Above: Come here ball. Players from the Dusties and the Saints contest for the evasive ball in Saturday’s clash.
By Ken Moore
KOOWEERUP produced one of the biggest form turnarounds of the season when it beat Poowong by 48 points.
The Demons reportedly did some soul-searching during the week and showed little of the disarray that saw them lose three of their previous four matches by well over 100 points.
Brett Hobson consummated a fine game with five goals, ruckman Matt Cameron, Rhys Morgan, Jack Carson and Max Longson galvanised the midfield and Ben Miller and Ryan Wilby each kicked three goals and provided a good forward target. Poowong trickster Kael Bergles bagged nine goals and led a lone hand for the Magpies. Tough utility Dan Mullen extricated the ball from the packs well, 16-year-old Jack Cochrane offered good drive and showed he has the rudiments of being a good player and Gavin Notman put in a concerted effort in what was Poowong’s most abject display for the season.
NEERIM Neerim South grounded out a 44-point victory over a dogged Ellinbank.
In a scrappy affair, strapping ruckman Matt Young muscled his way into many contests and Tyssen Morrow proved a real thorn in the Bankers’ defence, steering through six goals.
Despite close checking by Andrew Quirk, who seldom let him out of his sight, midfield dynamo Chris Urie still played an influential role and was lent good assistance by Cam Hinkley and Leigh Sheehan, while Ryan Muir and Brenton Cowell were hard at the ball and launched plenty of drive off the half-back line.
Ellinbank stuck to its guns, but were simply outclassed. Half-back Josh Peterson instigated many attacks and there was a lot to like about midfielder Nathan Paredes and his brother Josh, who played across the half-forward line.
Fullback Daniel Golding put his body on the line and blocked many attacks and Drouin recruit Brenton Lockhart put in more than a competent effort in the ruck.
LONGWARRY returned to the winners circle for the first time since round 12 with a 29-point victory over Nilma Darnum. The Crows were never in danger of losing, but struggled to put away a very spirited Bombers outfit.
Goalsneak Luke Serong was a stand-out. He kicked eight goals and oozed class– many set up by the Holland brothers, Rhys and Dylan. Half-backs Tom Metselaar and Mark Light swept the ball out of defence and plucky ruck rover Ben Garritty was in and under the packs.
For Nilma, captain Harley Lacunes, who must be at prohibitive odds to win the Bombers’ best and fairest award this season, found plenty of the ball and distributed it well. Ruckman John Ikupu used his athleticism to good effect and the usual suspects of Michael Mooney, Andrew Fyffe and James Hamill, propelled the ball forward a number of times each quarter.
The Bombers can find comfort in the fact that their competitive showing saw them rise off the bottom of the ladder and put over a 2 per cent gap on Nyora.
WARRAGUL Industrials humbled wooden spoon favourites Nyora by 134 points.
Spring-heeled ruckman Ben Hobgen teamed well with rover Chris Larosa to generate many clean centre clearances, wingman Ayden Mills and Chris Potalej pushed the ball inside 50 and fleet-footed on-baller Jason Kennedy was busy through the middle.
Sean Lewis, in his first game in more than two months, showed no signs of injury and along with Rhett O’Hara and Damien Dawson, provided terrific cover across defence. Nyora small man Aiden Cumberland got his hands on the ball often, tall Nick Carrigy showed he was a good long-term prospect with a combative display in the ruck and coach Corrie Wilson led by example, going in search of the ball all match.
AN OPENING term of six goals to one opening term by Lang Lang set it on the way to a straightforward 64-point victory over Buln Buln.
John Nichols (six goals) and David Williams (five) cut the visitors’ backline down and regular defender and rising star Aaron Creasey showed he was also a deft hand up around the big sticks – bagging four majors.
Dean Brown drove the ball out of defence well, Dan O’Hara made his presence felt at both ends and Jarrod Tonks snaffled plenty of disposals midfield. Jimmy van Dam, who has been cutting his teeth in the reserves for most of the season, earned another senior game with some handy possessions from the wing. The Lyrebirds gifted the Tigers too many goals with fundamental ball handling and skill errors.
Brenton Santurini (four goals), including three in the third quarter, showed his skill at both ends of the park; ruckman Andrew Welfare worked tirelessly and Luke Grabowski made some timely interceptions in the last line of defence.
Wingman Deen Allen, who is still eligible for the under-18s, won regular touches and 16-year-old debutant Jack Symes also eked out many disposals and did not look out of place with the big boys.
