Narre Warren star Brett Evans spoils Lion defender Nathan Brown during Pakenham’s five-point win at Fox Road on Saturday. 30899 Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Brad Kingsbury
A WEEKEND of heart stoppers that saw four sides record draws and undefeated top-of-the-table Pakenham scrape home over Narre Warren by five points highlighted a Saturday to remember.
The results underlined the competition in 2009 as the closest and most exciting it has been since the creation of the league as it is in 2005 and huge local crowds continue to flock to matches across all venues.
The build up to the clash between the Magpies and Lions at Fox Road was intense, given they have been the two best-performed sides in the league over several seasons.
Pakenham was without injured star Dan O’Loughlin and Luke Walker who was playing with Collingwood reserves, while Narre Warren also had injury concerns with Michael Collins and Matthew Werner also watching on.
The home side dominated against the steady breeze in the first 15 minutes of play, but could not break away and the Lions came back to lead by one point at quarter-time.
Tragedy struck Narre Warren at the end of the opening quarter when triple-premiership defender Clay Peresso fell awkwardly, badly breaking his ankle and requiring an ambulance transfer to Dandenong Hospital.
Again the Magpies bounced out with two early goals in the second quarter and, again the Lions steadied to firstly level and then extend their advantage to 12 points at the half-time interval.
Tom O’Loughlin was marshalling the frugal Lions defence while Anthony Young and Dean Blake were on top across the wings and providing great drive, despite determined efforts from Magpie playmakers Jarrod Anderson, Daniel Borninkhof and Chris Collins.
The third term was a see-sawing affair with first Narre Warren on top, then Pakenham and again the Magpies.
Brett Evans broke free of Lion defender Nathan Brown to score before Pakenham spearhead Daniel Fry also shook off his marker Michael McGill to boot two important majors late in the term.
With Clint Walker sneaking forward and rucks Glen Wouters and Jeremy Everett changing in a forward pocket, it appeared that the visitors would have too much strength for their opponent.
However, someone forgot to tell the Magpies that and they drew level at the final break, setting up a big last quarter.
The last quarter was a snapshot of Australian Rules football at its best.
After the sides went goal-for-goal in the first five minutes, Pakenham midfielder Ryan Cassidy broke free and took the game by the scruff of the neck, helping his team to a 20-point lead at the 19-minute mark – thanks to two goals to Fry and another to Walker.
However, in typical fighting style, the young Pies were not done with and a late goal to Borninkhof and Evans, the result of a crowd-pleasing ‘speccy’ in the goal square, saw the Lions lead reduced to five points.
Pakenham was one player short for the last three minutes, thanks to a brain fade by Wouters who was reported and sent from the ground for striking Joel Broadhurst, but their experience saw the Lions hang on to win over their gallant young opposition.
Lions’ coach Michael Holland was happy with the four points, but less than impressed with the inconsistency of his side afterwards.
“We have mental lapses. We get three or four (goals) up and then take the foot off the pedal and forget everything we’re trying to achieve. It’s frustrating,” he said.
“Narre is a good side. They don’t go outside the team rules and team plans and that’s credit to them.
“When we lose control, we’ve got to find a way to steady and wrest that back. We were lucky enough to get away with it (this weekend) but that won’t keep happening and we’ve got a lot of improvement in us.”
Holland agreed that Cassidy’s effort was one of poise under pressure in the final term.
“I put it on him at three-quarter time and he showed great leadership and stepped it up. That’s the sort of response I expect from all players under pressure.”
His Narre Warren counterpart Matt Shinners also pointed out some problem areas that he would address over the coming weeks, however he said there were some positives to be taken into account from their determined effort.
“You can’t be happy with a loss and I don’t want anyone to think for one minute that we are happy with that,” he said.
“The fighting spirit they showed was typical Narre Warren and it’s terrific because I know they will continue to fight. We must continue to work on the positives out of this game.
“We let ourselves down in the first half with our disposal, but when we got the ball to the top of the square in the second half we were better and that’s when we started putting pressure on them.
“It was good character-building stuff. It was particularly pleasing to watch the blokes that we have brought up doing so well and adjusting to the speed of the game at senior level.”
