Gippsland’s Ben Kearns celebrates one of his four final-quarter goals, clinching the unlikeliest of victories. Team mates including Josh Scott rushed from all parts to celebrate. 86654. Picture: JARROD POTTER
By RUSSELL BENNETT
THREE of the most unassuming young footballers to have ever taken to a local oval have become part of Gippsland sporting folklore – combining to play the role of giant-killer in the Gippsland Power’s record-breaking triumph against TAC Cup Goliath, the Dandenong Stingrays.
The trio of Drouin’s Anthony Tipungwuti and Daniel Jackson, and Ellinbank’s Nate Paredes won’t forget Saturday, 1 September in a hurry, having played a starring role in the Power turning around a 34-point three-quarter-time deficit into a staggering 11-point victory at Visy Park on the weekend.
It was the largest final term turnaround in the history of the proud Gippsland club.
As if straight from a Rocky script, Gippsland was down and out on Saturday – knocked to the canvas and seeing stars without hope of a comeback.
The Stingrays had in fact lost twice to the Power earlier this season, however Saturday’s Dandenong outfit was a completely different beast and a seemingly unstoppable force.
The Stingrays roared out of the gate, looking for a quick kill and the side led by 29 points at quarter time with the scoreless Power yet to fire a shot.
But Gippsland coach Nick Stevens refused to explode at his nervous young charges at the quarter time huddle, instead encouraging them to “just breathe” and to regain their composure.
Slowly but surely, they inched their way back until some Tipungwuti magic landed the Power’s first serious blow.
The deadly Stingrays midfield combo of Lachie Whitfield and Billy Hartung started the second term where it left off, before Tipungwuti hunted down Dandenong’s Nick Tuddenham with a ferocious tackle, turning the ball over in the middle of the ground and leading straight to a Ben Kearns goal.
The tables were starting to turn.
Paredes and Jackson rolled up their sleeves in the middle of the ground and captain Tim Membrey began to assert his dominance in the forward 50 – nailing two clutch goals.
Stevens seemed to channel Nostradamus himself deep in the bowels of Visy Park at half time, telling his players: “This game is starting to change.
“They were cooked at the end of that term.
“We win this quarter and we win the game.”
But when Stingray Jake Calvert converted just on the three-quarter time siren, extending the Dandenong lead back out to 34, the Power’s gallant fightback seemed in vain.
Stevens played the role of Rocky’s cornerman Mick to a tee at three-quarter time, imploring his charges for one last-ditch effort.
“We can win this,” he said.
“We can kick six, seven, eight goals in this quarter.
“They’re tiring but we need to start taking risks.”
Power midfield coach Scott McDougal then stepped up to the plate with a spine-tingling rev-up.
“When you’re going for the contest, you’re not just representing yourselves, your families or even your team mates,” he said.
“You’re representing everyone who’s ever come before you – everyone who’s worn the Power jumper!”
Tipungwuti, Kearns and Membrey somehow lifted with every dying minute in the final term, reducing the margin to just eight points before surpassing the Rays with a pair of miraculous goals. Kearns, who was quiet for three quarters, boosted his draft stocks on the big stage – kicking four final-term goals to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, 12.5 (77) to 9.12 (66). The fairytale was complete.
The Power will next face up to the Sandringham Dragons or Geelong Falcons in the first preliminary final… Rocky II?
