Keysborough high flier Matthew Freeman was among his team’s best in Saturday’s good win over Cranbourne.By Brad Kingsbury
KEYSBOROUGH won its third game for 2006 with an emphatic 36point result over Cranbourne, but coach Paul Jefferies said finals were not on his agenda at this stage.
“We’ve still got a long, long way to go,” he said. “Our skills have improved and are still improving, so that’s good.”
Jefferies would not be drawn on predicting his side’s ladder position, saying that the original aim was four wins and to be competitive each week and any reevaluation would only be made after that was achieved.
Regardless of that, Saturday’s victory against a young and fast opponent was the best indicator of the Burras’ development to date.
Cranbourne was boosted by the inclusion of several young prospects led by Dandenong Stingray Troy TharleAdams.
The visitors took it right up to Keysborough in the first half after the Burra was unbalanced by the loss of star fullforward Luke McGuinness in the first term with a knee injury.
The home side trailed by eight points at the long break, but after Jefferies gave his team a revup it responded by putting the result beyond doubt with an eightgoaltoone third term, led by standin spearhead and rover Kane Tucker with four goals.
Defender Corey Wilkinson blanketed Cranbourne’s key in attack, Marc Holt, while Keysborough ruckman Shaun Witherden gave his onballers first use of the ball and therefore control of the game.
Jefferies was happy with his players’ reaction to Cranbourne’s running pressure and said it had been a good effort, given the loss of McGuinness and absence of key players including Matt Witherden, Warrick Hanks and Greg Walker.
“Our ball delivery in the first half was terrible, but in the second half it was excellent,” he said.
“We still have to become more accountable over four quarters, but give credit to Cranbourne, they run the ball well and they’re young and on the way up.”
Cranbourne’s better performers included youngster Matthew Rus together with Ryan Davey, Damien Whitnall and Aaron Pike.
DEVON Meadows was given a 129point football lesson by a ruthless Narre Warren, bent on success in 2006.
There is only one measure of success for the Magpies this year a premiership and to date coach Aussie Jones’ game plan, that revolves around relentless physical pressure for four quarters, has proved masterful.
The Panthers were at home and expected to provide a contest, but Narre Warren did not allow it any space in attack and kept the home side goalless in the first term, while adding eight majors to have complete control of the contest by quartertime.
The rout continued after the first break with key forwards Brett Evans and Lee Clark too accomplished for their battling opponents and the Magpie midfielders Ricky Clark, Glenn Hamilton and Daniel Field doing as they pleased.
The Magpies increased their lead at each change and, but for the efforts of Devon Meadows recruit David Grose with assistance from captain Jesse Dehey, Tom Hussey and big man Andrew Cotton, the damage might have been worse.
Evans finished the day with five goals from centre halfforward, while youngsters Nick Scanlon and Jason Davenport had an impact in their first games for the Magpies’ seniors.
Narre Warren coach Aussie Jones, who missed the game due to injury, was happy with the way his side went about winning the game and kept the pressure on throughout the day.
Ryan routs Dingoes
BERWICK full forward Ryan Donaldson kicked 14 goals in a dominant display during the Wickers’ 165point drubbing of Dingley.
The positive news for the Dingoes was the fact that they managed to kick six goals for the afternoon, including four in the final term a vast improvement to the previous two goalless weeks.
Donaldson has relished his return to fullforward in the past fortnight, booting 24 majors in two games and bolting to the top of the goalkickers’ leaderboard with 27.
The other big positive for the Wickers was the fact that their other key forward, George Gorozidis, was named best afield in a support role at halfforward, making the Berwick attack a potent force.
The game was a nonevent after Berwick kicked 10 goals to one in the first term and the Wickers’ coaching staff used it as an exercise in developing system and unity, although the finalterm lapse would have been of some concern.
Kirk Betts was again in scintillating form on a wing and Adam Mott, Mark McLean and Jayden Kickett also dominated their opponents.
Dingley’s better players included Darren Andrews, Tony Lavars and Lazaros Iliopoulos.
