by Jim Gordon
JEPARIT RAINBOW V WALPEUP UNDERBOOL
Early premiership favourites Walpeup Underbool began their campaign for back to back flags with a good all over the ground performance and a fifty point victory at Rainbow against a determined, but ultimately outclassed Jeparit Rainbow outfit.
When Wade Champion was able to snap an early goal in the final term for the Roos, it gave them a six goal break. From this point, the Roos were able to sustain their run in the warm conditions and kicked away to a strong win. Champion, Kyle Munro and Chris Chubb were too strong in the Roo forward line all day, booting 14 goals between them. It was the depth and greater experience of the Roos that got the Lakers in the end.
Jeparit Rainbow supporters would have had little or no idea what to expect before the game as their side lined up with eight new players. Coach Luke Werner, one the Lakers best players on the day, saw some positives from the game. ‘I was pleased with the form of our recruits,’ said Werner. ’The margin blew out in the second half, but the efforts of the younger members of the team and new players was encouraging.’
Walpeup Underbool began the game well pushing forward and giving themselves several early shots on goal. In his first game for the Roos, Ben Fisher showed his class when he snapped a terrific goal after his side had earlier missed several chances. Jeparit Rainbow quickly replied through Chris Farrell, but even at this early point in the game it was Walpeup Underbool who appeared to be working harder in the warm conditions giving their forwards plenty of opportunities and they were able to kick out to a handy five goal lead at the first break.
Ben Fisher, Chris Chubb and Matt Palmer were combining well through the centre for the Roos and Jeremy Brown was strong across half back.
Walpeup Underbool missed chances to go further ahead at the beginning of the second term and the Lakers were able to capitalise through their spread and run to work their way back into the game. The Lakers lifted through the astute moves of Heath Clugston from half back onto the ball and by putting Josh McCleary into the ruck. Lucas Edelsten was playing well in the midfield enabling Jeparit Rainbow to have most of the play in the later stages of the first half to go into the long break within a kick of the Roos.
Walpeup Underbool needed to lift and it was Kane Munro leading from the front who provided the spark after moving onto the ball in the third term. He was able to combine well with Chubb to win multiple clearances and after missing plenty of early shots at goal, the Roos were finally able to convert with Wade Champion and Kyle Munro marking strongly and goaling. The Roos’ quick movement of the ball into their forwards was making things difficult for the Jeparit Rainbow backline.
After half time the Jeparit Rainbow team let slip their concentration and let their opponents run loose at times. Nevertheless, they played some good passages of football and no doubt the injury to Andrew Watson in the third quarter hampered the Lakers’ efforts.
Ben Zanker has returned from Nhill for the Lakers. Zanker was prominent kicking three goals playing on and off the bench. Of the other new players Ryan Bulluss from Coolangatta (Qld) kicked two goals playing midfield and forward, Josh McCleary, Greg McLeish and Nathan Millard also from Coolangatta all played serviceable games considering none of these players had met their Jeparit Rainbow team mates before Saturday. Chris Meyer and Josh Murphy both finished amongst the best playing in the midfield.
Simon Clugston played well in a number of positions as did veteran Heath Clugston. Mention must be made of Tyler Edelsten who tried hard in the backline often opposed one out against the talented Wade Champion.
Walpeup Underbool have continued on where they left off in 2013. It will take an extraordinary effort by any of the other Mallee sides to topple the reigning premiers.
HOPETOUN V WOOMELANG LASCELLES
In a great display of fine weather football, the rampant Cats started off their 2013 campaign with a wonderful win over the disappointing Devils at Hopetoun on Saturday. With scores only one point apart at the main break, Woomelang Lascelles stormed home in the second half outscoring Hopetoun by thirteen goals to four to record a meritorious 59 point victory.
The game was still up for grabs at three quarter time with only fifteen points the difference, but the Cats were just too good in the end and ran away with the game in the final term.
