Another final term comeback has seen Port Melbourne move to second spot on the Peter Jackson VFL ladder, with a 12-point win over Essendon last Saturday at Windy Hill. Trailing by nine points at three quarter time, the Borough kicked five goals to two in the final term to record their third win on the trot, as Steve O’Brien reports.
After an early goal apiece to Travis Colyer for Essendon and Dean Galea for Port Melbourne, Port were able to race to a three goal lead as they had the better over their inaccurate opponents. Joe Daniher finally hit the target for Essendon reducing the quarter time margin to seven points.
Both coaches thought outside the square with their defensive matchups, with Kyle Hardingham given the job on Galea and Gary Ayres opting for Toby Thoolen on Daniher. Ben Duscher, who has been a clearance king in previous seasons was given the task of running with Chris Cain.
The second quarter belonged to Essendon. They dominated play and had the ball in their forward line for the majority of the quarter. Despite this dominance they could only manage four goals for the quarter. Port fought back as the quarter progressed but missed many relatively easy shots at goal. The school end of the ground was proving to be something of a Bermuda Triangle with Port kicking seven behinds for the term. The grand tally to that end of the ground for the half was 2.13, as Essendon led by 12 points at half time.
The third quarter saw fluctuations that favoured each side. Port kicked to what had been the scoring end, and had the early ascendancy to hit the front midway through the quarter. Port was getting great drive through Cain, with Adrian Bonadio also stamping himself on the match. However Essendon steadied with late goals and went into three quarter time with a seven point lead.
At the three quarter time break the heavens opened up and any wind advantage to the Napier Street end of the ground was now gone. Ariel Steinberg, who had been shifted forward after quarter time marked 20 metres out on a slight angle but his shot went out on the full. Nick O' Brien was another Don to not make the most of his opportunities in this quarter despite taking three marks inside the 50. At the 15 min mark of the quarter Essendon held an 11 point lead after a Travis Colyer snap. Port narrowed the margin before a hurried kick out of defence went straight to the outstanding Cain and from 50 he levelled the scores. In the final minutes Galea, in his return game from a shoulder injury, goaled from a free then a dribbled kick from the square saw Port record a 12 point win.
For Port Melbourne, Cain was everywhere. Thoolen did a great job on Daniher and Sam Pleming was his usual self at centre half back. Bonadio was also influential.
For Essendon, Tayte Pears was strong at centre half back, Travis Colyer on his wing, Leroy Jetta and Nathan Lovett Murray running through the midfield.
Last Modified on 20/05/2013 16:39