By Brad Kingsbury
TOORADIN is working to put the wrongs of last season right in 2006 and Saturday’s methodical 12point win over Hampton Park at the Booth Reserve was another of its aims ticked off the list.
While it was all smiles at the Westernport oval on Saturday night, Hampton Park coach Jason Chapple took full responsibility for the failure of his side to play team football under the pressure of scrutiny and warned that reputations meant little at present.
“In patches we’re unstoppable, but we play too much unaccountable football and just haven’t gelled as a side,” he said.
“The buck has to stop with me. We’ve had good press when things went well last year and I’ll cop it when the cards don’t go our way.
“The players have to realise that, for a lot of opponents, Hampton Park is seen as a big win and you have to work even harder for victory. Don’t worry, I’ll get the mix right and I won’t be playing favourites.”
Tooradin showed the benefit of a tough preseason under coach Dan O’Loughlin, together with the inclusion of several recruits including former Lang Lang players Blake Batt and Clint Fulton, together with exKyabram onballer Andrew Elborough.
The Seagulls kicked away to a fourgoal lead early in the contest and then shut down the Redbacks’ playmakers, forcing passages of stopstart football, which frustrated the home side.
Hampton Park surged back on several occasions in the second half, but Tooradin retained its buffer and managed to answer the challenges and hang on to record its second win of the season.
While Rod Cochrane, Ben Scanlon and Beau Miller had top games for the Seagulls, O’Loughlin rated Clint Walker’s effort to keep the pressure on star Redback Matt Shorey as a key to his team’s victory and said the standard of the game was a credit to both sides.
“We just did the simple things well and those are the things that we trained for,” he said.
“It was a good game all day and I wouldn’t underestimate Hampton Park, they’re a good quality side.
“It was one of those days that things went well.”
Hampton Park’s better performers included Scott Eastwood, Eric Singh, Dane Rawlings and Linden Fredericks, while Kerem Baskaya and Scott Gilder finished with five goals each.
Chapple said the result had set up this weekend’s clash with Devon Meadows as a mustwin match.
“Devon Meadows is the biggest game this club has had in five years,” he said.
“My job as coach is to get the side up for that contest. I’m being tested as are the players. Football’s a great leveller.”
Picture: Meagan Rogers.
