Power charges towards finals

GIPPSLAND Power signalled that it was going to be significant player in the TAC Cup finals series when it took on the Eastern Ranges at Morwell.
In ideal conditions it went into the game with close to a fullstrength side and produced an excellent fourquarter effort that resulted in a 113point winning margin.
Power was on the ball early and some excellent forward pressure saw Ricky Delphine set up Tyson Goldsack for the first of the game. Beau Vernon combined with good mate Brent Macaffer for another before Eastern served notice it was in the match with a rebound goal. Things came to a standstill for a while before some crumbing by Ben Ross set up Macaffer and then more pressure allowed him to kick his third of the term.
Tristran Francis was the next to join the goal charge after some strength by Delphine and Kane Martin. Eastern scored late in the term but the Power lead was 22 points.
Ross and Rob Eddy created an inspiring goal and this was repeated almost immediately when Rob Michaelides chipped in with his first. Goldsack then became the “goto” man and the Power was looking set to blow the game wide open.
Before long ruckman Brent Connelly decided it was the big blokes’ turn to dazzle and he was involved twice with a chain of handballs that resulted in a stunning major.
Eastern regained some composure to score its first before Michaelides and then Ross kicked classy goals to extend the margin. When Tom Johnson marked and scored a rare goal the Power lead shot out to 65 points and the game was effectively over as a contest.
At the long break, coach Paul Hudson implored the Power to maintain focus as a strong fourquarter effort was needed with the finals looming. Almost on cue, Eastern had two on the board before the Power got going. That inspired the Power and Goldsack was on the end of some unselfish play by Delphine and Ben Hughes before Connelly finished off some more great team work.
Just when it looked as if the Power was ready to dominate play for the rest of the term, Eastern kicked the last two of the term to remind the Power that nothing but their full concentration was required. The lead was still 63 points but the Power had been inside the 50 circle 22 time for three goals, clearly not good enough.
The last term was going to be a good test of the Power resolve as the coaches used the interchange bench to rest some and bring others into the game. From the opening bounce Gippsland took the game up a couple of notches: Eight goals for the quarter made the point and created a 113point win.
The Power plays the Oakleigh Chargers at home on Saturday.
Score: Gippsland Power 24.19.163 d Eastern Ranges 7.8.50.
Goals: Tyson Goldsack 5, Tristran Francis, Brent Macaffer, Rob Michaelides 3, James Blaser , Lachlan Hansen 2, Brent Connelly, Rob Eddy, Ben Hughes, Tom Johnson, Kane Martin, Ben Ross 1.
Best: Ricky Delphine, Tyson Goldsack, Tom Johnson, Brent Connelly, Ben Hughes, Ashley Payne, Ben Ross.