– Brad Kingsbury
BERWICK’S horror run of injuries continued on Saturday and played a major part in the senior side’s 38-point loss to Pakenham at the Edwin Flack Reserve.
After an even first half the Wickers were reduced to 19 men just before half-time and Lions’ coach Michael Holland took full advantage by rotating his playmakers heavily in the second half and over-running the tiring home side.
While it was a solid reply by the Lions to last week’s shock loss to Doveton, Berwick coach Glenn Dale lamented his inability to give his on-ballers a break as the class of the opposition began to bite.
“We couldn’t rotate and I think (Pakenham) did about 30 rotations in the third quarter and they just tore us apart in the end,” he said.
“We were physically knackered. We purposely had three midfielders on the bench so we could rotate, but they were all on the ground in the first quarter so that was the end of that plan.”
As the battle for control raged, Berwick suffered a double blow in the opening term when Michael Hannigan was poleaxed by Dan O’Loughlin in a marking contest and then carried from the field with concussion and internal bruising, and Brad Miles injured his shoulder, ending his day.
However, at the 19-minute mark of the second term and with a lead of nine points, the Wickers game and possibly their 2009 season, changed dramatically when league leading full-forward Grant Noonan brought himself off the ground with what appeared to be a serious upper arm or chest injury.
It quickly became obvious that the big bloke’s day was also done and the home side was mortally wounded.
Pakenham seized the advantage in the third term and, led by star runners Jared Goldsack, Luke Walker and Dean Blake, piled on six goals to take an unassailable 27-point lead into the three-quarter-time break.
The Wickers battled the game out manfully, but were no match for the Lions, who cruised away to chalk up an important win.
Again the Lions defence was solid with Nathan Brown, Tom O’Loughlin and Josh Winter rebounding well, although Berwick centre half-forward Jason Heath presented well and the Robinson brothers Dale and Brett double-teamed Jeremy Everett in the ruck.
Rowan Pybus went to Dan O’Loughlin after half-time and did a great job on the Pakenham match-winner, but weight of talent and freshness was with the Lions and Dale lamented the day’s events.
“It’s a little frustrating because we put a lot of work into this game,” he said.
“Their class told and they kept an open forward line all day. They taught us a lesson in the end.
‘Hopefully we can step our intensity up, because this season is just very, very even.”
Pakenham coach Michael Holland was satisfied with his side’s victory, but said there was still a fair way to go to September.
“I was happy with the way we finished off and some days you have to just work hard for a win and we never stopped working hard, so I give credit for that,” he said.
“We swapped around a few things (after half-time) and I think we used the ball a bit better in the end.
“I still don’t think we’re playing anywhere near our best, but (Berwick) will be around the finals mark and a win like we had was good for the side.”
