Bombers fly high

By Ken Moore
NILMA-Darnum remains the only undefeated team and gave notice it had arrived as a force after a runaway 47-point victory over Nar Nar Goon on Saturday.
The Bombers, the home side, showed their ability by turning around a 27-point deficit in the second quarter into an emphatic victory.
Many punters have now installed Nilma as flag favourites.
The game was played in greasy conditions, due to intermittent showers before and during the game, and in front of a large and vocal crowd that produced a finals-type atmosphere.
Kicking with the aid of a two-to-three-goal wind advantage in the opening term, Nar Nar Goon started brightly with a team-lifting goal by Ben Scanlon after his spectacular kick on goal bounced through the big sticks from well outside fifty metres.
This was quickly followed by majors to Shannon Stocco and Chris Jones that saw the visitors skip to a 17-point advantage inside the 10-minute mark.
The Goon then consolidated their advantage with a goal by Matt Slattery and a second to Jones, both in the closing moments of the term to give the travellers a very handy 28-point lead at the first change.
Despite the scoreboard, Nilma had its fair share of the ball during the quarter and managed to post seven behinds, but too often it was under solid pressure from the Goon defence and blazed away from either too far out or too tight an angle – hence its poor conversion rate.
Nilma trimmed back the margin with an early second-quarter goal by Jamie Cann, after he seized on a spilled mark deep in defence, but for the next ten minutes the Goon was able to stop a barrage of Bomber forward thrusts.
The Goon responded with a goal by Brad Jones, after he hauled in a towering mark, without doubt the best of the match to give the visitors a 27-point lead midway through the quarter.
In the latter part of the term the game’s complexion changed when two opportunist goals by cagey Bomber forward Kael Bergles was followed by six-pointers to Mal Michael and David Ivey to level the scores at half-time.
Nilma started the third quarter with intent and produced wave after wave of attacks, but let itself down in front of the big sticks with some poor kicking.
The experienced quartet of Michael, Bergles, Cann and Allan Chandler all had easy shots at goal that sailed wide of the big uprights.
Nevertheless, their behinds were enough to put Nilma in front temporarily.
However, their glee was short lived, as pacy Goon forward Brodie Howe stole the ball and streamed into an open goal after he capitalised on some Bomber indecision deep in defence.
In the latter part of the third term tempers flared and after a rather large melee, both the Goon’s Chris Jones and the Bombers’ James Quanchi were sent from the field to cool down for 15 minutes.
Soon afterwards, two late goals by elusive Bomber forward Jamie Cann gave the home side a 10-point lead and the momentum at the final change.
Nar Nar Goon toiled hard to repel repeated Nilma attacks in the opening 10 minutes of the final term, but after goals by Bergles and Brenton Martin inside 60 seconds the Goon’s pressure dissipated.
From midway through the last quarter, the Bombers extended their advantage with goals by Bergles (his fourth), Mooney and Ivey, running out comfortable and well-deserved winners.
Nilma can thank Cowwarr recruit Shane Morgan for holding the defence together all game, especially in the first half when many teammates went missing, while former VFL Springvale small Jamie Cann, scored three important goals and was a constant menace.
Harley Lacunes played a super first half, Shane Youngman and Morwell recruit Michael Mooney relished the ground-level conditions and David Ivey did plenty of tough stuff and made a good target for his midfield comrades.
Nilma displayed talent and grit and after appearing to struggle with the slippery conditions early it showed it had the capability to quickly adapt that all bodes well for its future prospects.
Nar Nar Goon’s best player was Matthew Wade, who never stopped running and forcing the ball forward, and he was the only Goon player to make a big contribution every quarter.
Adam Marchant and Matt Slattery did plenty of good work in and around the defensive side of the midfield, coach Clint Williams engineered some good plays and shared the honours with his midfield opponent Allan Chandler while Matt Stocco made life tough for Bomber star Kael Bergles.
Brad Jones presented well across the forward line, Doveton recruit Dean Kelly had a terrific first half and Brent Hughes did well on former Sale star Brenton Martin in the first half.
Personnel wise this season, Nar Nar Goon has gained Tom Hallinan, Brodie Howe and Nick Mulcahy, the latter who didn’t play on Saturday and all have performed creditably.
However, on the flip side it is now missing league best-and-fairest Andrew Oldmeadow (to Springvale), Chris Adams and Shane Tyler (injured) and Spencer Noonan (overseas) and the question must be asked as to whether the Goon’s roster is as good as last year.
If the Goon is to beat the top sides this season, it will need to be.