Loy Yang B Gippsland Power faced the biggest test of their 2012 TAC Cup prospects when they took on the only other undefeated side, the Sandringham Dragons under ideal football conditions at Morwell last Saturday. Neither side went into this “clash of the titans” at full strength but Power coach Nick Stevens, was fully aware that the Dragons were going to severely test his team’s resolve regardless of who was missing from their team.
The Power were without key senior players Simon Deery and Kaine Allen who were both missing due to minor injuries, but the Dragons were much worse off because several of their top players had to play school football and would be unavailable for much of the rest of the season. The Dragons have had to endure this challenge to their program since the early days of the competition and cope better than most city-based sides who are afflicted in this way.
On a positive note for the Power, captain’ Tim Membrey, returned for a magnificent trip to Europe with the AIS/AFL academy. Despite having the opportunity of a lifetime to experience time in Italy, France and England, Tim was grateful to be home and to have the chance to play with his mates in the Power side.
It didn’t take Tim long to make a stunning impact on the game as he marked strongly and kicked the side’s opening goal after some strong work by Nate Paredes and Shannen Lange to get the ball out of the centre at the opening bounce. It appeared to be a sign of things to come for the Power as Lange was at his busy best when he found another tall Power forward, Josh Scott, who kicked another for the team. Jayden Steers found his Traralgon teammate, Matt Northe, and he kicked another to make it look like the Power were ready to take the vital game by the throat.
Just to let them know that this wasn’t part of the Dragons thought processes, the Sandringham boys capitalised on the Power’s poor defence as they were caught out on the rebound by the hard working Dragons. It took some more hard work by Lachie Channing and Paredes to allow another Power forward, Tom Muir to kick the side’s fourth goal and seeming take the initiative off the Dragons.
For the rest of the first term, neither side was able to score again as they worked hard in defence and then wasted scoring opportunities with poor decision making when going into attack. By the end of the term the Power lead was 17 points but didn’t instil a lot of belief that they had the Dragons measure. It was obvious that the Dragons were more than ready to exploit any flaws in the boys work rate and there was a need for the Power to up their ante in the second term.
This was obvious at the start of the second quarter as some more slack defence by the Power gave the Dragons the opening goal. Some more sloppy decision making by the Power gifted the opposition with another goal and it appeared as if the Power’s great start to the game was going to be wasted. It took a long kick into the forward fifty by Tom Fusinato to set up Membrey for another strong mark and goal but this was the Power’s first major in almost thirty minutes of play.
The Power went into attack again and there was a real scramble in the goal square which saw Ben Kearns create a vital goal from almost nothing. At the resultant centre bounce, the Power won the clearance and Will Hams weaved some real magic to give himself the time and room to score another great goal for the Power. Once again the Dragons hit back when it appeared as if the Power were ready burst away as they again exploited some “iffy” defensive decision making.
Late in the quarter, Jack Leslie, did some hard work to win the ball and then was rewarded with a free kick and fifty metre penalty which he took full advantage of. By the long break the Power led by 22 points after the Dragons reduced the margin to within a couple of kicks early in the term. It still appeared as if the Power had the Dragon’s measure, but any slackness in their effort was going to be exploited by the determined Dragons.
It was the Dragons who took the early initiative in the second half as they again served notice that the Power had a lot of work to do. Some excellent pressure by Hams resulted in another Membrey mark and goal for the Power but for the rest of the term the Dragons took control of the game with their willingness to apply pressure on the Power’s decision making skills. The penalty for the Power was kept to two more goals and by the end of the quarter they led by six points and were far from convincing in terms of who deserved to be the competitions top side.
It was time for Nick Stevens to challenge the boys to increase their work rates all over the field and he really laid it in terms of what was acceptable for the team. It’s been obvious all season why the Power is considered the fittest team in the TAC Cup and once again this was to be the key for their ability to meet Nick’s challenge.
The ball was sent long and direct into the forward line by Jack Johnstone and Anthony Tipungwuti and Nick Graham took his ninth mark of the match. He kicked accurately to give his side some important breathing space and then he marked again to kick another vital goal for the team. The Power had control of play for much of the early part of the term and Daniel Jackson found Scott who kicked his second goal for the game.
Just when it appeared as if the Power were going to dominate the last term, the Dragons scored two late goals to reduce the final margin to 13 points. The Power’s form in the last quarter was obviously better than the third term fade out but still gave Nick and his coaching team plenty of issues to address at training as the boys prepare for their next match against the Western Jets at Oakleigh.
Final scores Loy Yang B Gippsland Power 12 goals 5 behinds 77 points defeated Sandringham Dragons 9 goals 10 behinds 64 points. Goal kickers Tim Membrey 3, Nick Graham and Josh Scott 2, Matt Northe, Will Hams, Tom Muir, Jack Leslie and Ben Kearns 1. Defender Ryley Hall stood tall against a serious set of challenges on a day when the Power were consistently under pressure. His disciplined and skilful play meant that he kept tall opponents out of the game as well as setting up rebound football with the many vital possessions he won for himself.
Fellow defender, Jack Johnstone, was again a key player in the Power’s win with another hard-working effort. He too shut his opponent out of much of play but also had the confidence and skill to win many important possessions which he then consistently put to the side’s advantage. Josh Cashman was another defender who responded manfully to the challenges involved in playing against a quality side like the Dragons. He had the responsibility of taking on a key Dragons forward and shutting him right out of the play.
On-baller Tom Fusinato is another Power player who thrives on hard work in and around the biggest and ugliest packs. His ability to either win the hard ball or apply enormous pressure on any opponent who wanted it, was a critical element of the side’s game plan and ultimate victory. His on-ball workmate Shannen Lange showed why he was elevated to the Power’s elite group of hard nuts, the “Bruise Brothers” last year. He too thrived in the contested issues and won many important possessions as well as putting the opposition under extreme and consistent pressure with his unique intensity and determination.
Ruckman Jack Leslie has made incredible progress in his first year in this elite football competition. He won many vital knockouts all day but used the ball with great vision and skill. Not content with this, he applied pressure everywhere with his tackling, smothering and shepherding his team mates. Daniel Jackson is the fittest player in the TAC Cup after an incredible 16.9 in the dreaded beep test. He showed in this game how this can be used to his advantage as he ran had all day and won many important possessions as a result of his incredible work rate.
In his first TAC Cup game, youngster Liam Nash, made and impressive start with a typically hard-working performance. He won many possessions as well as putting effective pressure on opponents with his ability to tackle with his unique brand of intensity. In yet another great team game, Nick Graham set a fine example for others with his standard 25 possessions, 10 telling marks and 11 crunching tackles. Nick Stevens set him a strong challenge to step up his pressure on opponents and he has responded magnificently all season.
The Power now faces the Western Jets in their next challenge in Melbourne. There is some chance that Kaine Allen and Simon Deery will be available to play, further enhancing the potency of the side both in defence and attack. On the deficit side is the fact that in coming weeks all clubs will without key payers who will be required for state squad training. Due to the impressive start to the season by the Power there are 10 players in the initial Vic Country group and Anthony Tipungwuti is required by the Northern Territory squad.
Nick and his assistants will be keen to use the lessons learned in the Dragons match to improve the boy’s performance against the Jets and leading into the next series of games in the coming weeks. There were lots of things to be pleased about in the game last week but he will be reminding the boys that they need to think carefully when using the ball if they are to get the sort of rewards that their hard work deserves.
Last Modified on 03/09/2012 14:04