They call ROC’s Ben Johnson “Flog”, but it was more like a slog against Beacy. 64602 Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Mark Gullick
BERWICK shook off a determined Keysborough to record a 41-point win in a dour battle at Edwin Flack Reserve.
The Wickers extended their two-goal half-time lead with a five-goals-to-nil third quarter.
“We were really competitive in the first half,” Keysborough coach Brad Canavan said.
“We gave them a run for their money, and I’m sure Ricey at half-time told them to pull their finger out to get a break on us.
“They came out in that third-quarter and were really good. We just fell asleep again and they were able to put five goals on the board and in the end that was the margin. Our goalkicking let us down again.”
Keysborough won the final quarter, but the match was already out of reach at that stage.
Berwick captain Jason Kelly was the Wickers’ best player with a typically strong game in the back half. Midfielder Tim Gunn was prominent, Yilber Zijai was busy and Brett Robinson contributed.
Callum Rutherford played well in his first senior game of the year and Nathan Page worked tirelessly along the wing.
While well beaten in the end, Keysborough beat Berwick on the scoreboard in the first and final quarters, demonstrating that it has the ability to match it with the top teams.
One disappointing trait the Burras have displayed this year is their inconsistency during a game.
Being last on the ladder, Keysborough would rue being genuinely competitive in all four matches without collecting any premiership points.
Keysborough’s predicament has caused coach Brad Canavan to analyse his coaching style.
“I realised I haven’t been coaching particularly well,” he said.
“Since the middle of last year when we had injuries creep in and really started to test our depth, I really started coaching week-to-week and try to motivate the boys with different theories.
“Early last year was about structures and doing all the team stuff right. To be honest, I think I’ve gone away from that and it’s really affecting my coaching.
“I’ve probably been listening to too many people, wannabe coaches or those who coached 20 years ago. Unfortunately, it’s probably gotten into my head a little bit. I’ve got to accept responsibility for that and just clear these other thoughts out of my head.”
Once again, it was Keysborough’s defence that held the team together.
“Since the ROC game, I’ve said, let’s settle the back six,” Canavan said.
“Five of the six positions are settled, so we’ve just got one half-back flank that’s up for grabs.
“We need somebody to step up in that position. But we need more defensive pressure from the midfielders and for the forwards to put up the ground a bit when we haven’t good the footy.”
Evergreen veteran Luke McGuinness was Keysborough’s best player and recruits Geoffrey Humphreys and Glen Hawthorn continue to impress.
Big man Tyson King was influential, Michael Downie maintained his strong form and full-back John McMurray tried hard.
Waata Wells kicked three goals.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:Narre Warren v Pakenham
SPURNED by last week’s thumping, Narre Warren flexed its muscles and smashed a disappointing Pakenham by 66 points at Kalora Park.
Narre Warren claimed its first win on the back of an eight-goal second term, which saw the Magpies take a 52-point margin into the half-time break.
While the Magpies played better football, the Lions also contributed to that large deficit.
“At half-time, five or six goals were from our mistakes and not so much from their play,” Pakenham coach Michael Holland said.
“We kicked out two or three times and hit them on the chest, 20 metres out, and they kicked goals. Another two (goals) came from marks on the goal line, which is unacceptable.
“Before half-time they were the better side, but we weren’t an eight-goal side down at that time in general play. We just tried to remain positive and tried to outscore them, which we did in the third quarter.
“We’d kick two goals and then make a mistake, and they’d kick one, but that comes with a bit of experience as the players understand what I want them to do.”
The second half was even with Narre Warren winning nine goals to eight.
“(Narre Warren) were too good for us,” Holland said.
“They moved the ball well and they were more desperate than us. They wanted to get in there and get first use of it, which is always a bonus as you can dictate play to a certain extent.
“That was disappointing, but in saying that they just played the basics better than us.”
Pakenham has conceded the third most points against.
“Michael Taurua, Jack Kowarzik and Sean Bell are doing a good job (in defence),” Holland said. “We’ve lost 300 games experience with Browny and Goldy and they were probably two of the premier backmen in the competition.
“We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be very hard to replace them but, in saying that, if they were around then we wouldn’t be giving time to some of these kids. The club might see the benefits in two to three years, who’s to say they won’t be the next Jared Goldsack or Nathan Brown?”
Narre Warren coach Chris Toner was pleased with the win.
“It was a while coming, but it was worth the wait,” he said. “Each time they scored we were able to answer back relatively quickly, whereas the week before, we did a lot of work without getting value for it on the scoreboard. This week was opposite and with the conditions the way they were, to have 41 scoring shots, it was a really good effort.”
Interest centred on how Narre Warren would rebound after its humiliation to Cranbourne last week.
“The longer you dwell on it, the shorter time you have to prepare for the next game,” Toner said. “We spoke about it on Tuesday and that was the last (time).
