Moe’s Matt Dickason shows Garfield youngster Beau Runnalls a clean pair of heels as he breaks free to drive his side forward of Sunday.By Ken Moore
LAST Sunday Moe showed it was made of stern stuff when it defeated Garfield by 12 points. The game never rose to any great heights as a spectacle due to regular showers and a heavy ground, however, both teams showed great hardness at the ball.
It was the Moe midfield of Leigh Stevens, Matt Dickason, Chris Smogavec, Peter Ainsworth and Hill End recruit Leigh Hale that used the ball far more effectively.
Both sides went goalforgoal in the first half and the Lions went into the main break with a fourpoint lead. Garfield opened the second half impressively with goals by Mal McKenna and Ben Marsh to tilt the balance back but two unanswered goals by Smogavec and another by Dean Caldow gave the Lions control and they went into the last break with a 10point lead.
With hail falling at the start of the last quarter, a heavy ball, tired legs and kicks travelling no significant distance, the first goal of the quarter was vital. It was Moe that scored it after good bodywork upfield led to ruckman Jason Donelly waltzing into an open goal to post an 18point lead.
In the difficult scoring conditions, that goal proved decisive and put the game beyond the Stars’ reach. With the last kick of the game, Jake Hower slotted through a goal but it was all too late for Garfield, which went down by 12 points. While Garfield struggled to find a path to goal, a major reason for Moe’s victory was that it had Dean Caldow, whose marking and leading befitted his status as one of the key forwards in the competition. The Stars were far from disgraced and midfielders Shaun Pickering and Andy Soumilas relished the conditions, ruckman Tom Marsh did well a kick behind play and McKenna added drive when moved to the middle. Brent McFarlane did well to quell the influence of Jason Shields and, despite being outpointed by Caldow, Pakenham recruit Brett Reid effected many telling spoils in defence.
Drouin inflicted an 18point defeat on Leongatha. The Hawks found plenty of the ball early, only to miss a string of plausible chances and this let Leongatha go into the first change three points in front. Drouin took the upper hand with seven secondquarter goals to go into the main break with a handy 32point lead. Midfielder Todd Cook, on permit from Williamstown, was the prime instigator of its attacks through the midfield and there were good targets in Marc Olsen across the forward line and Bob McCallum in the ruck. Jay Barr impressed with strong and telling marks to be a thorn in the side of the Parrots’ defenders.
Leongatha refused to yield and kept coming but too few were asked to do too much and the Hawks hung on comfortably in the closing stages. Rugged defender Paul LePage was outstanding and provided the highlight of the game when he took a spectacular hanger on the wing in the second quarter that thrilled the crowd. Dean McCaughan and Tom Dowd won plenty of possessions in and around the middle for Leongatha, which looks to be in for a lean season.
Sale blew Morwell away by 87 points. Adelaide Crows recruit Jacob Schuback produced the performance of the round with eight goals and received strong support from Brenton Martin with four and speedster Damon Arrezzolo with three.
The Magpies had the game well in their keeping at halftime when they held a whopping 83point lead. The Tigers regrouped in the second half to save embarrassment, halfback Jim Dowling and key defender Michael J. Duncan offering stout resistance.
In a replay of last year’s grand final Traralgon again accounted for Maffra, this time by 16 points. After its firstround loss to Warragul, Traralgon silenced the critics that suggested it had a premiership hangover with a top team effort. The Eagles mounted a serious challenge to whittle back a 22point halftime deficit to only six at the last change before the Maroons steadied to draw away when it counted.
