By Brad Kingsbury and Ken Moore
MORNINGTON Peninsula Nepean Football League (MPNFL) Sharks completely dominated Saturday’s Worksafe VCFL Country Challenge interleague clash with traditional rivals West Gippsland Latrobe Football League (WGLFL) at the Toomuc Reserve on Saturday.
The selection of a fast and youthful team was vindicated by the Sharks’ superiority in every facet of the game in perfect conditions as they bolted away to record an 83-point victory and retain the Pakenham Gazette Cup.
The signs were bad early for WGLFL with their defenders under extreme pressure for long periods in the first quarter and the 20-point difference at quarter time already significant.
After two consecutive goals by Ryan Hendy and another by Daniel Fry in the first five minutes of the second quarter, the game was as good as over.
The Sharks had far too much pace and talent through the midfield, led by Michael Collins and Chris Irving, and their dominance was illustrated by the ease with which they scored their goals.
The MPNFL fleet of small men including Tim Smith, Brian O’Carroll, Brad Sykes and Paul Minchington regularly cut a swathe through the WGLFL defence and the visitors simply had no one to combat their pace.
The WGLFL also did not have the defensive personnel to counter the two-pronged attack of Fry and Hendy, who each had three goals on the board at half-time, as did Gippslander Adrian Burgiel, who was the only effective WGLFL forward on the day.
The Sharks extended their lead at every break in play and the match became an exhibition after half-time, with MPNFL players getting a bit too fancy on occasions and turning the ball over unnecessarily due to lack of pressure from their opposition.
Chris Irving was superb throughout the game and showed great courage, while Kane Taylor gave his side terrific run out of defence in the first half, along with captain Adam Hunter who was consistent across four quarters.
Donovan Epa won the ruck contests with some assistance from Jared Goldsack and Collins, but WGLFL and former Pakenham big man Justin Sutherland was underutilised and spent a lot of time off the ground that puzzled many WGLFL supporters.
Hendy and Fry ended the afternoon with six goals each, while Narre Warren defender Lee Boyle was a rock in the backline from start to finish.
The WGLFL lacked leg speed and field kicking and decision making was generally poor, making it much easier for the Sharks to take advantage of turnovers.
WGLFL captain and Maffra forward Gary Jones won heaps of the ball, but spent too much time mopping up in the last line of defence where he could not inflict any damage.
Maffra skipper Ben Batalha was superb and rebounded well across half-back, while Adrian Burgiel finished the afternoon with six goals.
Leongatha’s Jack Hughes read play well in defence and Morwell rover Joel Soutar, Drouin midfielder Daniel Barrand and Garfield on-baller Ben Marsh all battled hard against the odds.
The two sides went down different tracks as far as selection was concerned and Sharks assistant coach Michael Holland said the focus on youth and speed proved the right call.
“Obviously the conditions suited the side we picked, but we also picked our squad for the ground. Even if it had been wet you still need leg speed and I think we got that right,” he said.
“They picked bigger-bodied players and when we looked at them on paper we thought, well if it turns wet there might be a few more packs, but you still need the runners and they didn’t have many.
“We were a lot cleaner by hand and foot and also our pressure running back was really good.
“These blokes all wanted to play and hopefully they enjoyed the experience and they will all come back and play again next year.”
Coach Paul Kennedy was effusive after the game and said the maturity and dedication that the Sharks players had shown was first class.
“Every player who was rotated through the bench did so without an issue and the whole day went very close to the way we had planned,” he said.
“I thought the standard of football was the best I have seen at interleague and certainly the best that I have ever coached.”
“It was brilliant to watch. We went for youthful players and I think the players represented their clubs and the league with great distinction.
“It’s a great experience for the players and the result shows that the league is in pretty good shape.”
The result reinforces the fact that the WGLFL no longer has the depth that made it a power in the decades leading up to 2000, when it was regarded, with the Ovens and Murray Football League, as country football’s two powerhouses.
The WGLFL was badly exposed for depth and missed a number of top-notch players including Troy Makepeace, Adrian Cox, Brett Knowles, Matt Forys, Daniel Stubbe and Ben Robbins.
Coach and Maffra mentor Hayden Burgiel was bitterly disappointed after the game and said his players made too many mistakes.
“We butchered the ball and gave Mornington a hand with our basic skill errors,” he said.
“They were too good, but we certainly didn’t help each other out much.”
Irving was awarded the medal for best afield, while WGLFL captain Gary Jones was named as his side’s best player.
The match is a bi-annual event that is played in between the VCFL Country Championships round-robin that will return in 2010.
