Cobras show their class

By Ken Moore
IT may have looked like a danger game for reigning premiers Cora Lynn, but this was soon dispelled as the Cobras showed they were far too good for Poowong, winning by 51 points on Saturday.
The Magpies were competitive in the first half, but the Cobras broke clear late in the second quarter to establish a strong lead at the main break and strengthened their advantage in the second half.
Hard-at-it utility Brendan Kimber imposed himself on proceedings all over field, speedster James Bradshaw was a prolific kickwinner midfield and another small runner Craig Taylor, in an uncustomary defensive role offered plenty of rearguard action.
Darren Sheen popped through seven goals and Cranbourne recruit Matt Davey, five, all in the first half before he left the field with an ankle injury.
The Magpies’ engine room of Jarred Attenborough, Beau Anthony, Matt Grant and Brenton Fitzgerald all won their fair share of the ball, but often did not deliver it with the clinical poise of their opponents.
Tall utility Bronson Interlandi played his best game for the season and pumped the ball inside the attacking 50-metre zone a number of times, while youngster Ben Drew (four goals) led and marked well and gave his on-ballers something to kick to all game.
The Magpies now find themselves two games and a sizeable percentage behind sixth position and have plenty of catch-up work to do if they aspire to play finals football this season.
The Goon cages Cats
IN a good team effort, Nar Nar Goon strolled to a 64-point victory over Neerim Neerim South.
After an even first quarter, Goon ruckman Nathan Jones was the mainspring behind an eight-goal second quarter that set up a match-winning 33-point lead at half-time.
Coach Clint Williams was at his damaging best and set the example for the youngsters around him.
Shannon Stocco and Brenton Cowell posed a regular nuisance for the Cats’ defence and Brent Hughes in tandem with Matt Slattery both persevered and did well in a tagging role on chief Neerim playmaker Chris Urie.
The Goon moved the ball far more fluently and rapidly and used the large expanses of their home ground much better.
For the Cats, former Pakenham and Bonbeach recruit Cam Hinkley tried hard through the midfield, tallish forward Chris Redl (five goals) stood up across centre half-forward, young ruck Matt Young toiled hard and down back Aaron Hayes and Sean Ladds did well under persistent fire.
A blue day for
Buln Buln
AFTER a close first quarter, Catani went on to overpower Buln Buln by 104 points.
Star recruit Luke James set the Blues on their way to victory with five first-half goals and with six goals by Owen Fitzpatrick, the home side had the two best forward targets on the park.
Colossus in the ruck, Phil Smith, launched many attacks, Highett recruit Jason Mead offered plenty of drive and centre half-back Fiatupu Too Too played his best game since crossing to the club from Nyora over summer.
Luke Harris, Anthony Benevenuto and Shane Warren were never to far away from the action in a solid team effort.
Buln Buln too often gave the ball away far too cheaply.
Lyrebird midfielder Che Jenkins gathered plenty of kicks; wingman Mitch Nobelius offered plenty of drive and ruckman Craig Kennedy tried hard to quell the influence of Phil Smith.
Former Longwarry assistant coach Leigh McDonald battled gamely to restrict Luke James to only one goal after the main break, while there was a lot to like about 16-year-old debutant Jack Schultz, who read play well in defence.
Bulldogs collar Saints
BUNYIP had a comfortable 89-point victory over Nyora.
The Bulldogs jumped the Saints with a seven-goal-to-one first quarter and were never threatened thereafter.
Star recruit Ryan Brown kicked five goals and sparked Bunyip early with three goals on veteran defender Brad Francis in the first term.
The Saints moved agile utility Matt Hutchinson onto Brown before the opening quarter was finished and he managed to curb the former Doveton forward’s output from then on, but the damage had already been done.
Marc Jolley, in purple patch of late, amassed 35 possessions across half-back.
After six goals last week, Brent Heus returned to defence and repelled plenty of attacks across centre half-back and Steve Berryman did well in a tagging role on Justin Isaac, who was prominent early for Nyora.
Improving ruckman Marc Rotunno had a terrific dual with man-mountain Daniel Morrosin, with the honours split evenly.
Plucky rover Corey Wilson scrounged plenty of disposals and 2007 premiership player Clinton Wise, in his first game back after suffering a horrific ankle injury that saw him sidelined for more than a year, made his presence felt at centre half-forward and when moved onto the ball.
Small forward Aiden Cumberland was busy around the big sticks and wingman Brendan Hayes showed plenty of promising signs.
Bombers bankrupt Bankers
THE undefeated and top-of-the-table Nilma-Darnum slaughtered cellar-dweller and winless Ellinbank by 185 points.
The Bankers were powerless to stop Bomber whiz kid Kael Bergles, who steered home 11 goals.
Harley Lacunes, Allan Chandler and Jamie Cann prised open the Bankers’ defence all afternoon, while Mal Michael and David Ivey bobbed up with four goals apiece.
Ellinbank coach Jeremy Reid, playing against many of his former Sale teammates, tried hard to lift his side, while Steven Ballingall, Josh Peterson, Mark Johnson and another youngster Jeremy Gray, all ‘sons of guns’, did enough to hint they all have a bright future.