By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE NON-CONTEST
AFTER the seemingly inevitable nervous start from both sides on Saturday, the EDFL’s dominance roared through.
It took until the 4:20 mark for the first goal to be scored, but the way in which the likes of Monckton, Shane Brewster, Luke Walker and Dylan Collis combined to make it happen set the tone for the remainder of the game.
The attack on the contest, the willingness to work, the trust in their team-mates to have their backs – it was all there.
Both Luke and Brad Walker worked brilliantly off the back of the packs in the early going – from one to the other, the support was there.
While big Owen Fitzpatrick lasted less than a quarter, he kicked two early goals that made the huge crowd think he might just have been on for a massive haul. He, like Walker, Brewster and Collis, looked unstoppable.
And when Fitzpatrick left the field with a leg injury, Danny Brewster used his imposing frame to great effect as well. He threw his body around, crashed into contests and made a lasting impact. It was a recurring theme throughout the game – yes, the EDFL side had plenty of stars – in fact this reporter would argue that none of its players lost his individual match-up – but it also had tireless workers. Relentless, ruthless workers.
Josh Grant’s ferocious tackling; Nathan Lieshout’s vocal leadership and willingness to fly for the high ball; Tye Holland’s run; Nathan Muratore’s decision-making; Brendan Neville’s veteran composure; Matt Gray and Bob McCallum’s ruck dominance; Kody Wilson, Daniel Johnson and Semir Zijai’s uncanny goal sense – it all played a part.
The longer the game wore on, the more obvious it was just how outmatched Mid Gippsland was. It’s one thing to be short on top-end talent – another to be short on top-end work ethic.
