By Mark Towson
Round 6 of the VFL saw Port Melbourne travel to the Box Hill City oval to take on the Hawthorn aligned Box Hill. After smashing the previously undefeated Sandringham by 92 points in round 5, Port were looking to string 2 games in a row together for the first time this season.
An entertaining first term saw two sides playing very contrasting styles of football. Box Hill were playing a very high possession game that involved moving the ball side ways, backwards and switching the ball in defence at every opportunity. Port Melbourne were playing very direct football and trying to move the ball down the centre of the ground. At quarter time it was Box Hill with there nose in front 4.4 to Port 4.0. Dean Galea had 2 goals with singles to Wayne Schultz and Chris Cain.
The second term saw Port out to an early 2 goal lead before Box Hill started to get there hands on the ball and peg the Borough back. Cory McGrath, Nathan Batsanis, Toby Pinwill and Adam Bentick were working hard for Port with Dean Galea looking the most dangerous forward on the ground. Sam Gibson and Ryan Schoenmakers were causing many headaches for Port. At half time Box Hill lead by the smallest of margins 8.7 to 8.6.
After half time it was all Box Hill as they booted 7 goals for the term. A number of times Port turned the ball over only to see Box Hill with men free all over the ground. Liam Shiels, Hayden Kiel, Michael Osbourne, Ed Curnow and Gary Moss were excellent and threatened to take the game out of Port’s reach. As the lead got out to dangerous proportions in Box Hill’s favour it was Port who finished the term better. Crucial goals to Dean Galea, Adrian Bonaddio and Malcolm Lynch saw Port go into the last break with a 25 point deficit. Box Hill lead 15.9 to 11.8.
At 3qtr time coach Gary Ayres told his side if they could take out a few little bad handballs, missed passes by foot and silly turnovers they could steal it.
Ayres made a major move by moving defender Hugh Sandilands forward which paid off in the opening few minutes when Sandilands took an overhead mark and kicked truly from 45 to keep Port alive. Not long after big Adrian Bonaddio marked 40m out straight in front and converted to edge Port closer. Every contest was pressure packed with many turnovers made due to the extreme pressure. A brilliant snap along the ground by Dean Galea to bring up his 5th goal cut the lead down to under 2 goals and the Port faithful were starting to believe that they could cause a boil over.
The game had become a real arm wrestle with Box Hill missing a couple of big chances due to some great pressure from the Port defence. As the going got tough it was clearance expert and Port tough man Toby Pinwill who was starting to dominate and break the game open. Port were coming hard at Box Hill and a big moment occurred when Box Hill were awarded a 50 metre penalty for not being given the ball back immediately after receiving a free kick. This resulted in a straight forward goal from 10m out and put Box Hill 15 points up at the 20 minute mark.
Some good ball movement saw Dean Galea kick his 6th and give Port a glimmer of hope with the game being well into time on. The game defining moment happened soon after with speedster Mitch Keddell gathering the ball just forward of the centre and deciding to take the game on. With 2 Box Hill midfielders right on his tail he had the audacity and confidence to sprint forward with a few bounces then bomb home a 55m goal to bring Port within 3 points.
Box Hill were now really under the pump and trying there best to run down the clock. Minutes later Nathan Batsanis ran onto a ground ball, gathered possession and kicked an amazing 45m pass to the outstretched Dean Galea who marked under extreme pressure from Box Hill’s Beau Dowler. 50m out, he composed himself and nailed the goal that put Port in front.
Port were then able to run down the clock to record one of the sweetest victories in recent memory.
Considering Port went into the game missing 5 of its best players in Baird, Dwyer, Sinclair, McMahon and Brewer, this was a great result. No doubt Coach Gary Ayres would be happy going into the break with a 4-2 record and plenty of home games to come. Port’s best were: McGrath, Galea, Pinwill, Batsanis, McLaren and Bentick..
Nathan Batsanis easily had his best game for the Borough while ruckman Dylan McLaren has made a huge impact in his last 2 games.
2010 VFL Seniors
Box Hill Hawks 4.4 8.7 15.9 16.12 (108)
Port Melbourne 4.1 8.6 11.8 17.9 (111)
GOALS:
Box Hill Hawks: Gibson 3 Moss 2 Hoegel 2 Fagan 2 Osborne 2 Lisle Morton Schoenmakers Shiels Duryea
Port Melbourne: Galea 7 Bonaddio 3 Schultz 2 Keddell Bentick Sandilands Cain Lynch
BEST:
Box Hill Hawks: Schoenmakers Shiels Curnow Kiel Osborne Gibson
Port Melbourne: McGrath Galea Pinwill Batsanis McLaren Bentick
Last Modified on 17/05/2010 15:43