Ben
Rowles
An
8-goal haul from Jake Reed has seen Nangiloc keep their slim finals aspirations
alive with a crushing 43-point win over a disappointing Euston in Round 18 of
the Millewa Football League.
In a season defining win, the Demons revelled
in the wet and soggy conditions at Nangiloc Reserve and totally out played
their more fancied opponents in every department.
Nangiloc got off to a dream start through the
efforts of Reed, who kicked the first 4 goals of the game to set Euston right
on the back foot. The Bombers did not register a goal until midway through the
term, when a smart goal from Brad Kennedy ended Nangiloc’s 5 goal run.
However by quarter time Nangiloc were in total
control, with their tackling intensity and ferociousness causing the Bombers to
make poor decisions under extreme pressure. The sloppy disposal by Euston
allowed Nangiloc to capitalise on their opportunities, as they took a 6 goal
lead into the first break.
Nangiloc’s domination continued in the second
quarter, with Reed kicking his sixth goal early in the term. The Demons looked
slick and skilful with their disposal around the ground and looked like a team
extremely determined to cling on to any chance of claiming the final top four
spot.
Damien Sitters was having an exceptional game
in the ruck for the Dees, as provided a strong target around the ground for his
teammates to kick to. The class of Reed and Cam Peters in the wet was also a
highlight for Nangiloc, as was the run and drive provided by Brad Garsed and
Anthony Wisneski on the wings.
Euston on the other hand looked sluggish, and
their renowned running game through the midfield was almost non-existent, which
was a credit to the Nangiloc tackling pressure. Coach Joey Denaro was working
extremely hard to ignite his side in the middle of the ground, but he lacked the
support from his teammates, as the Bombers went into half time 58-points
adrift.
The game tightened up after the main break,
with Euston paying much more respect to their Nangiloc opponents. This saw the
Bombers work themselves back into the game slightly, but with their tales up,
the Demons were good enough to react to anything thrown at them by their
opponents, as they entered the final change with a commanding lead.
The final quarter saw Euston get a bit of a run
on, as they outscored the Demons four goals to two to add some respectability
to the scoreboard. But it wasn’t enough though, as Nangiloc came out triumphant
by 43-points to keep their September dreams alive.
It was a superb team performance by Nangiloc,
with every player stepping up and doing his job for the team.
Sitters was fantastic all day around the
ground, while Peters again gathered possessions at will in the midfield. David
Mike was impassable in defence, and despite being quiet in the second half, Reed’s
5 first quarter goals set the scene for Nangiloc’s win.
Euston on the other hand will be disappointed
with their lacklustre performance, and will be looking to rediscover some form
against Werrimull next week before the finals. Denaro was the shining light for
the Bombers in a workman like performance, while Kennedy continued his good
form in front of the sticks with 4 goals for the match.
At Lake Cullulleraine, Werrimull proved no
match for the powerhouse of Bambill; going down convincingly to the tune of
103-points.
The Pies were always going to have a hard time
keeping Bambill’s stars under wraps, and so it proved as the Saints controlled
the match from start to finish in their last hit out before the finals.
After solid first half which saw Bambill take
51-point lead into the main break, the Saints put the foot on the accelerator in
the second half and blew the Pies out of the water to record a thumping 15-goal
win.
Denny Fox and Brett Haase proved too much to
handle for the Werrimull defenders, as they slotted 5 and 4 majors respectively
in a fine performance up forward for the Saints. Brant Reid continued his fine
form this year as he claimed best on ground honours, while veteran Simon Kelly
also featured high in the best.
As for Werrimull, Jamie Keenan put in another
solid performance with 3 goals, while Chris McGregor and Jamie Graham can hold
their heads high after making solid contributions to the cause.
In the final game of the round, Meringur
enhanced their finals prospects with a comfortable victory over the Lions at
Cardross Reserve.
The Roos held sway from start to finish, and
looked every bit the genuine finals contender as they ran out 76-point winners.
This sets up next week’s clash with Nangiloc
perfectly, with the winner to claim the final top four spot ahead of the
finals. For the loser, they can kiss the season goodbye.
As for Cardross, they will be determined to go
out with a bang next week, when they take on Gol Gol at Carramar Drive.
Last Modified on 24/08/2009 03:23