Drouin’s Brad Carmody kicked three goals in the 96-point smashing of Garfield on Saturday. 31574 Picture: Meagan RogersBy Ken Moore
DESPITE its bottom-of-the-table standing, Garfield was expected to fire up and give Drouin a hard time in their clash on Sunday – but it did not eventuate. The Hawks proved to be a class above the Stars and dominated from the start to finish and went on to win by 96 points.
Garfield was on the back foot early when the Hawks kicked the first six goals of the game to open up a 37-point lead by the five-minute mark of the second quarter.
The Stars tried hard, tackled and chased to the best of their ability but when they got the ball it was turned over far too many times and at the main break, with the difference 54 points, the game was as good as over.
In the third quarter Drouin continued to drive home its advantage and, with another six unanswered goals, opened up a 93-point lead before 15-year-old Garfield forward Josh Tynan snapped a goal in heavy traffic, followed only minutes later by goal by Nick Marsh, after he used body strength to good advantage.
These were the only highlights of a poor day for Garfield fans. Drouin dominated across all lines. Through the midfield, Sam Proctor, Andy Soumilas, Matt Hedley, Trevor Piner and Rhys Salter all posed big problems with their ball-winning ability.
Up forward Troy Kneebone, Daniel Barrand and Brad Carmody all proved a handful while midfielder Mick Ablett worked forward in the second quarter to pop through three goals. Malcolm Dow ran the ball out of defence and broke the lines with regular monotony and in defence Ben Soumilas took a number of strong marks and Brent McFarlane kept Mal McKenna quiet.
Garfield coach Brent Eastwell led by example all game and picked up heaps of possessions, across the half-forward line Nick and Ben Marsh presented well from limited opportunities and Shane Reid won plenty of the ball from his wing position.
Gippsland Power’s Luke Tynan was in the thick of the action in the first half, Jim Bow mopped up well in defence and Phil Burns had a solid presence at the back and made many interceptions.
Garfield will now finish bottom of the ladder in 2009.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:MAFFRA MOVES INTO SECOND
WITH only two rounds to play to complete the home-and-away season, Maffra secured second position on the ladder with its 45-point victory over third-placed Leongatha.
Only one point separated the sides at three-quarter-time before the Eagles lifted and the Parrots, undermanned by the loss of Brad Rayson, Justin Sutherland and Chris Rump before the game, buckled under the late pressure.
Maffra star Adrian Burgiel kicked five goals and stood up with a number of strong grabs and three goals in the last quarter to help steer his side home.
Ben Robbins burrowed into the packs all game and had good assistance from Hayden Burgiel, Matt Lee and Gippsland Power’s Ed Carr.
After Leongatha marksman Dwayne Holt scored four early goals Glen Semmens, with help from Sam Bristow, managed to thwart his output and restrict him to only one further goal but the Parrots full-forward still clearly leads the league goal kicking table with 75.
Parrots rover Marc Truscio was busy, half-back Adam Govers offered plenty of resistance and young wingman Sean Westaway and Tom Marriot showed their good recent form was no flash in the pan with another mighty fine effort. Sam Vagg stepped up from the twos and rucked and performed credibly.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:SALE CHALKS UP UPSET
ON THEIR homeground, Sale produced the upset of the round when it rolled Moe by 40 points. This was a genuine shock result because the Magpies had shown little in recent times and the Lions could ill afford to lose.
As a result the Lions may have lost their chance to secure a top-three double chance.
They were in hot water early when they trailed by 32 points at quarter-time and apart from a brief comeback in the second quarter the visitors never posed a serious threat to the home side.
In the absence of No. 1 follower Tom Sturgess, Mitch Davis assumed the ruck duties for the Magpies and did well.
Sale’s victory was built around the midfield dominance of Kane Fraser, Adrian Cox, Russell McAdam, wingman Tom Hams and Jason Garret and up-and-coming youngster Darcy Thorpe.
Andrew Quirk restricted Moe gun Matt Fory’s to only three goals and Liam Hogan provided his usual resolute defence.
Since round 10, Moe has won only the one game, against Warragul in round 15, and coach Troy Makepeace, who didn’t play on Saturday, has plenty of worries.
Adam Kennedy put a bit of spine into the Lions with a determined effort on key Magpie forward Nick Fowler and Moe recruit Rob Michaelidis won plenty of disposals be to possibly the best of the Lions.
For the Lions the most encouraging aspect to emerge from the game were the efforts by youngsters Luke Thompson and Andrew Thorpe.
Moe regularly fumbled, dropped marks, was guilty of poor decision making and did not look worthy of a team with strong finals ambitions.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:TRARALGON SHATTERS MOE
LADDER leaders Traralgon had a comprehensive 69-point victory over long-time foes Morwell on Sunday. The Maroons set up victory in the second quarter when they kept the Tigers goalless and scored three goals themselves to extend a 20-point lead into 39 points at the main break.
Traralgon forward Tim Johnson kicked six goals and reeled in a number of strong grabs, Jamie Aitken and Leigh Cummins both excelled off the half-bank flank.
Tim Darby offered plenty of defensive support, Rohan Hore played a good game in the ruck and 17-year-old Gippsland Power player, Kane Grinstead-Jones, won more than his fair share of touches in an on-ball roll.
It was by far Morwell’s biggest loss for the season. Michael P. Duncan offered some stoic defensive resistance, Nathan Scurrah took a few handy marks across the forward line and both Liam Visser and Adam Bailey floated all over the field and showed plenty of class with clever use of the ball.
MAFFRA v Garfield.
TRARALGON v Leongatha.
MOE v Morwell (Sunday).
WARRAGUL v Sale.
Drouin – bye.
