Longwarry’s Glen Browney and Buln Buln spoiler Ricky Mitchard had eyes only for the ball in this contest during the Crows’ close victory on Saturday.LONGWARRY consolidated its spot in the top six with a hardfought 15point victory over Buln Buln. The match yielded only 19 goals but the crowd was captivated as the game was nip and tuck with the result in the balance until the final minutes. Intense pressure, tackling and desperate smothers were features and a credit to both sides.
Longwarry opened the better with successive goals by its assistant coach Grant McDonald and this was followed by a third by goal sneak Luke Serong before Brad Taylor dribbled through Buln Buln’s first to peg the margin back to 13 points at quartertime. The first quarter was even and the Lyrebirds only trailed because they persisted in attacking from the outer side. Many of their kicks at goal fell short due to a slight crosswind from the dead pocket. Both teams played tight accountable football in the first quarter and few players made their mark on the game.
Buln Buln opened impressively in the second quarter with a goal by Michael Baker and a quick followup by Matt Savage. Just when the visitors seemed to be getting on top the Crows’ Glen Browney hauled in a big mark and kicked truly before Savage goaled again and Luke Nobelius replied to restore the lead for the Lyrebirds.
The Crows regained the lead when Matt Campbell notched his first goal but this was cancelled out when Buln Buln’s Mick Pratt drifted downfield to quickly put the visitors back in front. In timeon Campbell read the ball well off a pack and converted from an angle to tie the scores at halftime.
Buln Buln’s revival in the second quarter was due to Savage, who won the plenty of hard possessions through the midfield and presented himself well across the forward line. Brent Eastwell, Tim Milner, Nobelius and Paul Hasan picked up many possessions midfield, Hayden Major was a good target up forward and Matt Gray started to impose himself in the ruck. Brad Peters was solid in defence and repelled many attacks. The better players for Longwarry in the first half included Paul Williams and Glen Pask, who did well down back, and Browney, who led well and hauled in some strong marks. Scott McQualter and Michael Bourke battled hard in the ruck and McDonald and Serong provided spark across the forward line in the first quarter. Matt Campbell was quiet in the first quarter but made a big impact in the second.
In the opening seconds of the third term an educated tap by Paul Williams into the path of Blair Weller led to the first goal of half, returning the lead to Longwarry.
For the rest of the quarter scoring dried up as each teams refused to give the other time and space. Neither side flinched at a contest and the tackling and smothers by both were outstanding. After the initial goal, remarkably, 30 minutes transpired without another in almost perfect conditions. Longwarry at the last break had a fivepoint lead.
Buln Buln produced an ideal start to the final term, a Shane Tyler major in the opening 30 seconds to poke its nose back in front. However Campbell finished with class after being well assisted by McQualter and Serong took a big mark in the square and goaled to move the home side 12 points in front. A goal by Taylor after a free kick kept Buln Buln in the contest but a long goal by Danny Wells from well outside 50 metres that took a kind bounce kept the visitors at arm’s length. A crafty leftfoot snap by Mark Light in the final minutes bounced through and sealed victory for Longwarry.
The most valuable player on the ground was the Crows’ Campbell. After a quiet start Campbell won many possessions but more importantly used the ball effectively and in a low scoring game scored three goals to make the difference between the two sides. The Crows’ defence led by Damien Wigfield, Pask and Leigh McDonald produced many telling spoils and Williams provided plenty of drive off the halfback line. Browney gave his teammates a good target and Serong and Weller were both prominent. McQualter and Bourke shouldered the ruck duties and both did plenty of good work around the ground.
“We started well this week and the last quarter was textbook. We are showing more selfconfidence and this has rolled over into team confidence and contributed to our three wins on the trot,” said an elated Longwarry coach Scott McQualter after the match.
Buln Buln was desperately unlucky and did nothing wrong. The Lyrebirds just could not find a goalkicker to capitalise on all the moves inside 50 metres they generated. The Lyrebirds had a good spread of contributors including Eastwell, Milner, Nobelius, Hasan and Savage through the middle. Paul Pratt, Brad Peters and Steve Mann were all solid in defence, Major led and marked well across the halfforward line and ruckman Matt Gray pumped the ball forward regularly.
Buln Buln has only averaged 79 points a game this season, the least of the eight teams vying for a spot in the top six, and lack of firepower up forward is its problem. The Lyrebirds’ spot, and the top six, are unlikely to be decided until they meet Ellinbank in round 18.
