The bus may have left Bairnsdale at midday on Friday, but in reality the journey for the Gippsland Power began late last year. All of the gut-busting training sessions, all of the team meetings, all of the skills work had led to this point. This wasn’t the usual trip up the highway to Melbourne, the Power were playing a TAC Cup preliminary final against the Sandringham Dragons. A win meant a fourth TAC Cup grand final appearance, lose and it’s season over.
With the early Saturday start time, Power travelled to Melbourne on Friday and, after nearly five hours on the road, the boys had a light training run at Visy Park. As coach Nick Stevens put them through their paces at his former Carlton home, it was evident this group was on a mission. Later that night Stevens spoke with his team about getting the result they deserved.
Lines such as “trust the process” and “play for your mates” were used. But the most powerful message came from the players themselves. Stevens asked each player to come up in front of the group and write three things they could do to help the team win. These points were then posted around the changeroom as a reminder to the boys of the commitment they had made to the team.
At the first bounce Power were reminded of the impact Tom Fusinato can have on a contest. In his first game in several months after suffering a serious neck injury, Tom was straight into the middle, gaining the crucial first clearance. His kick found Tim Membrey who converted the first goal of the match. It was the perfect start for the Power, but it didn’t take the Sandringham Dragons long to answer.
Daniel Jackson was also putting his stamp on the game early, his run and chasing efforts were outstanding, with a big tackle that resulted in another Membrey goal. Another quick reply from the Dragons made it clear this was going to be a free-flowing and high-scoring match. With both teams full of courage, skill and determination, the level of football on display was exceptional.
Josh Scott was all courage as he ran back with the flight of the ball to take a strong grab and his subsequent goal put the Power back in front. With Ben Kearns, Matt Northe and Tim Membrey each slotting goals through, Gippsland went into the first break with a one-goal lead. A cautiously optimistic Stevens praised his team at quarter time, “excellent start, but it’s only a start”.
The tone was set for the match, a goal-for-goal arm wrestle where no team was able to break away with a big lead. In the second quarter both teams upped the ante defensively and it seemed that free kicks in front of goal were creating more scoring opportunities than open play. A patch of Anthony Tipungwuti magic just before half-time saw Power go into the main break with an eleven-point lead.
Errors in decision-making and man-marking began to creep into the game for Gippsland at the start of the second half. Nick Graham’s first goal for the game kept the Power in front but the Dragons weren’t going away anytime soon they were relentless in their run. Power were fortunate that inaccurate kicking meant the Dragons weren’t hurting them on the scoreboard. Both teams were working incredibly hard but the reward for effort wasn’t there, with the Dragons kicking 4.4 to Gippsland’s 3.3 for the quarter. When needed, captain Tim Membrey stood up, slotting through a tough shot from the forward pocket with ease. ‘Skunky’s’ fifth goal gave Power the lead going in to the last quarter.
At the three-quarter-time break, Stevens pulled his team in tight and put it to them that it was all down to this, one last effort. Everything they had worked towards this year came down to this last twenty-something minutes of football.
Membrey continued to be unstoppable on the lead and started the quarter with another grab and a huge goal from outside the 50-metre arc. Minutes later he had done it again, putting through his seventh goal but the Dragons replied with a quick score, and after a free kick in front of goal were suddenly in front by four points.
Brilliant work from the midfielders enabled Liam Nash to bomb in it to Membrey. His eighth goal never looked like missing to put the Power up by four points. When another free kick was given to the Dragons in front of goal it seemed like the game was destined for a heart-breaking finish. But Morrish Medallist Nick Graham stepped up and under immense pressure, calmly converted a set shot with just minutes remaining on the clock.
The teamwork from the Power in the dying minutes of the game was outstanding. Desperation from Aaron Heppell stopped a Dragons run in their forward fifty. Gippsland supporters breathed a sigh of relief after Tipungwuti baulked and cleared the ball from defence with a massive barrel kick. As the siren sounded, the crowd erupted. Power had won an epic match by just four points.
Final Score: Gippsland Power 16.10.106 defeated Sandringham Dragons 15.12.102
Every player had contributed, doing the things they had committed to paper the night before. Choosing the best players was a hard task for thecoaches but there were a few standouts. Membrey was exceptional. His determination to present and make a contest every time the ball came inside fifty created scoring opportunities not just for himself but for the crumbing forwards. Tom Muir was given the challenge of supporting Jack Leslie in the ruck and was brilliant in this role. Jack Johnstone, Lachy Channing and Josh Cashman all shut down key Dragons players, while Will Hams and Shannen Lange were again prolific ball winners in the middle.
Goal Kickers: T. Membrey 8, B. Kearns 2, N. Graham 2, M. Northe 2, J. Scott , A. Tipungwuti
Best Players: T. Membrey, T. Muir, S. Lange, L.Channing, J. Johnstone, W. Hams
The Power will take on the Oakleigh Chargers in the grand final after they easily won the other preliminary final by twelve goals. The game will be played at Etihad Stadium before the VFL grand final. Stevens has told his players all season he has no doubt that they have what it takes to win the flag. There is a real sense of belief around the group. After a long journey they will arrive at their destination come the final siren next Sunday.
Last Modified on 24/04/2013 11:06