Jayden Lonergan was a star up forward taking strong marks, kicking very well and ending with five goals. Dwayne Hamlyn in his first game for his new club played a team oriented role, scored two goals himself and fitted into his side’s game plan perfectly. It was Hamlyn’s creative play all day that went a long way towards gaining the Cats their opening win for the season
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With Hopetoun one point up at half time, it appeared as if the Cats might be chasing the Devils and they really did not look the goods. Hopetoun’s younger players were closing down the Woomelang Lascelles key ball carriers making it very difficult for their forwards. Yet it turned out that it was the Cat forwards who got on top in the second half as Woomelang Lascelles started to improve their kicking accuracy and their run from the midfield. Trent Donnan, Jackson Quirk and Jamie Church all started to get a lot of the ball and they were delivering it quickly and accurately into a forward line that was getting away from what had been a very tight Hopetoun defence.
It was Church’s first game for the club and in fact his first game in a few years. Church was very impressive, a promising prospect for the rest of the season for the Cats.
Trent Donnan did a lot of damage through the midfield winning plenty of his own football and using it very well. Aaron Lonergan was well held early, but came into it as the game progressed and played a very good second half. Mark Charleson played well in the ruck and changing into the forward line.
Hopetoun’s Ben Reid withdrew before the game with injury, severely hindering his side’s backline. The Devils had their chances to take a grip on the game at various times, but poor disposal causing costly turnovers in the forward line made it easier for the Cats’ defence to repel any attacks.
This game was played in great spirit with both sides attacking the football very fiercely for a Round 1 hitout. After half time game opened up and that is when Woomelang Lascelles were able to get right on top in what was a great start to their year with promising signs after several years in the Mallee football wilderness. The Cats looked good and will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
OUYEN UNITED V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers left behind their disappointing 2012 Grand Final fadeout as they methodically and relentlessly tore apart a slow, listless and at times error-prone Ouyen United outfit that seemed to lack any system or any sort of game plan. The Tigers played to position beautifully, they had winners all over the ground and ran all day crushing the Demons 19.17 (131) to 12.9 (81) in front of a large crowd at Blackburn Park.
Ouyen United were expertly stifled by the well-drilled Tigers who had the game pretty much in their keeping at half time despite some wasteful football in front of goal.
While the Demons briefly fought back with a couple of bursts of good football, the Tigers seemed to be able to kick goals when they needed them. United looked dangerous once in the first term when Pete Caldow and new recruit Damion Cupido goaled and again just before half time when Cupido kicked two long left foot gems within two minutes of each other, but it didn’t last.
Wes Harrison playing on a flank and Cliff Ryan at full forward with five goals each proved to be headaches for their Demon defenders all day and the Tiger onball brigade led by captain Col Durie, ruck rover Bill Barry and ruckmen Dan McEwan did well. Their defence was also holding up with Stephen Lyons and John Guthrie often marking and clearing the football.
Matt Elliott was thriving on his new leadership role at centre half forward and Jason Collins was working tirelessly. Sam Roberts marked well for his three goals, James Summerhayes and Ben Notting were fine defenders and Wes Sewell controlled his wing.
The Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers forward line had winners everywhere. Twice in the second term they were able to trade handballs between Bill Barry, Lance Brown and Darcy Ryan for easy goals, completely mesmerising their opponents. The second half was very similar to the first and the final margin of 50 points could have been more.
In defence, there was also much to cheer. John Guthrie, Stephen Lyons and James Summerhayes blanketed their opponents, they dropped back to block up open spaces and above they teamed well together. Their clean ball use and poise made it easier for their hard running midfielders to make position and run the ball into the Tiger forward line.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers jumped to a three goal lead before the Demons had troubled the scorers. They kept a gap over their opponents and should have been further ahead at half time, but missed gettable shots on goal. Col Durie twice and Bill Barry were both guilty in the second term. In the end, it did not matter and indeed, Durie had a relatively easy day for him, he was not called upon to do his usual amount of hard work.
If Ouyen United was a side that had not played much football together, that is how they looked. They were slow to make position, their decision making was poor and too often United players were left on the ground clutching at Tigers who had got up and were off and running down the field.
For the Demons, Joshua Langdon, Aron Morrish and Alexander Morrish showed plenty of dash and picked up many touches in a hardworking defence and across the centre, Peter Caldow worked strongly in close and Cupido kicked four majors with promise of better things to come.
Last Modified on 07/04/2013 11:14
