Sleeping Power set to wake?

By Marc McGowan
GIPPSLAND Power coach Damian Carroll is not ready to say his side has awoken from its slumber.
But Saturday’s 43-point win over Bendigo at Shepley Oval was definitely a step in that direction.
Russell Lehman (25 possessions) was the only one of the six Power players in contention for Victoria Country’s National Under-18 Championships opener this weekend to play for Gippsland.
Lehman shone early after Bendigo made the early running, but the visitors were unable to apply scoreboard pressure.
The match opened up after a physical beginning and the Power midfield thrived on ruckman Chris Wylie’s (28 hit-outs) dominance.
Dean Woodhead kicked two goals and had a hand in another as Gippsland established a much-deserved 21-point lead at the first change.
But the Pioneers hit back strongly at the start of the second term through Wade Hancock and Chris Prockter.
The dangerous forwards combined for three majors as Bendigo sliced the margin to just three.
Lehman slotted a goal against the run of play and it seemed to spark his teammates into action.
Mitch Dowse kicked a booming goal before David Donchi (23) was successful from the boundary.
Lehman’s third major capped a four-goal burst and the elusive Kele Asa Leausa added another right on half-time.
The Power advantage was 34 until Hancock stepped in again.
The 181cm Pioneer snapped the first goal of the second half and booted two more from free kicks to bring his side back into the contest.
Asa Leausa found Shaun Marusic for the latter’s second, but the Power still lacked the run and drive so evident in the first two quarters.
Bendigo continued to charge forward and kicked consecutive majors through Brian Fenton and Ben Saliba to edge ever closer.
Dyson Heppell (21) and Tim Northe (20) combined to end the term on a high for Gippsland, but it was a disappointing 30 minutes.
Carroll berated his troops at the three-quarter-time huddle, but he praised Northe, Nick Sing (26) and Jordan Dessent for keeping the damage to a minimum.
Northe won an early possession in the fourth quarter with an inspirational tackle in defence and Dowse registered the term’s opening goal minutes later.
But it was Kooweerup junior Jack Carson’s forward-50 effort later in the quarter that summed up the Power’s return to its first-half intensity.
Carson won a contested ball in heavy traffic before handballing on his knees to Jack Weston for the first of his two final-term majors.
Anthony Dennis finally ended Gippsland’s run of six straight goals with a consolation major, but the game was well and truly over.
Fringe player Ryan Tatterson (22) impressed for the Power for the second week running, while Michael Ross (26) also won plenty of the ball.
Carroll was disappointed with his players’ third-quarter display, but was pleased with the rest of the match.
“We’re playing a lot better football and a bit more consistent,” he said.
“It’s another big game for us (this Saturday against the Murray Bushrangers) to sneak into the eight and definitely we’ve given ourselves a chance now, which is great.”
Gippsland meets the Bushrangers at Oakleigh’s Warrawee Park on Saturday at 2pm.