PAKENHAM, at home and on the rebound, was always going to be a daunting prospect, but the way that Cranbourne players approached Saturday’s game, the final 56-point losing margin could have been greater.
Eagle players simply refused to man-up on their free-running opponents after the first 10 minutes and when a side allows this year’s Lions to dictate the momentum of a game, there will be serious consequences.
There was, and the contest was as good as over at half-time after Pakenham led by 24 points in a wind-marred half.
The Lions used the wind well in the first quarter to lead by 31 points at the first change with Cranbourne captain and big-marking forward Marc Holt spending the term deep in defence.
The Eagles then failed to use the breeze to their own advantage and were unaccountable for their opponents who were focussed on erasing doubts about their own mental attitude that has been raised in recent weeks.
Glen Wouters gave away a 50-metre penalty that resulted in a goal, but that was the only blemish in the Lions’ second quarter that completely broke the visitors’ spirit.
The second half was a procession for Pakenham with Ryan Cassidy, Clint Walker, Daniel Fry and Luke Walker making a mess of the tired-looking Eagles across the ground.
Lively Cranbourne forward Matt Fletcher booted three goals from limited opportunities, while team-mates Matt Rus, Ray George and Matt Thompson tried hard, but the home side was far too polished on the day.
One of the most pleasing outcomes for victorious coach Michael Holland was having 11 different goalkickers contributing to his side’s 15 goals and he was a content man after the game.
“It was good, I’ve been able to sleep at night this week,” he laughed.
“I think it was probably the best we’ve played all year, especially given the conditions (and) our second quarter was probably our best quarter for the year and we didn’t kick a goal.
“I don’t think we’ve played anywhere near our best this year on a consistent basis, but Saturday was a good step in that direction.”
His Cranbourne counterpart, Doug Koop, said that his players looked like they got stage-fright and the day was one to forget.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Seagulls ground Eagles
TOORADIN never looked like getting beaten by Beaconsfield on the weekend and cruised home to record a 71-point win in what coach Cristian O’Brien described as his side’s best win of the year.
“It was probably the first time all year we played a good brand of footy for four quarters. It’s been on the cards for a while, but it’s nice when it happens,” he said.
“We looked like a top three or four side for the first time this year and that was pleasing.”
O’Brien opened the game with a different looking line-up to previous weeks.
Gun big man Steve Arvanitis started at full-forward with youngster Aaron Avery at his feet, while Beau Miller played on a wing and Chad Liddell also spent significant time out of the midfield.
The Seagulls took advantage of the wind in the first term and booted four goals to none, but it was the second quarter against the breeze that saw the home side take control of the game.
They kicked three goals into the wind and restricted Beaconsfield to only two majors to take a match-winning 33-point lead into the main break.
That proved enough to break the Eagles’ hearts and the match became a one-sided romp in the second half with Tooradin kicking nine goals to the visitors three.
Star Eagle Andrew Williams was kept goalless, but Chris Kelf, Daniel Mislicki, Damien Szwaja and coach Robbie Taylor continued to battle the game out.
For the victors Miller, Michael Hobbs, Adam Splatt and Jack Cole were excellent all day and O’Brien was happy with the effort.
“There was a lot of positives. Our intensity and endeavour was really good. Beaconsfield did that to us in the first round and we were determined to be first to the footy from the first quarter,” he said.
“I knew in the second quarter against the wind were really on because they had the wind, but we kept the pressure on them and then scored three goals ourselves.”
Redbacks shock ROC
HAMPTON Park kept Casey Cardinia League tipsters guessing again with an upset 17-point win over ROC at the Booth Reserve.
After managing a paltry return of only two goals the week before and losing star forward Matt Shorey to a groin injury, the Redbacks were expected by most to capitulate meekly.
However, as has happened so often in the past, the Hampton Park players united and rallied in front of their loyal supporters to stave off the threat of bottom place on the ladder which would have been the consequence of a loss.
Coach Josh Taylor did not try to explain his side’s form reversal because he couldn’t.
“We’re hot and cold. We didn’t do anything special or out of the ordinary during the week, we just came to play and that was the difference,” he said.
“I put the acid on them before the game and just said that if we lost we would be on the bottom of the ladder.
“I just said it wasn’t where we deserved to be, but the only way to avoid it was to win.
“They listened and it obviously sunk in.”
The Redbacks booted with the wind and shot out to a four-goal lead at quarter time.
ROC made a run at the home side in the second term, but the Redbacks retained an 11-point lead at the long break and extended that to 19 points at three-quarter time. The final term was always going to be a battle and ROC reduced the margin to nine points before goals to Mitch Whatman and Dean Jamieson stopped the tiring visitors’ momentum and saw Hampton Park take a vice-like grip of the game.
Sean Winsall, Brady White, big man Michael Jackson and Ryan Simpson were among the victor’s best, while Greg Tivendale, Paul Phillips and veteran Mick Moylan starred for the Kangaroos.
On the downside for the Redbacks, youngster Bryce Lombard was carried from the field on a stretcher with a knee injury in the second term.
