Stars out in flying colours

By Ken Moore
LONGWARRY can start making plans for next season after it suffered a 79-point loss to the undefeated Garfield at Beswick Street on Saturday.
It must be said, though, the Crows were far more impressive than the end margin suggested, because it only trailed by 30 points at three quarter time – and had enough of the ball to be a little closer.
The Stars have now won 13 games in a row and continue to firm for flag favouritism. Longwarry sits 10 points in arrears of the sixth placed Warragul Industrials, and while statistically it can still make the top six as there are six home and away rounds remaining, their chances are remote.
Aside from a slight cross breeze, it was a perfect day for football.
Longwarry had the better of the opening 10 minutes, but had only one major; from goalsneak Luke Serong, to show for it. Midway through the quarter, the home side found its groove and with goals by Matthew Hobbs, Dylan Collis and Daniel Fry, it went into the first break with a six-point advantage. Garfield led because it made the most of its opportunities and used the ball far more efficiently. The Crows had seven scoring opportunities, but could only manage one goal – and its wasteful kicking denied it the lead.
Longwarry continued to apply terrific pressure in the second quarter and when ruck rover Leigh McDonald drilled through a goal at the three-minute mark, it reduced the deficit to one point. Thereafter, the quarter progressed in an identical fashion to the first term, with Garfield responding with a goal by Fry, his second, and two to Brett Reid, who proved elusive across the half forward line. A late goal by Crow utility Brock Neve was cancelled out by a Jim Bow six pointer and the home side went into the main interval with a useful 20-point lead.
In an uncanny resemblance to the first two quarters, Garfield again stamped its authority on the game in the middle stages of the quarter when goals by Reid, Hobbs and Collis helped it open up a 37-point buffer. Collis scored another, his third, before the quarter ended, but replies by Serong and Tim Milner trimmed the margin to 30 points at the last change and the visitors had slender hope.
Despite the urgings of sidelined Longwarry coach Grant McDonald at three quarter time, his team were done for inside the first 10 minutes of the last quarter. Three goals by mercurial Stars forward Bow, all from difficult angles, and another by Reid, gave the home side an unassailable 57-point lead. The Crows stopped to a jog during the term and the Stars put on clinic, kicking another five goals to blow the margin out to 79 points at the final siren.
It was another good team effort by Garfield. Reid (five goals), was a focal target after quarter time and was fed well by Brent Eastwell, Hobbs, Luke Bee Hugo and Ned Marsh, who kept pumping the ball forward. Bow, with a cameo three-goal last term, displayed his talent and Ryan Munro ran the ball out of defence and his return to the club this season – along with the recruitment of Damien Rhind, who was solid down back – has given the Stars a lot more flexibility. Shane Reid was steady in defence and Collis, Nick Marsh, Sam Ferguson and Fry did well in patches.
Garfield coach Brent Eastwell offered that the end margin was not a true reflection of the game.
“They took it right up to us, and moved the ball impressively for a good deal of the game,” Eastwell said.
“We did not play at our best, but our forward line functioned a lot better than it had in recent weeks.”
For Longwarry, ruck rover and assistant coach Tye Holland chased kicks with success and behind the centre, Mark Light, Milner and Leigh McDonald did more than their fair share of good work. Brock Neve, Luke Bond and Jason Garritty made significant contributions at both ends of the ground.
“Bad kicking on goal early and our accountability let us down,” Leigh McDonald, Longwarry’s assistant coach, said.