By Ben Guthrie
Gippsland Power stunned hot favourites Oakleigh Chargers at Visy Park on Saturday to cause a major upset and set up a showdown with Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup Grand Final this weekend.
The Chargers were in front for most of the game before the Power mounted a major comeback, on the back of the superb form of joint Morrish Medallist Dyson Heppell.
Heppell singlehandedly dragged his team over the line with 40 possessions, 12 handball receives, nine clearances and 11 inside 50s as the Power won a thriller 14.20. (103) to 14.9 (93).
Gippsland coach Damian Carroll was amazed by Heppell’s performance.
“I felt as though he picked up the group and brought them over the line and that’s a credit to him as a player and he’s just so competitive and it shows what a selfless person he is,” Carroll said.
Heppell’s ball use and his ability to win the ball on the ground (nine hardball gets) and in the air (eight marks) will more than likely stamp him as a potential first round draft pick.
The next best possession winner for Gippsland was Dale Hoghton with 20.
Oakleigh led by 20 points at half time as they were well served by Thomas Schneider (40) who won possessions at will and Andrew Gaff (30), while Sam Crocker (29) was also dangerous.
Gippsland identified Crocker’s damage, as he had 20 possessions to half time, before shutting him out in the second half, where he only touched the ball nine times after half time, something that Carroll said was a directive from the coaching staff.
Oakleigh’s game style of short passes and run and carry served them well as forward Alex Johnson capitalised on the precision passing by booting a game high four goals.
A goal by Oakleigh forward Patrick Karnezis at the start of the third quarter saw the margin balloon to beyond four goals, which looked like a tough position for the Power to come back from.
Gippsland were also scoring freely, but they were not capitalising with goals.
Even when they were being soundly beaten on the scoreboard they were winning the inside 50s (54-39) and clearances (35-31).
Two goals to Tim Northe in the third quarter, who was one of the Power’s best, kick started the comeback and they trailed by only seven points at three quarter time.
Successive goals to Danny Butcher and Shaun Wyatt gave the Power the lead, before two goals to Oakleigh forward Tom Gordon wrestled the lead back for the Chargers.
Gippsland sensed the occasion as goals to Tomas Bugg, Dale Hoghton, Jed Lamb and Clay Smith capped an inspiring comeback.
Their ball use inside forward 50 increased two fold as they started to get the ball to their designated kickers in Heppell and Tim Northe (18 possessions and two goals).
The pulsating final term yielded eight goals as both teams threw their bodies in with no regard for their safety.
One instance in particular involving Schneider and Jed Lamb where they flung themselves at a loose ball showed what a finals win meant to both teams.
Gippsland coach Damian Carroll said the Power would manage their players ahead of what will be one of the biggest weeks in their life.
“It’s all about staying fresh and making sure you’re in the best possible shape,” Carroll said.
A concern over key player Dale Hoghton’s ankle is the only worry for the Power as they look to repeat their 2005 Grand Final win.
Oakleigh Chargers 14.9.93
Gippsland Power 14.20.103
Oakleigh Chargers
Goal Kickers: A. Johnson 4, T. Gordon 2, S. Crocker, D. Tyson, A. Tomlinson, V. Michie, T. Schneider, A. Gaff, P. Karnezis, N. Batsanis
Best Players: C. Cassidy, A. Johnson, T. Gordon, S. Crocker, A. Gaff, D. Harris
Gippsland Power
Goal Kickers: T. Northe 2, D. MacDonald 2, S. Deery 2, S. Wyatt 2, J. Lamb, D. Hoghton, C. Smith, T. Bugg, D. Heppell, B. Salton
Best Players: D. Heppell, J. Lamb, T. Northe, S. Wyatt, S. Deery, M. Ross
Last Modified on 14/12/2010 13:57