by Jim Gordon
HOPETOUN V JEPARIT RAINBOW
In a dominant display at Hopetoun, the Devils were far too good for Jeparit Rainbow winning by a huge 86 points. This win has put Hopetoun into second position on the MFL ladder.
It was another even team performance from the Devils. They had many winners all over the ground.
In a tantalising end to the season, the Devils take on the Blues next week for the second chance. These two sides start their finals campaign a week early.
In a disappointing end to their year, the Lakers were no match the Devils. For the third time this year Hopetoun proved just too strong. Once again Jeparit Rainbow struggled against Hopetoun’s bigger bodied players at both ends of the ground.
Kain Robins and Bryce Wellington ended up with five goals each on the day.
After kicking the first goal of the game, the Lakers sat back and allowed Hopetoun to dictate play. The Devils quickly got right on top mainly through Kain Robins who kicked three goals in the first quarter. Simon Cook went off injured in first quarter and did not return, he may be doubtful next week.
Jeparit Rainbow battled hard in the second term, but struggled when Justin Chilver was yellow carded and reported in a scuffle.
In the second half the Lakers experimented with their younger players in the ruck. Simon Clugston and Zack Webb won their share of the hit outs, and in the process were able to show up Hopetoun’s lack of a quality ruckman coming into the finals.
There were some great duels in the Hopetoun forward line. After Robins’ great first quarter, Heath Clugston played a good tight game on him even though he gave away height and weight. Brett Fisher also battled hard against the much stronger Bryce Wellington.
Hopetoun ran Liam Price with Jeparit Rainbow’s Ash Clugston. Both sides were happy with their player’s performance and both men were named amongst their sides’ best on the day.
Sean Bayzand played a strong second half winning a lot of the ball, Andrew Watson tried hard up forward where the Lakers lack of a strong key forward was once again painfully evident. This has to be a main priority for the Jeparit Rainbow recruiting for next year.
Lucas Edelsten tried hard against the dangerous Deek Roberts who nevertheless ended up with four goals and was one of the Devils’ best.
Anthony Baker, Ben Reid and Luke Milroy missed this game so the Devils have some firepower to come back in next week when they play Beulah … possibly not for the last time this season.
OUYEN UNITED V BEULAH
Beulah needed a win against rivals Ouyen United at the Blackburn Park to keep its top two final hopes alive.
The Blues did not disappoint, starting with plenty of intent and running away with the match by 74 points in a total domination of the Demons.
Big forward David King booted seven goals while Sam Liston kicked five.
Steph Saunders dominated the ruck and got two majors.
The younger, smaller and less experienced Ouyen United side could not cope with the strength and marking ability of Beulah’s Tom and Kim Hallam, Steph Saunders and Rory Shannon.
Beulah opened by kicking with a stiff three goal breeze and United did well to hold them early. Their first gaol came from David King who marked a good kick from Tom Hallam. Adam O’Callaghan lined up on King as expected and he had marked a loose ball running off King. Unfortunately for him, his kick into the wind lacked penetration, Hallam marked and kicked back over O’Callaghan’s head into the waiting arms of King who goaled.
Sam Liston was lively early. His first pass to Lucas Smith resulted in a poster, but when Liston was on the end of a chain of passes from Smith and then Dale Shannon, he goaled with a clever kick across his body.
King was giving O’Callaghan trouble early and he kicked his second after a very good mark and pass from Sam Martin who was also having a very good first term.
When King marked and goaled again and big Steph Saunders marked and gaoled twice, Beulah were making the most of the breeze. Half way through the term it looked like United were doing well to hold them up.
Ouyen United were not helping themselves by dropping marks, playing from behind and fumbling. Beulah’s 44 point quarter time lead was indicative of their control of the game.
The Demons were better in the second term and even got as close as 28 points early in the third term, but they were no match for a Beulah side that had come to win and win well. They had too much fire power for a fragile looking Ouyen United who were just not strong enough to match it with the Blues.
In indication of Beulah’s superiority was their play in and around the centre clearances. Saunders did not have it all his own way even though he controlled most of the hit outs. United were often first at the ball around the clearances and were able to get their hands on the ball from the centre. Too often they were either caught with the ball or Beulah was able to snap up kicks under pressure and send the ball back over the heads of the pack.
Where Ouyen United fell down was their inability to negate the marking of Beulah’s key play makers. Time and time again in the third term Tom Hallam marked across the centre or at half back in the third term just when United looked capable of stringing together a few forays forward.
Troy Moncur was one Demon who was able to match the strength of Beulah. Moncur was beaten in the ruck by Saunders, but was a strong presence and did his damage when he went forward to rest. At one stage, Moncur had kicked all of United’s first four goals.
Alexander Morrish had a purple patch in the second term when he ran down the dominant Sam Liston to gain a free kick and not a minute later Morrish passed off beautifully Moncur who scored his fourth goal.
Another positive for Ouyen United was the play of Maeli Felise across half back and out of the centre. He stuck to his task all day and took a couple of strong overhead marks. Felise held his head high under what was a barrage of Beulah attacks at times and kicked the ball long into the United forward line. John Jackson and Glenn Joyce tried hard and Jackson Morrish did enough to show that he is going to be a big part of Ouyen United’s future.
SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS V WALPEUP UNDERBOOL
Sitting firmly at the top of the MFL ladder, Walpeup Underbool disposed of second placed Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers with a ruthless efficiency that will see them go into the finals as firm flag favourites.
Everything went the Roos’ way. They won the toss and kicked with the strong breeze, they followed this up with the first seven goals of the game and finally ran out comfortable 55 point winners.
Walpeup Underbool’s ability to link well from half back through the centre before surging the ball forward was too much for the harassed Tigers. Right from the start Walpeup Underbool were working well together and causing the Tigers to turn the ball over with regular monotony.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers’ plight was not helped when Nathan Wight left the field early with what looked to be a severe knee injury.
The Roos played well in the opening term with Chris Chubb and Kane Munro looking dangerous in their forward line. Using his pace off half back to move the ball forward, Ryan Anderson was another Roo to stand out.
Nevertheless the Tigers were fighting hard and were eventually rewarded when they were able to run the ball forward to score their first goal against the flow as the quarter came to an end.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers worked hard to try and get back into the contest after the first break. Col Durie started to get into the play and several times he was able to boot the football into the Tiger forwards. Jarrod Alderton was moving well across half forward.
The Roos still had a lot of the play and were able to push forward on several occasions, but were let down by missed chances in front of goal. It was only when they scored late goals through David Piasente and Sam McDonald that the Roos gained back the momentum going into the half time break.
The Roos continued to miss shots on goal in the third term, often as a result of the Tigers applying strong tackles in an effort to try and stop the Roos’ run. Wade Champion was moving well and marking strongly for the Roos across half forward.
Walpeup Underbool were applying plenty of pressure to the Tigers in an effort to try to break the game open and when Col Durie went off the ground with a shoulder injury after a heavy collision, the Tigers were only just hanging on.
Matt Palmer and Jeremy Brown were strong in the Roos backline, repelling numerous Tiger forward entries and running well off their opponents when required. Onballers Pat Whitlam and Sam McDonald had solid performances for the Roos.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers began the final term well showing plenty of character and scored the first two goals for the quarter. However, they were not in a position to continue with their good work. When big men Wade Champion and Chris Chubb were on the end of some hard work from the Roo midfield, the Roos were able to steady, score goals and in the end hold the Tigers off in a tight last term and go on to a comfortable win.
Last Modified on 19/08/2012 13:17
