Port Melbourne turned in yet another dominant performance on Saturday, securing the minor premiership as they thrashed a hapless Frankston side 19.12.126 – 5.6.36 at Frankston Park as Anna Harrington reports.
The cellar-dwelling Dolphins tried hard but were simply outclassed by the Borough, who controlled the midfield and overcame poor kicking up front to win by 15 goals.
Patrick Rose and Callum Sinclair kicked four goals apiece for Port, while Jake Creely was Frankston’s sole multiple scorer.
Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres said he was pleased with how his side maintained their intensity against a niggling Dolphins side with nothing to lose.
“We just kept our minds on the job and we kept our focus and that’s what a good side does – it doesn’t get its standards lowered by a side that’s obviously battling away,” Ayres said.
“I think it’s pretty important that we just need to maintain what we need to do and I thought we battled it out for four quarters.
“It wasn’t clinical but certainly we got our game going in the third quarter and we sort of broke the game open from then.”
Port got out of the blocks quickly, nicking first blood through Sinclair, who marked strongly and slotted the set shot to get his side off the mark.
The Dolphins struggled to make progress against a strong defensive effort from the Borough and failed to take a mark inside 50, their sole major coming from Shane Hockey, the beneficiary of a 50-metre penalty.
While the Dolphins worked hard across the field, the Borough continued to convert, Sinclair again among the scorers as he bookended the quarter with his second major.
His side down by 32 at quarter time, Frankston coach Simon Goosey urged his side to come out of their shells and take the game on.
The Dolphins responded, matching their more favoured opponents in the middle, the sides kicking three goals apiece in a promising quarter for the home side, who went into the main break down 4.3.27 to 9.5.59.
Despite holding momentum going into the break, Frankston failed to maintain their run, losing concentration as minor scuffles allowed the visitors to get back on top mentally.
Port capitalised, kicking six goals to the Dolphin’s two minor scores, Ryan McMahon leading the way with two majors for the quarter as the Borough took a 66-point lead into the final huddle.
Frankston’s promising 23rd man Mitch Viney opened the final quarter scoring but it was to no avail, Port kicking the next four goals to run out 90-point winners.
Frankston coach Simon Goosey said while his side gave up several opportunities through turnovers, Port Melbourne were simply too classy for his young side.
“I was really disappointed, especially after half time [because] up to half time, we were reasonable without being great but we did play a really good football side,” Goosey said.
“They were far too good, they were far too polished around the ground and we turned the ball over.
“We turned the ball over that many times that at the end of the day, you make all this play and you run and you turn the ball over and it just kills you.”
This week Frankston will head to Eureka Stadium for their clash with North Ballarat while the Borough are on the road again and will travel to Avalon Airport Oval for their eagerly anticipated top two clash with Williamstown.
Last Modified on 09/08/2011 11:46