Crows out of luck

By Ken Moore
LONGWARRY – for the second consecutive week – was desperately unlucky.
The Crows had more than enough of the ball to beat Warragul Industrials on Saturday, but it fell short by a solitary point.
The defeat follows a one-point loss to Lang Lang the previous week.
The Crows trailed by six points at three quarter time and looked set for victory when it hit the front in the last term, before a left foot snap by elusive Dusties forward, Daniel Johnson, regained the lead for the visitors.
The Dusties held on in the remaining five minutes, despite a number of threatening forward advances by the home side.
The Dusties trailed by 20 points in the second quarter before it lifted and poured on eight goals, including three by rover Chris LaRosa to give it a 10-point advantage at the main break. Both teams traded goal for goal in a thrilling second half. Industrials half back Rhett O’Hara provided good run and carry, Matt Willis and Adam Neal defused many of the home teams forward thrusts, Shane Brewster was his bullish self around the packs and Ben Hobgen’s ruck work was first rate.
Longwarry forward Luke Serong (six goals) showed off his abundant talent, the Holland brothers, Tye, Dylan and Rhys all made a significant midfield contribution and former Ellinbank utility Luke Bond and Mick Bourke both figured prominently. Ben Garritty had a crack all game and across the half back line Tim Milner read play well and rebounded the ball with real conviction.
With a touch of luck over the last two weeks, the Crows could have occupied third spot on the ladder at the end of this week’s round nine fixtures. Unfortunately, the out-of-luck Crows now sit ninth and with a bit of work to do, such is the logjam on the ladder below second spot.
A PUMPED up Kooweerup hung on for a nine-point home victory over Catani.
Playing in front of a big crowd, bolstered by the reunion of their three 1981 premiership teams, the Demons led comfortably at every change, but had to withstand a spirited Blues revival in the last term. Thanks to four third term majors by classy left footer Ben Miller, the home side turned a 17-point half time advantage into a match winning 32-point lead at the last change.
For the victors, Matt Dunham laboured hard and set up a number of crucial midfield plays and coach Rhys Morgan, Jack Carson and half backs Sean Miller and Neil Watson generated many forward moves while Craig Dyker affected a dozen handy spoils in the last line of defence.
Unlike previous matches when they had fallen away in the last quarter, Catani, managed to keep the Demons scoreless in the last term and whittled back the deficit by 23 points before they ran out of time. Owen Fitzpatrick returned to form and bagged seven goals, but was unusually inaccurate also kicking seven behinds, including two ‘posters’ in the last quarter. Jake Delphine, Nat Rodda and Phil Strahan provided the midfield momentum and Luke McFarlane and Barry Parsons offered stubborn defence.
CORA Lynn kept its top two finish chances alive after it clinched a 25-point victory over fellow finals aspirants, Bunyip. Seven goals by talented Cobra star Matt Robinson proved to be the difference between the two sides. The Bulldogs trailed by 21 points in the third quarter, but reduced the deficit to four points in the last term before the visitors finished the stronger. Gun utility Jack Allen, who is having a tremendous season and 17-year-old Jordan Toole, picked up regular midfield touches and ruckman Brad Horaczko left his mark on the game with many telling disposals in the back half.
Bulldogs on ballers Ben Jostlear, Chris Savage, Brad Walker and Callum Pattie worked their butts off and captain and key defender Jack Fitzpatrick gave it his all in the ruck after Marc Rotunno sustained a knee injury in the first half. The Cobras displayed a little too much polish when it mattered.
SEVEN straight first quarter goals by Lang Lang paved the way for a 36-point victory over Ellinbank. The Tigers were set alight by John Nicols, who kicked three of the first four goals of the game and went on to steer through seven. Centreman Billy Hayes, wingman Chris McCurdy and Jake Dwyer, in his 100th game, all mobilised the Tigers midfield. Half backs Aaron Creasey and Dylan Mitchell provided plenty rebound were lent strong assistance from another rising star, Bodie Brown. For the Bankers, David Scott Smith was a focal target across centre half forward and Malcolm Dow was busy around the packs. Midfield Terry Mildren and 16-year-old Nathan Paredes garnered plenty of the ball and Andrew Quirk played a tidy game in defence.
NYORA crumbled without much resistance losing to Neerim Neerim South by a whopping 155 points.
Cat star Chris Urie won a stack of the ball and dismantled the Saint defence, kicking six goals, young wingman Matt Ward showed plenty of poise and skill and another promising colt, Joel Whitford, offered plenty of run and carry. Darren Ratten was prominent across the half forward line and Brenton Cowell steady in defence. Depleted by injury and many late withdrawals, the Saints were outnumbered at the contests all game. Glen Tempany (two goals), coach Corrie Wilson, midfielder Michael O’Rafferty, and Ryan White all came under notice in what was a desultory effort.
POOWONG slayed a listless Buln Buln by 79 points.
The Lyrebirds barely resembled the outfit that surprised Bunyip seven days earlier. The Magpies set the tone for the game when it rammed on eight goals to one in the opening term. Midfielders Dan Mullens and Matt Grant put their head over the ball and pumped it forward all game, Troy Aust plucked in many superb marks across the half back line and forward trickster Kael Bergles snagged six goals. Ruckman Connor Cunningham competed well in both the air and at ground level and Dave Miller offered resolute defence. Buln Buln plodded all game and never got going. Defender Luke Grabowski and Rick Hayes (two goals) showed good perseverance and former Cora Lynn pair, Mark Symons, and Pat Venville contested strongly, as did, Rhys Hall and Luke Harvey.