By Ken Moore
LANG Lang was bundled out of the finals’ race after a 67-point loss to Nar Nar Goon on Saturday.
The Tigers were competitive early and only trailed by 16 points at half-time before the Goon powered ahead with a 10-goal-to-two second half, running out easy winners.
In perfect conditions the opening 10 minutes featured plenty of tight accountable, but occasionally scrappy, football before the Goon broke clear with goals by Ben Scanlon, Matt Stocco, Chris Jones and Matt Noonan to open up a 23-point lead.
Lang Lang hit back late in the quarter with goals by David Williams and Chris McCurdy, interspersed by another major to key Goon forward Chris Jones, and the visitors went in with a handy 19-point lead at the first break.
The opening ten minutes of the second quarter was similar to the first, with plenty of body-on-body contests and stoppages and goals hard to come by.
At the 10-minute mark, robust Tiger forward and Mooroolbark recruit Luke Muirhead goaled and a few minutes later the Goon was under pressure for the first time when Kurt Batt hauled in a juggled mark and kicked truly to reduce the margin to nine points.
Nar Nar Goon answered the challenge when a snap on goal by Ben Scanlon parted the big sticks and provided the visitors with a 16-point lead at the main break.
Nar Nar Goon stepped up a gear after the break and killed off the game with a seven-goal-to-one third quarter to take 48-point advantage into the last break, with the game effectively all over, bar the shouting.
Goon coach Clint Williams led by example and was a prime mover in the third quarter and with strong assistance Matt Stocco, Chris Adams and Matt Wade, the visitor’s carved up the Tiger midfield.
Lang Lang scored four last-quarter goals, but was still outscored by Nar Nar Goon that cruised to a solid win.
Aside from those to excel in the third quarter, other good players for Nar Nar Goon included Shannon Stocco, who stalked the goals with intent after half-time and put through five majors.
Chris Jones and Ben Scanlon (four goals apiece) provided a good target all game, while Nathan Jones and Blair Lidstone were pillars of strength in defence over all four quarters.
Lang Lang’s turnovers hurt the Tigers badly in the first half and they simply had no one to spark them in the second.
Rhys Nisbet, Corey Dowson, Brett Hameeteman and Jake Dwyer all offered good resistance in defence, especially in the first half.
Hadley Tomamichel was the best of the Tiger midfielders and Luke Muirhead with five goals – four after the main break – often posed difficulties for the Goon defence.
