Devon Meadows recruit Daniel Rigg flies to spoil Keysborough’s Greg Walker during the Panthers’ 41-point win at Glover Reserve. By Brad Kingsbury
TRADITIONAL former West Gippsland Football League rivals ROC and Tooradin fought out a thrilling draw on Saturday, one of two ties in Saturday’s round.
Players from both sides were physically and mentally spent as the siren sounded.
ROC kicked with a steady breeze in the opening term and bolted away to a 27-point lead, with the Seagulls having trouble matching the run of Greg Tivendale and Shaun Jones out of the midfield.
However, the Kangaroos got a bit ahead of themselves and let the pressure slip in the second quarter, allowing Tooradin to bang on 6.10 to 3.3 and draw to within one point at the main change.
Seagulls’ ruckman Steve Arvanitis took control in the air, while Michael Hobbs and Chad Liddell took full advantage at ground level, however the side’s forwards missed shots at goal they should have nailed, leaving the match up for grabs.
The second half was a real battle of attrition, with first ROC and then Tooradin gaining the ascendancy.
Towards the end of a hectic final term, Tooradin extended its lead to seven points and looked set to hang on.
But a late goal to Ben Tivendale reduced the margin to a point and then, with about 30 seconds left on the clock, his brother Greg spun out of a pack and snapped, but only registered a behind to tie the scores up just before the final siren sounded.
Greg Tivendale ended the day with six goals in his best game for the Kangaroos, while Jack Cole slotted four majors for the visitors.
ROC coach Kris Fletcher said it was ‘a nothing feeling’ at the end of the game and both sides had their opportunities to win it.
“Had we played four quarters instead of three then we win the game, but I’m sure Cristian (O’Brien) would say the same thing,” he said.
“It’s a missed opportunity and that’s what it will go down as.”
Tooradin was well served by Rory Gilliatte while star recruit Chad Liddell took what many said was the best mark ever seen at Starling Road at centre half-forward during the final term.
Coach Cristian O’Brien was also disappointed and said that his younger players were still learning how to win.
“We’re heading on the right track and some of the younger blokes have to learn to take ownership of the game,” he said.
“It was a game that we let slip for sure, but we can’t dwell on it. To ROC’s credit they didn’t give up either and it was a great game of local footy.”
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Redbacks power to draw
HAMPTON PARK must never, never, never be underestimated at the Booth Reserve.
Josh Taylor’s determined bunch of fire-breathers proved that on the weekend by storming home in the final term of their clash with Berwick, with eight goals to two in front of a delirious home crowd to tie a match that was all but shot when they trailed by 34 points at three-quarter time.
The Redbacks were without Brendan and Linden Fredericks, Chris Hussey and Josh Perry, while for the visitors Paul VanSchilt, Andrew Morozoff, Adam Mott and Shaun Calamatta did not take the field.
The Wickers kept their noses in front early and took advantage of the Redbacks’ lack of discipline, booting four goals from 50-metre penalties and taking a 27-point lead into the half-time break.
The visitors were steady in the third term with youngsters Nathan Page, Brett Saunders and Dean Webb leading the way and held what should have been a match-winning 38-point lead at the final break.
Hampton Park coach Josh Taylor asked his players to show some pride in their jumper and give their supporters something to cheer about in the last quarter.
He got it and, in the end, the Redbacks were unlucky not to snatch the four points.
With the scores level, beanpole forward Shane Moffatt, usually a reliable kick, shanked a shot at goal from about 35 metres and it went out of bounds on the full with under a minute to play.
Taylor was happy with the final term response from his troops, but lamented their early lack of focus.
“I went off my head at them at half time,” he said. “It was just a stupid lack of discipline and a lot of it was from senior players too so that was even more disappointing.
“At three-quarter time I just said we had nothing to lose by attacking and taking risks. In the end we were stiff not to snatch it and I was happy with the way they kept at it.”
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Burra bottoms out
KEYSBOROUGH continued its habit of capitulating after half time, this time allowing Devon Meadows to dictate terms and chalk up its first win of the season with a 41-point result, after booting 10 goals to five in the second half of Saturday’s clash at Glover Reserve.
The injury-depleted grand finalists of 2008 now look to be shot as far as finals are concerned this season and are wallowing at the bottom of the ladder, wondering when and where their first win will come from.
The game was built up as a final by both sides and with only 10 points in it the home side’s way at the main break, mental toughness in the second half was always going to tell the story.
It was the Panthers who retained their composure and attacked the ball with more intent.
Ash Adams stepped up at half-forward and proved he had a defensive side to his game, applying tackles and chasing hard, complementing the efforts of hard-working Devon Meadows teammates.
These included Daniel Rigg, Callum Ransom and Damien Hinkley who was given the task of running with former AFL playmaker Clinton King.
Adams finished the day with seven goals in a best-on-ground performance.
For Keysborough it was another ordinary day excluding the efforts of Will Gayfer, Ryan Goodes, David Roberts and veteran forward Luke McGuinness who slotted five of the Burras poor return of only eight goals.
Panthers coach Steve O’Brien was happy and relieved that his side was at last on the board and heading forward.
“We finally played some decent football and did it for most of the day,” he said.
“We thought that if we kept the pressure up we could get over the top of them and I was really pleased with the way we tackled all day. I think we had 72 tackles for the game and you don’t lose when you apply that much pressure.”
