A bag of four goals to key forward Lachlan Thomas and a scintillating performance by midfielder Daniel Verrall has guided the Crows to a six goal win over the third placed Bears.
After a late venue change from Rockville Oval in Toowoomba to Western Districts in Brisbane after ground closures, the Crows turned up ready to play. This was the first time the Crows met the Bears in 2012, after Kenmore were unavailable for the Round 1 clash with a player shortage at the time.
The Crows showed their intent early kicking the first goal of the game and continued to kick three more for the quarter, to take a 4.3 (27) to 2.1 (13) lead into the first break.
Verrall along with Dignan, Myles and Thomas all set the standard early and were no match for their Kenmore counterparts. A few key personnel were out for the clash, so the next generation of Crows stepped up in the game at different stages.
Young Coolaroo player Harry Marshall chipped in with his first goal for the Crows early in the second and looked more settled at home. Lockyer star Wylie Buzza has also had massive weight on his shoulders slipping into the number 1 rucking role after normal rucks Walters (Injury) and Gibbs (Holidays) were unavailable. Buzza shared the duties with former QLD Centre Half Back Tye Hughes and Buzza was the dominate Ruck for the day, giving the Crows first use.
Darling Downs took a 9.5 (59) to 3.4 (22) lead into the long break and were on the brink of opening the dam walls.
The Crows inability to finish teams showed in the third quarter, as the Bears kept the Crows to 1 goal in the third quarter. Kenmore clawed back some of the Crows scoreboard pressure kicking two third quarter goals themselves. Kenmore cut the lead back to 32 going into the final change.
Similar to Collingwood, the Crows push hard to gain a match winning lead but just cruise home, going into the mindset they have done enough. This is something that Coach Neumann has been trying to improve as finals near.
“We have been winning games by comfortable margins but have never actually put a team away, we get stuck in the mindset that we have done enough and that is about it, we have done enough. By all means it is great we have won and comfortably but we really need to play four quarters of our high pressure, high attacking game of footy and especially during the finals campaign,” Neumann said following the crows 6goal victory over Kenmore.
Kenmore flexed their muscles and showed they will be a threat come finals as they piled on two quick goals in the opening minutes. DD were lucky that it wasn’t more as the Bears were inaccurate in front of goal kicking 2.3 for the quarter.
A few minor changes on the field saw a few calm heads go behind the footy and steady the ship for the Crows. Through this the Crows were able to kick three goals to extend the lead out to 36points, which was the final margin. Darling Downs ran out 13.8 (86) to 7.8 (50) victors on a warm afternoon in Brisbane.
DD now have the week off, before facing Yeronga South Brisbane on Sunday 15th July at Leyshon Park. This will be a top of the table clash first (Crows) verses second, if the Crows win this they will be assured the minor premiership and secure the all important home final in week 2 of the finals.
Photo: Midfielder Daniel Verrall in full flight against the Kenmore Bears
| | 1QG | 1QB | Q1PTS | 2QG | 2QB | Q2PTS | 3QG | 3QB | Q3PTS | 4QG | 4QB | PTS |
|---|
| Darling Downs Crows |
4 |
3 |
27 |
9 |
5 |
59 |
10 |
7 |
67 |
13 |
8 |
86 |
| Kenmore |
2 |
1 |
13 |
3 |
4 |
22 |
5 |
5 |
35 |
7 |
8 |
50 |
Darling Downs Crows
Goal Kickers: L. Thomas 4, H. Marshall 2, D. Verrall 2, T. Tate , A. Green , T. Myles , L. Dignan , T. Wainwright
Best Players: D. Verrall, S. Huggins, L. Dignan, T. Wainwright, T. Myles, S. Rockliff
Last Modified on 13/07/2012 14:52
