Right: Eagle young gun James Magner drives his side forward on the weekend.By Brad Kingsbury
HAMPTON Park booked its finals berth with a convincing 49point win over Beaconsfield at the Robert Booth Reserve on Saturday.
The result also ended the young Eagles’ hopes of continuing its 2006 season beyond the homeandaway rounds, with Keysborough holding a twogame and significant percentage break over them.
Apart from the second term, in which Beaconsfield coach Haydn Robins booted four of his five goals to singlehandedly keep his side in touch, the Redbacks were dominant.
From the start the Hampton Park midfield led by Linden Fredericks, Dean Jamieson and ruckmen Dane Rawlings and Steve Watson took control and kept the ballsupply to winning forwards Kerem Baskaya and Matt Shorey.
The Redbacks had control of the game at the first change with a 25point lead, but through the efforts of Robins, together with playmakers Kris Fletcher and Jimmy Magner, the Eagles managed to break even and go into the long break 24 points down.
The Redbacks lifted another gear in the third term and elusive goalsneak Robbie Lancaster joined the goalkicking party, while Chris Hussey, Tristan Lanarus and Eric Singh maintained the pressure around the ground.
The young Eagles tried hard, but were ineffective in attack, excluding Robins, and suffered badly when the home side rebounded.
The Redbacks led by 55 points at the final change and defended the advantage well in the last quarter without ramming home the advantage.
Beaconsfield coach Haydn Robins was generous in his praise for the Redbacks, saying their desire for success would stand them in good stead in the finals.
“They were simply too good,” he said.
“They ran hard and straight and we were smashed in the midfield. Baskaya was great and the way they delivered the ball to him, they have the talent to worry any team in the finals.
“I was disappointed with our intensity and I just don’t think a lot of our players hate losing enough. That’s the difference that drives you to be better and it’s something that has to be learned well and quickly.”
His Hampton Park counterpart Jason Chapple said that sealing a finals’ position with two rounds to play was an achievement and there was rightfully an air of confidence at the club.
“We will play finals and that’s a great thing for the group and the club,” he said.
“This year there has been a level of belief and that’s one of the keys. There’s not much between the first five sides when they’re all going well and that’s an exciting prospect and one we look forward to being a part of.”
