After a slow start, Port Melbourne have outclassed a gallant but inexperienced Bombers’ outfit to win by 41-points at TEAC Oval on Saturday as Brendan Lucas reports.
For the first three quarters, the game was almost a mirror image of the previous week against Collingwood, with the Bombers getting the early jump on the undefeated Boroughs.
Early goals to Mark Wiliams and Tory Dickson set the Bombers up in the first quarter, as a potent forward line that also included Matthew Little was causing the Boroughs’ defence a few headaches.
With a handball ratio of 54 kicks and 53 handballs in the first term, Port’s overuse of the ball coming out of defence was causing too many turnovers and hurting the Boroughs’ on the scoreboard.
“Our ability to be able to make easy and fundamental executions of the ball, so by hand and feet, should have been much more appropriate,” said coach Gary Ayres post-match on his side’s poor first term.
“There are things that need to be tweaked, need to be fixed,” he said.
The Boroughs’ ability to stay in touch with the Bombers showed a greater maturity and experience as the first few scoring shots went their way in the second quarter.
However, it was the Bombers who consolidated midway through the second with three unanswered goals. Port answered late in the second through a classy display by Michael Dillon whose intercept provided a scintillating goal from the boundary.
Port’s midfield looked to be on top at half time which sparked such a rapid comeback, with Shane Valenti, Sam Dwyer and Nathan Batsanis leading the way with 15 disposals each.
Almost goal for goal in the third, the Bombers looked to be hanging on, as Matthew Little led the way for the Bombers, kicking his third in the first two minutes of the quarter.
Despite this, it was Port’s numerous defensive efforts and cleaner and more efficient disposal that was noticeably improving and hurt the Bombers. A late goal to Port captain John Baird steadied his side to give them a lead of 17-points heading into the last.
Disappointing on the day was Bombers’ key forward Scott Gumbleton who finished with 6 possessions and only one goal to his name. His continued poor form in the VFL has been a telling factor after numerous injuries, and has given the Bombers a huge decision to make on his future in the coming months.
At the start of the last, the Bombers were looking to make amends in the wake of an insipid performance against Coburg the previous week.
In an almost replica performance by Port the previous week however, the Bombers were blown away in the last, as a six goal to two last quarter proved the difference.
After the game, Port coach Gary Ayres had mixed feelings over his side’s inconsistent last two encounters.
“There are some guys riding on past performances, it may be time to inject something a little different [into the side],” he said.
“We get the job done, but I still thought it was pretty hard work. I don’t want to take anything away from Bendigo but I thought they played some pretty good football today.”
“We are not comfortable with what we are doing.”
And in the wake of the recent passing of football legend Allan Jeans, after the football world mourned his loss last week, Ayres commented on his outstanding contribution to the game.
“Of course you [think about it], because of the effect he had on so many people, not only me. Obviously he was such a great man, a great mentor, a great philosopher of life and he has touched so many people.
“For him to go it is very sad for a lot of people, he was highly respected and someone who you could call and he would give you advice about anything, and not just football that he loved so dearly.”
Last Modified on 19/07/2011 09:21