Port Melbourne extended their winning streak to 19 games, and are one step closer to the Peter Jackson VFL’s Everest. The Borough secured a Preliminary Final berth following an impressive 97-point win against the Casey Scorpions last Saturday in the Qualifying Final as Brendan Lucas reports.
The first half provided tough, contested, finals intensity football. The best two forwards of the season were facing off against each other at opposite ends, however it was the midfield where the match would be decided.
Brendan Fevola got the better of the ‘Frosty’ Miller Medallist Patrick Rose who was held to zero disposals in the first half by Casey’s Matthew Warnock, as Fevola went on to kick 3 goals.
With a two-point difference at the first change, the game was there for the taking as a fiery Gotch in a fit of rage told his players that he wanted to see more players honouring leads from Fevola.
Young Scorpions’ rookie Kelvin Lawrence provided one for the highlights reel to start the second term, with a goal dribbled along the boundary giving Casey a strong start.
However, a costly turnover from the Casey Scorpions’ Ben Waite straight to the Boroughs’ Billy Burstin gave them a costly goal at the half way mark of the second term.
This was followed up by four unanswered goals, as Casey’s defence was increasingly under siege - Ryan McMahon strolling in to kick his fourth of the game.
After half time Casey capitulated. Port’s midfield proved once again why they have been so dominant in an undefeated season, as Toby Pinwill (36 possessions), Shane Valenti (27 possessions) and Nathan Batsanis (24 possessions) stepped up and led the way.
Eights goals to none in the third quarter gave Port Melbourne a comfortable 71-point lead heading into the last, as the Boroughs surged away in the final term to kick seven goals to three to record a convincing win for the Boroughs’ faithful.
Brendan Fevola provided the only real focal point up forward for the Scorpions’ finishing with six, as Lynden Dunn and Michael Newton were well held.
Max Gawn was excellent for the visitors after a breakout season in Melbourne’s ruck division, finishing with 16 disposals and a goal to his name.
Post-match coach Gary Ayres believed that keeping consistency throughout their schedule and tweaking the side structurally gave the Boroughs’ the edge.
“We didn’t change anything, but we did change the side. We didn’t change anything the way we trained, we trained accordingly and we touched on a couple of things on Thursday night relating to the construction of play from our back half to our forwards, and it worked,” Ayres said.
“I thought everyone had to contribute in a final, and I thought it was a really good, hard, contested brand of football that we played.
“We deserve the right to be in the last four, and that is a credit to this group. It’s unfinished business as far as the Preliminary Final goes, we just need to make sure we’re as good as we were today if not better in two weeks time.”
Following a second half capitulation, Casey coach Brad Gotch reflected on the game as a real confidence loss after numerous changes hurt the Scorpions through the midfield.
“I think it comes down to whether we have got confidence in the group, I suppose we had five changes from last week like Bate, Bail, just that loss of a couple of running players really hurt us today, because we got exposed for strength and spread in the midfield,” Gotch said.
“Fev had Dalton beat, it’s just we couldn’t get the ball to him often enough.
“They shut us down, they worked harder than us, they outsmarted us with the way they played. They have got a lot of players that they can throw through that midfield.
“It’s a do or die struggle [next week]. I’d like to think that the players will show a bit more fight,” Gotch concluded.
Port Melbourne will meet the winner of this week’s semi-final, North Ballarat against the Northern Bullants in a fortnight, whilst Casey will face a Werribee side they defeated comfortably in round 21 by 44-points in the other semi-final.
Last Modified on 06/09/2011 15:49