Longwarry centre half forward Grant McDonald tests his strength with Kooweerup’s Matt Cameron at a boundary throwin during the Crows’ top win on Saturday. Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Ken Moore
LONGWARRY drummed home that it is a genuine threat to the premiership favourite Nyora when it thrashed Kooweerup by 84 points in the last homeandaway match of the season.
Kooweerup was focused early and, with two goals by Chris Stanley and singles by Peter Doll, Andrew Klaric, Steven Hobson and Scott Morrison, the Demons surprised the Crows and raced to a 25point lead. Longwarry raised its game and closed the deficit to 11 points by quartertime with late goals by Leigh McDonald and Matthew Campbell. Longwarry paid the price for lax manning up in the first quarter. Kooweerup deserved its lead as it used the ball far more effectively. The Demon onball division of Chris and John Stanley, Doll, Rod Hoober and Dan Crowley all made their presence felt in and around the midfield in the first term.
Longwarry coach Grant Close gave his side a dressingdown at the first break and it came out a rejuvenated outfit to grab the lead with a major by Ken Towt and successive goals by Paul Williams. The Crows’ secondquarter revival showed no sign of abating and with goals by Campbell (three), Williams, Browney and Brad Jose, the Crows scored nine secondterm goals to nil to take a 45point lead into the main break.
Longwarry totally dominated the midfield in the second quarter, led by Leigh McDonald, who did well in the ruck and around the packs with strong support from Tye Holland, Matt Campbell, Danny Wells and Brody Rundell. Ken Towt held the defence together and was well supported by Jason Voumard, Michael Bourke, Mark Light and Daniel Brown. The Demons’ intensity waned in the second term and it was hard to find an effective player in the navy blue and red.
Any hopes visiting fans held of a thirdquarter comeback were quashed and the Crows continued on their merry way with goals by Williams, Browney and Grant McDonald to make it 14 in a row and give the home side a stranglehold. Kooweerup rallied halfway through the term with goals by Crowley, Morrison (after a strong mark) and Rhys Morgan but still trailed by 65 points at threequarter time.
Kooweerup took comfort in six lastquarter goals but still failed to make inroads on the scoreboard and Longwarry ran out convincing 84point victors.
Longwarry was simply too good. Kooweerup had no answer for the pacy Crows midfield and a halfback line that generated many attacks. After quartertime aggressive running by the onball division of Campbell and Holland, who were both at their damaging best, along with Rundell, Light and Wells, turned the game on its head. Towt was a standout in defence and had a strong supporting cast of Voumard, Bourke and Tim Milner. Leigh McDonald and Jason Ronalds shared the ruck duties and both impressed with strong bullocking work around the packs. Full forward Browney worked upfield regularly but still managed to snare five goals. Williams, with six goals, proved a handful and, had he held on in a few spectacular attempts to mark, may have scored a doublefigure tally. Serong, Wells and Ben Garrity were elusive in the second half.
“I believe, manonman, we are the best in the league and that is how we played after quartertime. It was a good effort after we were challenged early,” Close said.
Kooweerup started with intent but was outclassed and outrun after the first quarter. Too many times Demons went to ground too easily and did not provide a contest. Furthermore, they conceded too many undisciplined free kicks and their field kicking was disappointing. Defender Glen Robinson was the best of the Demons, hauled in many strong marks and repelled many attacks. Chris Stanley did well, Doll started and finished strongly and halfback Hoober tried hard. While not having a big impact, Dan Crowley, Rhys Morgan and ruckman Adam Biszko did good things. Debutante Nick Hawking played at centre halfforward and was unobtrusive but effective, dishing off many handy possessions that led to Demon goals.
“We stopped running and fell away from our game plan after quartertime. We know we are capable and it’s going to take a lot of improvement but as we showed in the first quarter we have got it in us. I still believe we are a better side than where we finished, in sixth spot,” said Peter Bastinac after the match.
Longwarry looks well on track to take it right up to the ladder leader Nyora on Saturday week in the second semifinal, however Kooweerup will need to improve substantially if it hopes to upset Catani in this week’s elimination final.
