KEYSBOROUGH sounded a warning that it may be on the way back into the game with a competitive 16-point loss to Narre Warren in the grand-final replay at Rowley Allen Reserve on Saturday.
It was by far the best effort this season from the winless Burra and came after a tough week in which star recruit Vic Currie was told to take a few weeks off to assess his future after failing to reach expectations in the first five rounds.
The Magpies entered the game without experienced pair Glenn Hamilton and Steven Kidd and looked physically inferior to the Burra who wasted early opportunities and trailed by two points at the first change.
The game was a real battle for supremacy from then on, with young Magpies Dylan Piening, Justin Marriott and Daniel Uzarevic showing their class around the ground, while Burra stars Tyson King, Greg Walker and Travis Skidmore did a lot of heavy work in the packs.
The scores were locked up at both half and three-quarter time, setting up the final term as the deciding stanza.
The visitors grabbed an early goal through the efforts of leader Brett Evans and made the running, countering all efforts from the tiring Keysborough midfield.
Steady play from the Narre Warren defence, led by Jarrod Anderson, proved telling and the Burra was left to lament another loss, despite significant improvement.
That was a point later emphasised by Keysborough coach Greg Siwes.
“That was the best side that we’ve put out there this week, but it was still disappointing not to win the game,” he said.
“We had a lot more of the footy and I really think we should have won the game.
“We made the mistake of shooting for goal from wide and rushing our shots. That’s what happens when you’re not winning games, everyone wants to kick the goals and a bit of panic sometimes sets in.
“Even though we lost, I’m hoping that this game was a bit of a turning point for us.”
Magpie coach Matt Shinners acknowledged the opposition and was very pleased with the victory.
“It’s very hard for this young group to maintain the intensity and consistency every game, but our second half was very good,” he said.
“Keysy is a darn good side and they played close to their potential. It was a physical game and I think our leg speed probably got us over the line in the end.”
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Meadows fall short
at Casey Fields
THE clash between Cranbourne and Devon Meadows did not let the big crowd at Casey Fields down after a huge build-up in the battle for the McAleese-Flanigan Cup on the weekend.
The Eagles held sway by a few points at each break in play and finally triumphed by 22 points after a typically tight and desperate contest.
After a tight first term that saw only seven points separate the sides, Devon Meadows lifted through midfielders Jesse Dehey, Brandon Wapshott and Luke Martin, pounding the goals in the second quarter, but missing the target, booting 3.7 and blowing their chance to apply scoreboard pressure to the home side.
After the long break it was the Eagles’ turn to spray their chances with a return of 3.9 to the Panthers 4.1 for the third quarter.
There were only six points the Eagles way between the two sides at the last change, but it was the home side that showed the superior physical and mental strength to steady and earn an important win in a crucial game.
Matthew Rus continued his great season for Cranbourne with a best-afield performance out of defence, while five players booted more than one goal for the victors in a good spread of attacking options.
Triumphant coach Doug Koop was pleased with his players’ commitment, but said that there was plenty of improvement left.
“It was a good contest all day and I think both sides had their opportunities to pinch the game, but I think that we just finished off a bit better than them,” he said.
“We’ve worked on a couple of areas to improve on our fitness and that was obviously a factor.
“I don’t think we played our best football, but we won and that’s really pleasing because last year we were doing that and losing.”
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Lions hunt down
Kangaroos
THE clash between Pakenham and ROC was as good as over at quarter time after a ruthless Lions outfit put on a demonstration of run-and-carry football that broke the Kangaroos’ spirits early.
The final margin of 75 points was probably a just result with the home side dominating play for most of the game, but blemishing what could have been a perfect day by booting nine behinds from nine shots at goal in the third term.
Jared Goldsack was given the task of running with ROC star Greg Tivendale and the duo put on a sideshow that kept the crowd entertained, with both being named as their team’s best player.
Pakenham shot away to a 54-point half-time lead, but some solid work from youngster Stephen Hawkins, Ash Comer, big Kym Jones and Brett Reid saw that reduced to a far more respectable 33 points at the final change.
However, after a rev-up from coach Michael Holland, the Lions responded and clicked back into gear, booting seven unanswered majors in the last 25 minutes and sealing a top-class win.
The victory did come at a cost however with veteran premiership defender Stuart Burridge suffering a season-ending broken leg after a clash of shins with teammate Cory Lenders late in the final quarter. Lenders leg was bruised, but survived the impact.
Holland said that while some of ROC’s younger players looked to have potential, he was happy with his side’s overall effort excluding the third quarter.
“It was pleasing that we had a good spread (13) of contributors to the score and the boys played pretty well for the majority of the game,” he said.
“They went outside some of the team rules in the third quarter, but I was happy with the way they came back in the last quarter and really finished it off.”
