in the three years I’ve been back at the club.”
His team was in a similar position against Pakenham in Round One before failing in the last term, and Tivendale was wary of a repeat performance.
“I spoke to the guys at three quarter-time that it was the exact same situation, so let’s make sure the same thing didn’t happen. To (their) credit they responded and got the points.”
ROC’s focused summer training schedule was the catalyst for the win.
“With a young, small group, we worked on the skills and fitness and that really came to the fore in the last quarter,” Tivendale said. “Young guys like Matty Rogers, Brad Thompson, James Canty, these sort of guys up from our Under 18s had the young fresh legs and took them on and got the result.”
Tivendale was superb, influencing the contest across the half-back line after replacing his injured brother Ben.
Youngsters Rogers, Thompson and Canty continued their rapid rise to league prominence, while super consistent pair Ash Comer and Stephen Hawkins, and Brett Reid were excellent around the ground.
Keysborough’s better players were new recruit Joseph McClelland, the consistent David Prib, Anthony Brannan, Ben Hoskin, and Tyson King through the midfield.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Doveton v Pakenham
A STAGGERING 10-goal final quarter rocketed Doveton past Pakenham by 16 points at Robinson Oval.
The Lions were cruising in the opening three quarters, extending their lead at every change.
By three-quarter time, Pakenham had the seemingly match-winning lead of 40 points.
However, few would have predicted what would occur in the next 30 minutes.
Doveton went on a goalscoring spree, which saw the Doves catch up to Pakenham on the scoreboard, and then promptly overtake them.
Doveton kicked 10.4 to 1.2 in the final term to record its first win of the season.
“At half-time the game was even. I thought we had more of the ball, more of the contested ball, more entries into our forward line, but we couldn’t score,” Doveton coach Mark Ladgrove said.
“Pakky were rebounding and they were hurting us on the scoreboard. At three quarter-time, we were six goals down, and I was concerned that it was going to be a blow-out which we didn’t deserve. The boys really toughed it out and once they got a sniff, they just went on with it.”
The significance of the win was heightened as it was achieved without prime mover, 2010 Norm Walker medalist Michael Henry, who missed with an ankle injury.
Ruckman Adam Dean dominated the contest, kicking two goals and exerting physicality and strength around the ground.
Veterans Aaron Henwood, Matthew Miller and Brad Downe were solid, and rising youngsters Mitchell Viney and Jake Pullen contributed in the even team effort.
Trent Day kicked three goals; all in the frantic final quarter.
“It really gives the club a bit of impetus,” Ladgrove said.
“Our thirds had a good win in the morning, and we all know how important it is to have good kids coming through. The club’s on its way up. It just makes training easier and the mood around the club is good.”
Pakenham coach Michael Holland was disappointed his players let the match slip.
“We had the game in control at three quarter-time,” he said.
“In the third quarter we got a bit of a lead up, but we didn’t see that coming.”
A lack of leadership hurt Pakenham.
“No one decided to stop the momentum and get the game back on our terms, but apart from that, our guys were very good for three quarters,” Holland said.
“Obviously, we’ve got to finish the job off and not just play for three quarters. It’s something the coaching staff have to look at as well – if we did the right things. I take a bit of responsibility too.”
For the vanquished, Beau Wheeler through the midfield and defender Tom O’Loughlin were prominent.
Classy midfield duo Dean Blake and Luke Walker gathered plenty of the ball, and youngster Michael Taurua and Sean Bell played well.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Tooradin-Dalmore v Devon Meadows
IT WAS a missed opportunity for Tooradin-Dalmore and Devon Meadows as they played out a thrilling draw at Tooradin Recreation Reserve.
Both teams made sweeping alterations to their personnel; Devon Meadows making eight changes and Tooradin-Dalmore three.
Adam Brander and Brandon Wapshott were key losses for the Panthers, who were able to bring back Casey Scorpion representative Steve McInnes.
Rory Gilliatte and Adam Galea were keys ins for the Seagulls.
Eleven goals were kicked in the opening term, setting the tone for the remainder of the game.
Devon Meadows’ nine-point quarter time lead was erased by a poor second term, while Tooradin-Dalmore kicked five goals to nil.
The Seagulls held sway at the final change by 11 points.
The Panthers caught up in the final term and took the lead before a late point by the Seagulls levelled the scores with minutes remaining, and with neither team able to score, the match ended in a draw.
“It was a pretty entertaining match, but I think both clubs would be disappointed not to get four points,” Devon Meadows coach Rod Keogh said.
“From our point of view, we thought the boys were fantastic and it would have been good for them to get the win, but we’ll just push forward in a positive manner.”
The Panthers had the final play of the game.
“We were behind on the scoreboard all day…but then we hit the front in the last quarter,” he said.
“They kicked a point with about a minute to go and then just as the siren blew, the ball was 15 metres out from our goal. We had a couple of blokes that nearly took a grab and the siren went. Another 10-15 seconds and we might’ve been a chance to get a score on the board, but Tooradin could say a similar thing too.”
Steve McInnes kicked five goals.
“He’s not 100 per cent, but he’s shown enormous enthusiasm for the game to be out there,” Keogh said.
“He was absolutely fantastic. Right across the board, every single player that played in the Devon Meadows jumper was fantastic. We had a few injuries that weakened our flexibility and structure, but we had some younger blokes that really stood up.”
Daniel Velardo was superb for the Panthers with two goals and plenty of creativity around the field.
Chris Campbell, Lochlan Burke, Nathan Dumergue and Tim Saunders were prominent.
“It was a tough game. Obviously, with the draw it was a sour feeling,” Tooradin-Dalmore coach Beau Miller said.
“Both team’s had their chances to win but neither side could break away. We started well and were four goals up before they registered their first and then fought back to level the scores. It was a funny game; we’d kick off and they’d catch up, we’d kick off again and eventually they caught us.”
Although winless heading into the match, Miller said his team didn’t take Devon Meadows lightly. “We prepared ourselves like we would for any other team,” he said.
