Lions victorious

By Brad Kingsbury
THE previously undefeated Doveton juggernaut ground to a 98-point halt against a determined and focussed Pakenham in a horribly one-sided second semi-final at Berwick on Sunday.
Except for the superb marking of star ruckman Russell Gabriel, there was not one positive for the Doves in an appalling afternoon that also saw the club’s top-of-the-table reserves cop a beating.
In contrast, the Lions were so flush with good players that coach Michael Holland refused to nominate any individual efforts above the other during the post-match euphoria.
“Everything came off (and) across the board I thought we were pretty good,” he said, massive-ly understating his side’s effort.
“If we’re playing to instruction and executing our game plan over four quarters, the scoreboard looks after itself (like) it did today.”
Pakenham kicked to the Princes Highway end of the Edwin Flack Reserve in the opening term, but there was little wind and that was not a factor.
The Lions dominated the centre clearances despite Gabriel’s influence and pounded the ball forward with monotony, but were inaccurate with Cory Lenders, Chris Smith, Daniel Fry and Adam Cook (twice) missing regulation shots at goal.
The scores were nine behinds to one before Beau Wheeler slotted the Lions first major at the 20-minute mark of the game, quickly followed by one each to Jack O’Rourke and Luke Walker, giving Pakenham a 27-point lead at the first change.
That should have been larger given that the inside 50s were 16 to four for the term, but any concerns that the Doves may regroup in the second quarter were put to the sword with another three quick goals extending the Lions’ lead to 46 points in the first 10 minutes of the second quarter.
It took a bit of around-the-corner magic from star Ryan Hendy to record Doveton’s first major for the game at the 16-minute mark of the match, but the horse had already bolted and there was never going to be a miraculous comeback by the minor premiers.
Things went from bad to worse when the Doves lost captain Justin Hill to a calf injury in the second quarter, and the game meandered to a predictable end throughout a lack-lustre and relatively highlight-free second half.
The superlatives were all reserved for the Lions with players like Luke Walker, Ryan Cassidy, Anthony Young, Dean Blake, Dan O’Loughlin, Lenders and Jack O’Rourke all taking turns to do their jobs in the midfield, while Jared Goldsack, Tom O’Loughlin and Nathan Brown held a miserly backline together.
The Lions goals were spread over 12 individuals with Blake and Lenders the major contributors with three each.
At the other end, Danny Casset kicked two goals but looked slow and was well held by Brown, while midfielder Kim Aboujaber also finished with two of his team’s paltry return of five majors.
Overall, the Doves were exposed by the Lions everywhere, in particular their pace, but Holland played a straight bat after the game saying that, despite his side’s complete domination, there were still areas where they could get better.
“There was a fair difference on the scoreboard at the end of the day, but I wouldn’t have thought it was easy at all,” he said.
“It was still pretty physical and I think we still had a couple of lapses where we have to be more mentally switched on. In the third quarter, I thought we started finessing and mucking around with the ball, so there’s still improvement there.”
“Our execution in the first quarter wasn’t great and, in finals, you have to take the opportunities when they present themselves.”
Holland added that he was happy with his side’s improved discipline but would not be celebrating until after the grand final.
“We just wanted to play football. In finals you don’t want to be giving stupid free kicks or 50-metre penalties away and we’ve worked on that area. It was pretty ordinary at the start of the year,” he said.
“We’re not getting carried away because all we’ve done is give ourselves an opportunity. Regardless of who we play we’re going to have to lift it to another level again.”
At no stage did Doveton play as a team or work for each other and they looked every bit a disjointed group of talented individuals, but who are simply not good enough to win finals matches by themselves.
Doveton assistant coach Clint Wilson said excluding Gabriel and Hendy, his whole side was down and, despite having played only one game in four weeks prior to Sunday’s clash, there was no hint of such a performance looming.
“I’ve got to admit I didn’t see that coming,” he said.
“I’m not using that as an excuse, but the bye is not ideal for any side during the season.”
“We were lazy, which does tend to happen when you lose, but there was no pressure at all and that’s the biggest worry.”
Wilson agreed that there was a serious lack of application shown by his players, particularly when Pakenham had possession.
“We just couldn’t get our hands on the ball. I think we only had three or four forward entries in the first quarter which is rare in this footy,” he said. “Their midfield flogged us all day. They ran well, held on to it well and chipped it to each other well. We just stopped and watched.”
“It was the exact opposite to our first game (against them) this year.”