Bunyip footballer Michael Ross was busy early for the Gippsland Power before a leg injury sidelined him in the second quarter at Morwell on Saturday. 29207 Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Marc McGowan
A BRAVE Gippsland Power side was left to rue a ‘disastrous’ second quarter in its 23-point loss to the unbeaten Geelong Falcons at Morwell on Saturday.
The Power leaked seven goals – while going scoreless itself – in the second term to fall 32 points behind at half-time after controlling the opening quarter.
Falcons rising star Allan Christensen, only playing because he sat out Victoria Country’s game the previous weekend, sparked the visitors’ charge.
His 22 possessions came in just over half a game, with acting Falcons’ captain Zach Ledin (42 disposals) and Josh Grabowski also playing pivotal roles in the result.
But Geelong had to withstand a ferocious Gippsland comeback that saw the Power draw within two goals in the final quarter.
The signs were good early for Gippsland, which entered the clash with four straight wins, with its trademark pressure continually rewarded.
The Power surged ahead through majors to Kele Asa Leausa and Michael Ross and held a 14-point advantage at quarter-time, courtesy of a five-goal-to-three term, including two to Tim Northe.
Midfielder David Donchi (24) was also an early stand-out for the hosts.
But it didn’t take long for proceedings to drastically change.
Christensen, who Mitch Dowse (20) held well in the first quarter, sharked the ball from the opening bounce and thumped it inside 50.
And he slotted the opening major moments later after receiving the ball from Grabowski.
The Falcons’ first two minutes proved an ominous precursor to an electrifying period of dominance.
In-form Gippsland ruckman Chris Wylie was still winning the majority of hit-outs, but Geelong won clearance after clearance.
The Falcons led 11-2 in that area at the long break.
Grabowski kicked two goals within 30 seconds at the height of Geelong’s supremacy.
Ross compounded the Power’s pain when he left the field with a leg injury and sat out the rest of the contest.
Coach Damian Carroll later lamented his players’ inability to get their hands on the football and Gippsland’s forward-50 was a lonely place in the second term.
The Power conceded the first goal of the second half to fall 37 points in arrears, but gradually fought back.
Russell Lehman (21) was the catalyst for the turnaround with his exquisite ball use, but Asa Leausa was equally important with his hard work in attack.
Nick Sing and Lachlan Todd also stood up in defence.
Lehman capped three straight Gippsland goals with a routine shot from 15 metres, resulting in Hocking sending the dreadlocked Luke Dahlhaus onto the field to mind him.
But Tim Ryan turned the ball over by hand in the middle of the ground late in the quarter and Gabby Denton wound up kicking a steadying goal for the Falcons.
The difference was 22 at three-quarter-time, but Asa Leausa and Darcy Thorpe combined to cut that to 18 at the five-minute mark of the last term.
The Power was well and truly coming when Northe booted his third on the run after a series of handballs a minute later.
But back-to-back majors to Jackson Bright, his third and fourth for the afternoon, returned Geelong’s advantage.
Asa Leausa kicked his second following a free kick to give Gippsland some hope, but Falcon Daniel Semmens slotted the sealer.
Carroll was disappointed after the match after believing his troops were on the right track at quarter-time.
“It was almost like we went back to self-preservation football and actually worrying about ourselves rather than the team,” he said.
“That 15-minute period in the second quarter, where they kicked seven goals, was really disastrous for us.
“We’ve got to work better at shutting down sides when they get consecutive goals.
“We know we’re close, but we’ve still got a bit to work on … hopefully we can go on and win next week and get the ship back to port.”
Gippsland travels to Coburg City Oval to face the Calder Cannons on Sunday at 1.30pm.
