Port wins in a thriller, as the Borough’s tough, experienced playing group pull together with some help from Port’s youth!
This was always going to be an important match for both teams in the final month of the 2012 in an attempt to cement their place at the top of the 2012 Peter Jackson VFL ladder.
The Borough impacted early with a goal shortly after the opening bounce, followed by a second in quick succession, opening up an 11-point lead. Box Hill missed opportunities whilst Port’s Mitch Woofindin, Chris Cain and star Shane Valenti combined to give Port a 21-point lead to finish the opening term, with Valenti (15 disposals by ½ time) and Clayton Hinkley (16 disposals by ½ time) getting plenty of the ball.
Box Hill scored two goals from Amos Frank and Tom Schneider after 10 minutes of play in the second term, and controlled possession and the tempo of the game in the cool, but clear conditions at North Port Oval. The Hawks’ Thomas Murphy (11 disposals) and Chance Bateman (8 disposals) showed their experience in the back 50m arc and throughout the midfield. Captain Daniel Pratt hobbled off towards the end of the quarter and had his quad/hamstring strapped up. Both teams missed opportunities around the goal, or had their attempts continually rebounded by each team’s defences. Myles Pitt kicked Port’s only goal of the quarter, and went into the ½ time break with a slender 15-point lead 39-24.
The tug-of-war amongst each team’s midfield was very apparent in the 3rd quarter, with both team’s scoring a string of behinds. A contentious free kick awarded against Shane Valenti in front of the Hawks goal allowed Amos Frank to convert the major, which was then followed up by Daniel Pratt’s snap over the shoulder from 25 metres out to give Box Hill a 45-42 lead to close out the quarter.
Billy Burstin chipped to the running Josh Scipone who kicked the open goal and made the crowd get loud to commence the quarter, and give the 3-point buffer back to Port Melbourne. Coach Gary Ayres moved key defender Sam Pleming to the forward line in an attempt to change things up. Derrick Wanganeen (15 disposals) marked just outside the 50m arc, and was awarded a 50m penalty converting the easy goal and the game was very much alive 10 minutes into the term. Scipone kicked inside to Dean Galea who chest-marked on the run and kicked truly, however, the reigning premiers still trailed Box Hill by 4 points after 15 minutes of play. Teamwork from a stoppage in Port’s forward 50m arc prevailed as Burstin tapped to Baird who handballed to Purcell who scored, capping a quick and brilliant passage of play giving a 1-point lead to the Borough with the siren not too far away. Baird (32 disposals) hustled for the ball and kicked a mammoth goal from a 50m snap igniting the crowd! The Hawks’ attacked the goal, but was expertly defended by the experienced Borough backline and cleared the ball through the midfield. The Hawks tried to foil, but Port forward line opened up, which lead to a kick off the ground by youngster Mitch Woofindin (18 disposals, 2 goals) to open up a 15 point lead. Box Hill bounced back, kicking truly, and then a short stoppage occurred as Tim Allen went off because of the ‘blood-rule’, involved in a collision. Daniel Pratt (14 disposals) goaled for his 3rd, cutting the margin to a mere 3 points after close to 30 minutes of play, and shortly the siren sounded as the ball approached the wing, with the Borough prevailing 11.8.74 – 10.11.71.
Fans who watched the game would agree that Billy Burstin and Adrian Bonnaddio played crucial roles in the Borough win, and captain Baird had plenty of the ball with Shane Valenti (31 disposals) and hard-nut Toby Pinwill (26 disposals). 2012 recruit Clayton Hinkley (27 disposals) continues to go from strength to strength leading into the finals.
Port Melbourne |
5.1 |
6.3 |
6.6 |
11.8.74 |
Box Hill Hawks |
1.4 |
3.6 |
6.9 |
10.11.71 |
Port Melbourne
Goal Kickers: D. Galea 3, M. Wooffindin 2, C. Cain , J. Purcell , S. Valenti , M. Pitt , J. Scipione , J. Baird
Best Players: J. Baird, S. Valenti, S. Pleming, T. Allan, M. Wooffindin, D. Galea
Box Hill Hawks
Goal Kickers: D. Pratt 3, A. Frank 2, T. Schneider , D. Wanganeen , S. Savage , M. Jones , B. McCauley
Best Players: X. Murphy, T. Murphy, K. Cheney, T. Schneider, M. Thompson, B. Muston
See more photos from this match by Tony Cannatelli in our Photo Galleries
More details on vfl.com.au
Last Modified on 18/08/2012 13:28