Pakenham assistant coach and gun midfielder Lincoln Withers is wrapped up by Tooradin youngster Blake Batt as he tries to dispose of the ball in Saturday’s clash of traditional rivals at the Westernport oval. Picture: Mike Richards. By Brad Kingsbury
PAKENHAM proved that its recent giantkilling win over Doveton was no fluke, by backing it up with an emotional 15point result over neighbours Tooradin on Saturday.
The Lions were tipped to suffer a postDoveton let down, but the opposite was the case as they powered away to turn a five point threequartertime deficit into a resounding win that saw them jump two points clear in third position on the ladder.
The game carried extra importance to both clubs with several former Lions now firmly entrenched at the Westernport oval including coach Dan O’Loughlin, his brother Tom and recent addition Clint Walker.
Many players from both clubs are longterm friends and local pride was on the line as well as four premiership points.
It was Pakenham that hit the ground like it meant business and, assisted by a slight breeze, the Lions dominated the first quarter with key forwards Simon Ponter and Nathan Lieshout providing good targets.
However Pakenham’s early inaccuracy kept Tooradin in the game and the 23point difference at quarter time should have been greater.
That point was noted by O’Loughlin and the game changed complexion after the first break.
Tooradin got on top around the ground through the efforts of Beau Miller, Tom Hallinan, Scott Weekley and youngster Blake Batt, forcing errors from the Lions and kicking to within one goal at halftime, despite inaccuracy in front of goals. The game developed into an armwrestle after halftime with Tooradin proving that it was the equal of its opponent around the ground, but still losing the battle for clearances in the centre.
The Seagulls’ defence was strong as was the Lions, but again Tooradin had trouble converting and its fivepoint lead at threequarter time should probably have been greater.
The final term was all Pakenham as the Lions defied the rigours of their recent hard run and lifted a gear to overpower their opponent.
Lincoln Withers dominated the term and with assistance from Michael Holland, Jared Goldsack and Nathan Brown, the Lions gained and then held a two to threegoal lead until the final siren.
Holland was all smiles after the game, saying his players’ unity was an edge, but at the same time lamenting some potentially costly errors.
“We should have put them away in the first quarter, but didn’t and they came back strongly,” he said.
“To their credit they were hard at the ball and it took us until the last quarter to get on top of them.”
“Our decisionmaking and field kicking is, at times, absolutely terrible. We can improve there for sure. We’re a very closeknit unit and we need that to get over these good sides.”
After the game Holland addressed his players in the change rooms briefly before taking them out onto the ground away from supporters and officials to have a quiet chat about their start to the season.
“It was just something different. Sometimes you need to do that sort of thing to keep the focus and sense of unity,” he said.
Tooradin chairman of selectors Darren Sherrit was critical of his side’s slow start and said that bad kicking for goal was becoming a major problem.
“We just didn’t man up (in the first quarter) and as soon as we became accountable it started to swing back to us a bit,” he said.
“We try to play our own game. We like to try to get teams to play the way we want them to. We don’t try to focus too much on them.
“We’ve kicked badly the last three weeks in a row. Probably scoreboard pressure is the biggest you can put on and that definitely cost us. We’re getting plenty of the ball, but we’re not taking our opportunities.”
