Power barrels Cannons

GIPPSLAND Power put an average start to the season behind it to down the Calder Cannons by 57 points on Saturday.
The Power went into the TAC Cup match against the Cannons with a huge question mark hanging over its head.
After starting the season with two poor performances it had bounced back with a gutsy win over Bendigo and seemed back on track.
Paul Hudson and his coaching panel had worked hard to focus on the deficiencies in the first three matches and the question was which side had come to play. It didn’t take long to see that the Power was on song as it dominated the game all day in the wet and slippery conditions.
The first term was played in good conditions and the Power had goals on the board quickly, due to some clever play by Marc Truscio and Ben Ross.
The power led by 12 points at the first break.
In the opening minutes of the second term the rain began to fall, but the Power hit hard and Goldsack had his third.
The Cannons replied after an error by the Power and then Rob Eddy asserted himself to set up Ross before kicking one himself.
Some excellent forward pressure set up Truscio.
The Cannons hit back with ‘gifts’ from the Power defence and then the umpire, before a long goal after the siren by Hansen gave the Power a 24point lead at the long break.
Conditions were deteriorating and the game became a real slog.
A long bomb by Tristan Francis started the scoring and neither side was able to use the ball precisely due to the pressure being applied, as well as the slippery ball.
The Power was off target before Hansen got a great snap.
The Cannons again punished indecision by the Power to stay in touch.
It took a freakish goal by Ross to keep the Power on track, but it was unable to follow his lead and let the Cannons in for two more before the siren.
At the last change the Power led by 27 points.
The last term was a real challenge for the Power would it continue to let the Cannons stay in the game or finally snuff out its resistance?
The answer came quickly with goals by Luke Webber, Ross and Truscio.
The Cannons had a couple more before Will Kelly received a gift from Webber and Ross capped off a stellar game with an ‘Ablettlike special’ along the ground.
Kane Martin put his body on the line to mark and goal before some good teamwork by Jaymie Youle and Brent Connelly gave Brent the final major of the game.
Scores: Gippsland Power 21.13.139 d Calder Cannons 12.10.82.
Goals: Ben Ross 5, Lachlan Hansen 4, Tyson Goldsack and Marc Truscio 3, Brent Connelly, Rob Eddy, Tristan Francis, Will Kelly, Kane Martin and Luke Webber 1.
Best: Ben Ross, Tristan Francis, Rob Eddy, Lachlan Hansen, Tyson Goldsack and Ricky Delphine.