Above: Nilma-Darnum star Mal Michael’s goalkicking radar was off on Saturday, booting 1.7 in the win against Lang Lang. 31576 By Ken Moore
LAST season’s runners-up, Lang Lang, can kiss its finals hopes goodbye after a fighting 41-point loss to undefeated Nilma-Darnum.
With their season on the line, the Tigers dug deep and never flinched a contest and for three quarters an upset brewed before the ladder leaders showed their class with a barnstorming nine-goal-to-three last quarter.
Lang Lang held a 12-point lead at quarter time, thanks to spearhead Kurt Batt who reeled in a series of top grabs and kicked three goals. while at the other end Nilma speedster Kael Bergels kept the Bombers in the contest with two opportunist majors.
Every time Nilma goaled in the second quarter Lang Lang replied and the home side held onto an 18-point lead until late quarter goals by the classy pair of Bergles and Harley Lacunes.
Bergles’ goal was pearler. After marking the ball between the wing and half-forward line he played on, putting on the afterburners to scoot away from his opponent and drill through an inspirational goal.
Nilma lifted again in the third quarter, but its dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard due to poor kicking, especially late in the quarter when it scored four straight behinds.
Lang Lang hit the front early in the last term before the Bombers rammed on eight of the next nine goals to march towards what turned into an emphatic victory. Nilma’s Conwarr recruit Shane Morgan again showed he was top-notch signing and perhaps its most under-rated player. After holding the defence together in the first three quarters, he moved forward to slot through three goals in the last and was the difference between the two sides.
As usual Bergles proved elusive, this week with five goals, while Jamie Cann, Allan Chandler, Shane Youngman and Kane Martin started to impose themselves on the game from the latter part of the second quarter.
Ruckman Matt Olney put his body in all game; Mal Michael made his presence felt across the forward line, but tarnished his game with seven behinds from eight shots on goal.
For three quarters Lang Lang could not be faulted. Kurt Batt troubled the Tiger defence with his strong hands, Hadley Tomamichel and Sean Dwyer were superb through the midfield, Chris McCurdy did well and his fellow ruckman Brendan Boulton used his ample body strength to good effect in the first half and Rhys Nisbett played an assured game in defence.
Coach Clint Evans was always busy and there was a lot to like about young wingman Bodie Brown, who kicked two goals and reeled in the mark of the day after a soaring leap from behind his opponent to thrill the crowd in the second quarter.
Furthermore, he had the composure to go back and slot through the goal after his stunning mark.
Lang Lang still has a mathematical claim of making the top six, but having to play four of the top six sides in the run home it will now shape it rather than make it.
