Simply “buggered” was the word Gary Ayres used to describe how he felt at the conclusion of the 2011 VFL season as Brittany Shanahan reports.
He is the first Port Melbourne coach in the club’s history to guide his side through an undefeated season, with Port joining only another four clubs with an undefeated home and away record in VFA/VFL history.
It took until the 20-minute mark of the final quarter for Port Melbourne to snatch the lead for the first time in the match courtesy of Adrian Bonaddio.
Box Hill lost three players to injuries which reduced them to just the one man on the bench in the second half.
Yet if you were standing in the Norman Goss stand at Teac Oval, you wouldn’t have noticed.
The Hawks out-run the Borough in the first half, stopping them in their tracks with their intensity on the ball carrier. It was a low scoring affair with only six goals scored between both sides up until half time – with no goals scored in the second quarter.
Yet it was the physical contest that enthralled the crowd watching on.
Chris Cain (27 possessions) and Dean Galea (15 possessions) starred up forward for the Borough scoring four goals each at crucial times in the final quarter.
At the other end, Brent Renouf chalked up three goals for the match ahead of Brad Neil who nailed two goals.
The Hawks were fighting like there was no tomorrow, eventually clinching eighth position, despite their 20-point loss.
In the club’s history making match, coach Gary Ayres noted the sides slow start ‘mode’ but credited their level of resilience.
“We had to implement some different positional moves to try and get something going,” Ayres said.
“As a team we have got to be extremely flexible because we don’t have an AFL type of quality of players coming back.”
“I think we are showing the resilience in the match hardness that you need when you are going into a finals campaign.”
“They are the first team in the history of the Port Melbourne Football club to go thought the season undefeated in one season, which is quite amazing really.”
Ayres was keeping a close eye on Casey Scorpions progress following their 100-point win as they’ll do battle in the first week of the finals.
“That was a stroke of genius by Gotchy to bring him (Kyle Matthews) back right on the eve of the finals and look he is a class act,” he said.
“We have played them once this year and it was a red hot game.”
“If you weigh up a year, you could say the practice matches are the first quarter, the home and away is the second quarter and now we are just going into the third quarter.”
Along with completing the clubs 18-0 record in the home and away season, the win also helped Sam Pleming celebrate his 150th VFL game.
Port Melbourne will face Casey Scorpions this Saturday at TEAC Oval in a qualifying final - with the winner progressing through to the Prelimary Final in a fortnights time.
Last Modified on 31/08/2011 14:48