Under18

GIPPSLAND Power went down to top side Geelong Falcons without premiership players Delphine, Ryan, Youle, Eddy, Hansen and Ross due to State team requirements.
The Power’s challenge was then compounded by the loss of young ruckman Brent Connelly due to VCE commitments. The Falcons were in a similar situation due to state commitments but the Power’s problems were compounded by injuries depriving McKenna, Vernon, McIntosh, Bergmeier and Truscio the chance to fill the glaring gaps.
The Power seemed to settle better after a scrappy start to the first term and Tyson Goldsack had the first major on the board from outside the 50metre arc. As would become a pattern, the Falcons capitalised on indecisive Power defence to take a narrow lead. Luke Webber replied for the Power after a 50metre penalty and Kane Martin goaled. However, the Falcons were still in the game due to poor manning up by the Power and it took good teamwork by the Power to set up Brent Sheehan for a goal gave them a twopoint lead at the first change.
The Power was right in the game but struggling to reduce their decisionmaking errors. They opened the second quarter with a clever goal by Brent Macaffer but then conceded a soft goal to the Falcons at the 10minute mark. The Falcons hit back hard but were offtarget and the Power’s Jackson Hall goaled, again as a result of a 50metre penalty. The Falcons hit back with two majors after soft Power defence and went into the long break five points up.
The pressure was beginning to tell on both sides and neither could assert its authority early in the third term. The Falcons hit first and again punished poor Power play to break clear midway through the term. Heady play by Ben Jostlear and Macaffer reduced the margin but again costly errors and pressure allowed the Falcons to score easy goals and go into the last change 21 points up.
The Power could not withstand the pressure in the last term. Goldsack and Hughes combined to give the Power the first goal but the game then became a scramble and neither side could get purpose into its play. The Falcons punished tired Power efforts and put the game beyond dispute. The Power kept trying and Macaffer and Goldsack scored majors but it was too late and the Falcons went on to win by 36 points.
Scores: Geelong Falcons 16.8.104 d Gippsland Power 10.8.68.
Goals: Brent Macaffer 3, Tyson Goldsack 2, Jackson Hall, Brett Hughes, Kane Martin, Brent Sheehan, Luke Webber 1.
Best: Tyson Goldsack, Ashley Payne, James Blaser, Joel Morgan, Ben Jostlear, Tristram Francis.