WALPEUP UNDERBOOL V JEPARIT RAINBOW
Jeparit Rainbow won the toss and kicked with the wind at Underbool to start a much anticipated match between two of this season’s improved sides in the Mallee Football League.
It was a tight tussle early with Luke Nathan starting well in the midfield for the Roos and Heath and Ashley Clugston getting plenty of the ball for Jeparit Rainbow.
The game broke open when Walpeup Underbool scored the first gaol from a Dallas Willsmore shot deep in the forward pocket.
Wade Champion, Matt Brown and Matt Palmer were looking lively up forward for the Roos so when Ben Zanker kicked the first for Jeparit Rainbow midway through opening quarter, it was time for the Lakers to make a statement.
But this was not to be. Walpeup Underbool were soon able to stamp their authority on the game through the likes of AJ Wisneske running out of the backline, Kane Munro on top at centre half back and when Travis Latta took a screamer, it was obvious that the Lakers were going to have trouble penetrating the Walpeup Underbool half back line.
Up forward the Roos were making better use of the ball and even though Luke Oldaker, on the end of some good work for Jeparit Rainbow, scored an early goal, it was to be the Lakers only goal for the first term. And when the Roos scored two goals to start the second term, things were looking grim for the Lakers.
Ben Zanker did get one back after some great Jeparit Rainbow teamwork, but two quick goals late in the half to Matt Brown and Luke Nathan gave Walpeup Underbool a handy six goal break at half time.
Darren Latta played a ripper of a game. His silky skills, marking ability and run made him a stand out player for the Roos along with Luke Nathan. Wade Champion played another great game. He plays with courage and scores goals. Matt Brown continues to present, mark and goal so that by the end of the third term the game was effectively over for the hapless Lakers with Walpeup Underbool building to an unassailable 50 point lead.
On the day the Lakers played a mixture of good and poor football. They started slowly, but played bursts of good football especially in second half. Even in third quarter they were outscored, but had as much of the play as the Roos.
Jeparit Rainbow were weakened when Lucas Edlelsten couldn’t play and effectively took a lot of drive away from their midfield. This opened up an opportunity for players such as Jacob Gawith who played his first senior game.
Each week the Lakers are faced with the same problem. They are competitive around the ground, but struggle to put a score on the board often through poor delivery into the forward line. Ash Clugston was one offender. He got lots of ball and kicked a great goal from a forward pocket snap, but he also turned the ball over, especially in the first half.
Jeparit Rainbow coach Luke Werner was one who played well in midfield and Allan Roberts had a great duel in the back line with Matt Brown. Ben Zanker battled hard at full forward and Justin Chilver started slowly in ruck, but was able to push himself back into game to be a dominant player in last quarter.
Daniel Greig played well in defence for the Lakers and when he and co defender Luke Byrne were moved in the second half, it livened up the Jeparit Rainbow forward line.
Walpeup Underbool continue to improve and will be looking forward to tackling last year’s premiers Beulah next week.
WOOMELANG LASCELLES V HOPETOUN
Woomelang Lascelles bounced back well after a sound thrashing last week to the Demons and defeated Hopetoun at home on Saturday.
In a tight tussle all day, they came from behind at three quarter time to boot five goals to two in the final term and turn a five point deficit into a hard earned sixteen point victory.
It said a lot for the character of the Cats, as Hopetoun were also on the rebound after losing to the Roos the week before. The Devils would have been confident of handling their near neighbours, but once again they consistently failed to get the ball away from the centre bounces or when packs occurred around the ground.
Last year Hopetoun received a lot of drive from the Burdett brothers. They are missing this year, and it is showing. Things weren’t helped either when ruckman Dan Young and midfielder Chris Heath were sidelined during the match. When backman Davis Baulch joined them as another injured Devil, Hopetoun were in trouble.
For Hopetoun Luke Milroy battled hard, Zac Robins played well on a wing and Steve Hallam was solid in the backline
Kane Robins was one shining light for Hopetoun. He provided them with a focal point up forward without scoring goals himself. Robins’ skill, talent and desire to win the ball bring other players around him into the game.
Things aren’t over yet for the Devils. They have a chance to redeem themselves next week as they face the equally disappointing Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at home. A win here should see them regain some of their early season confidence. They will need it because the week after they face the rampant Demons away from home.
For the Cats, next week sees them away to Jeparit Rainbow and another winnable game
SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS V OUYEN UNITED
The eagerly anticipated clash between Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and Ouyen United may have blown out to a comfortable 81 point win for the Demons, but this is not a true indication of what was a very tight game up until half time.
In a classic, physical but fair encounter between two sides that pride themselves on going in hard for the ball and leaving no man standing, it was not all one way for the Demons early. They were on top, but only went into the main break fifteen points up.
The Tigers were doing well early. Col Durie was in everything. He was easily Sea Lake Nandaly’s best player, and did a lot of damage. Local boys Liam Barry, Luke Martin and Joel Lloyd were playing well and Mark Duscher had four goals up until half way through the second quarter. This was when United made the change that would have a big impact on the game as a whole.
Jarrod Munro is no slouch as a defender, so with Duscher scoring goals at willnon Munro, Ouyen United needed to quell his influence if they were going to be sure of winning. Andrew Jardine started in the back pocket, but the switch with Munro was made and that was the end of that. Duscher was restricted to only one kick and one goal for the rest of the day.
Last week Jardine had a great game against the Cats. This week he was better. He can take a mark, but his strength and his ability to play tightly on a defender and punch from behind means that he can often clear the ball out of danger with his strong fist. Jardine is also a prodigious kick and has that ability to turn defence into attack in one fell swoop.
Another revelation for the Demons was the form of Jason Stewart. This was his first senior game for the club after beginning the year in the reserves. Stewart’s ruckwork often game United first use of the ball, something that has been missing for the club so far this year.
With his basketball background, Stewart has good hand eye coordination, he can read the play and knows the importance of defence so that when the ball was cleared out of the centre and into the United forward line, he knew to drop back and be prepared to help his defence. This was a valuable asset in the first half of the game.
Stewart is very fit so that Ouyen United were able to leave him on for long spells and when he needed a break, Joshua Langdon was able to provide leap, pace and contest all over the ground.
With Brett Knowles unavailable, Brenton Jardine slipped into Knowles’ usual role, rotating with Glenn Joyce between centre and half forward. This meant that United were able to keep their winning structure in place and allowed midfield players to keep their rotations going, often resulting in a confused opposition and loose Demon runners.
Dominic Leach is providing United with a great foil. He leads well, he can take a mark and is an accurate kick for goal. By his standards, Sonny Lindsey had a quiet day with only three goals to his name. Meanwhile Leach booted five.
In a great performance by Ouyen United as a team, it was still another stellar individual performance by Bradley Vallance at centre half forward. He was unstoppable. Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers tried to quell him and persevered with Daniel Carmichael, but in the end, he had to be shifted and played better when he was moved away from Vallance.
Vallance has so much going for him that he is almost impossible to match up in this form. He is fast, he can run all day and he is a prodigious kick. Yet it is his vertical leap and strength in the core of his body that sets him apart. Vallance keeps his concentration and never wavers from the task at hand.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers will improve. They have recruited well and have many good players. As the season progresses and players get to know each others’ game, expect them to win more than they lose. Their next game against Hopetoun should be one worth seeing and it could give the Tigers a chance to bounce back and prove their worth.
Last Modified on 08/05/2011 14:00
