EDFL match of the day

COULD Longwarry be a sleeper for the premiership? Not only did the Crows consolidate a spot in the top six but they showed enough to suggest they cannot be dismissed as a premiership chance after they humbled the previously in form Kooweerup by 52 points. The Demons had no answer for Longwarry forward Glen Browney, who produced one of the most outstanding efforts of the season, kicking 10 goals and bamboozling several opponents.
The home side Longwarry kicked with the advantage of a two to threegoal wind but it was Kooweerup that opened the brighter with goals by Scott Morrison, Dan Crowley and Peter Doll inside the first 10 minutes. Morrison and Crowley, along with fellow talls Adam Biszko and Brett Hobson, pulled in strong marks and the Crows were troubled by Demons height early. Midway through the term the complexion of the game changed dramatically when Longwarry went on a stunning eightgoal goal spree to go to the quartertime break 40 points to the good.
Browney was the star of the show and with decisive leads, strong marks and a number of long goals he netted four majors and provided the Crows with focal target. Crow midfielder Paul Williams had the ball on a string and bagged three goals to also be a thorn in the Demon defence.
Gippsland Power’s Tye Holland and another runner Mark Light played a major role in the Crows’ dominance. Despite kicking with the wind the Crows led because they moved the ball directly and had the better of the takeaways at the centre bounces.
Kooweerup’s Dan Crowley scored the first goal of the second quarter, however Longwarry replied with goals by Luke Serong and Browney to go into the halftime break well in control and 46 points up. Crows defenders Grant McDonald, Damian Wigfield, Leigh McDonald and Ken Towt had fine second quarters and repelled the best the visitors could offer and captain Ben Garrity did well to blanket key Demon midfielder Rhys Morgan. Kooweerup’s midfielders were barely sighted in the first half and its best players included defenders Josh Evans and Ben Miller and ruckman Adam Biszko.
Longwarry opened the third quarter with a major by Browney, which was quickly cancelled out by a goal to John Stanley. However the Demons could not make any inroads on the scoreboard and Blair Weller’s two goals, including a spectacular long kick that bounced through from 70 metres, was followed by another Browney goal. Coach Scott McQualter then celebrated his 50th game with a clever snap to put the home side in an unassailable position, 63 points in front at the last change.
With Longwarry well in charge, sidelined Kooweerup captaincoach Peter Bastinac accepted that his team had little to play for other than pride and asked his side to win the last quarter to take something away from the game. The Demons, without being overconvincing, answered his plea with a sixgoalstofour last term but still found themselves 52 points short when the final siren sounded.
Longwarry set itself up with its 10goal first quarter and for the rest of the match had a midfield that won more of the ball and used it more constructively.
Browney was brilliant, not one of his goals was a gift and the talented leftfooter mesmerised the Demon defence with strong marks and accurate kicks. Paul Williams used the ball creatively and Holland and Matt Campbell were the prime movers through the midfield.
The defence of Towt, Leigh McDonald, Wigfield, Daniel Brown and Brett McQualter all played assured games in a good team effort. Assistant coach Grant McDonald was hard at it at both ends of the ground with his attack on the ball being a feature. The introduction of ruckman Michael Bourke in recent weeks has improved the Crows’ balance, freeing up Scott McQualter to plug gaps around the ground and helping share the ruckwork. “Pleased with our good desperation, commitment and pressure, the meatandpotatoes type of footy that wins matches,” the coach said after the match.
The best players for Kooweerup were defenders Josh Evans, Brett Hobson and Ben Miller, who held up well under constant pressure. Prize recruits Peter Doll and Rod Hoober won kicks in the second half but the game was as good as over by then and Adam Biszko made his presence in the first half.
“It was a good test under pressure today, just what finals footy is all about, and a good eyeopener for the future,” said an optimistic Bastinac, hoping that his team would extract something positive from the defeat.
Kooweerup’s third spot is now under threat from Longwarry if it loses to Bunyip this week. If it hasn’t already, Longwarry will now command respect from opposition sides and could play a large role in the finals.