From the HawkEye. . .
Salpie sits High on Cloud 9
With the Hawk contingent soaring to a sensational 2-0 start after dynamic performances against arch rivals Macedon and reigning premiers Riddells Creek, the gold and brown were set to wave the flag again and continue on it's demolition path as it prepared itself to gun down 2002 Grand finalist Lancefield. On a day where the durability of the Gilbert Gordon track appeared to deteriorate during the week of heavy rain... young gun Daniel Salpietro made mince meat of the conditions and his opponents as he slotted through 9 of the best in an outstanding day for the Hawks Football and Netball clubs.
The day started off with an exhibition display from the Under 18's against a fired up top of the table clash against Lancefield. The team welcomed Kris Wearne "Burner" and "President" Clinton Sammut for their first appearance in Hawks colours. The two joined the team without the presence of Ric Cerminara and the highly anticipated appearance by Will Stewart-Toner. Despite the ongoing troubles on getting a clearance to come to Woodend from Kyneton, word has it that the Kyneton Football Club rang him the night before the game asking him to play in their round one clash against Maryborough... Will has said No to them enough times for the word to lose meaning.
Back to the clash... the young Hawks started off like a house on fire early playing dream football from the outside. Robbie taps the ball from the centre ball-up to Donk who dishes the hand ball to Little Matt or Slammin Sammy Redenbach and the likes of Chuck, Chettle (Kettle) and Jimmy Hepburn were certainties to take the ball and goal. After a slow start and the undenying persistence which saw them romp to a massive percentage boosting win in round 1, the Tigers proved to be the lock on the gate which stopped the flow of goals from the Hawks who headed into the change one point to the good after a return of 4.8
Many predicted that a Hawk avalanche was a certainty after the change and the delivery was certainly on the cards... no-one expected it to come from `Littles', Mathew Oussoren! The star midfielder re-lived some of his glory days at junior level with the Hawks and played the best half of football that an onballer can play kicking 3 goals in the 3rd quarter and finishing the day with 5 after setting up many others. The Kettle blew on the three quarter buzzer as he threw some of his weight around in a tussle and was consequently yellow carded... you would never have seen more steam come from a Kettle on this day if you had seen this one explode. The Hawks were 10 goals up at the final siren after kicking 13 goals to 3 in the 2nd half. Bring on Diggers Rest next week!
The 2nds team came out to a sensational reception as they prepared to tackle a team led by the infamous journalist "Pickles" who had the pleasure of starting out on a wing on the returning Daniel Milliard. Yes, the big return of Daniel to the side proved to be a big one as he and his brother Scott found each other many times over the course of the day which shows the undoubting connection between the two. Brent demanded more space in the forward 50 like Moses parting the red-sea. The backline desperately lacked the presence of Joel Taylor who graduated into senior selection, but with the General Muppet sweeping across half back, the loss was minimal. The Juddernaught Justin Bobic was simply sensational from go to woe as he countered the ball at will and thumped it straight into the forward line where the likes of Danny Boyle, Daniel Martin, Gussy and the latest and superstar colt hero at Woodend/Hesket... Kyle "FitzVola" Fitzpatrick could create opportunities.
After kicking 9 goals in the first stanza, shots were being misfired in the 2nd despite the Tigers unable to get near the scoreboard. A Rocko led outfit saw the guys put on another demolition job kicking another 9 with the midfielders getting in on the act. A comprehensive 150+ point win with a goalless opposition proved to be a big win on the defenders half. FitzVola didn't get on the scoresheet but his partner in crime Gussy slotted six of the best to take out the big best on ground honours yet again! As for the goal kicking chances, the goal posts are said to be closer in at the golf course end with the amount of behinds kicked to that end on world record pace at any one end of a ground. Rocko did a fantastic job covering for Pup... maybe this goalless effort could have him land the reigns of the coaching role next week?
The senior's game brought on one of the biggest challenges of the season to date with the question mark hanging over the team on whether they can beat average sides within an inch of its life. The game started off poorly with Wazz heading out for a casual stroll after a behind was kicked and turned the ball over for an easy goal. The first two to the Tigers... the word UPSET started to float around the game. It didn't prove to be a worry as the Hawks kicked the next 10 goals of the game. Salpie was simply on fire kicking 6 of the Hawks first 7 and instead of the word UPSET... the chant TEN floated about the ground.
Gidda repeated constantly throughout his messages during the breaks that the lads didn't seem switched on. That didn't stop Texan Carey from ripping the centre half back player to shreds and Billie Joel lighting up the turf across the back 50. No Johnno, no Tacka, no Dale and no Goodsy to give that pace proved to be a feather tap to the team as Shep, Arnie and Nicko knocked up getting the ball and Stace was the warhorse in the middle giving his team mates leather fever through shear ruck dominance.
The game's focus in the final stanza centred around Salpie's continuous efforts to kick goals despite at one stage almost too willing to hand over the ball to a swarm of Hawks floating towards the goal square unmanned... goal number 8.... 9 followed shortly after and the urgency to hand it to him for 10 before the siren sounded was similar to his counterpart in the number 23 Hawthorn guernsey against the Bombers on that day (Lance Franklin kicked 9), but he just missed out on the closing attempts. A lazy 13 goal win in a scrappy affair but when all is said and done... Salpie would surely be riding on cloud 9 after his mercurial efforts.
Next week the 18's play Diggers Rest @ Diggers Rest and the 2nds and 1sts play Melton @ Macpherson Park. The last time these teams faced off at Melton, the ground was 4 inches under water... can we expect the same conditions?
Last Modified on 11/02/2008 21:41