Gippsland Power - Media Release
By Bryan Mitchell
Gippsland Power served notice to the rest of the TAC Cup competition that they are going to fiercely defend top spot on the ladder withy an emphatic victory over the highly rated Eastern Ranges. The Power had been inconsistent in recent weeks with some good form but some indifferent efforts as well. They had lost to the North Ballarat Rebels due to under estimating the opposition and had been better against the struggling Pioneers in the next game. However, there were some reasons to doubt if they were really "back on track" and the Ranges provided the ideal litmus test for Paul Hudson and his coaching panel.
Inspirational captain Steve O'Bryan and key forward Jay Neagle were unavailable and this meant that the load needed to be spread if the side was to play the sort of football required to have an impact in September. The first term followed a predictable pattern with the Power looking likely to break the game open and the Ranges hitting back hard on the rebound. The Power had a lot more of the ball throughout the term but were wasteful and in contrast, the Ranges made the most of far fewer forward forays. By the first change the Power led by an unconvincing 4 points.
Early in the second quarter the Power again looked set to stamp their authority on the game with some excellent goals resulting from unstinting pressure being applied all over the ground. The Ranges served notice that they weren't going to concede easily and suddenly they were back in the game. Some strategic player moves and more direct play saw the Power kick the last three majors of the stanza and they were 22 points ahead by the long break.
Paul Hudson was disappointed with the level of handball and run in the second quarter and asked for greater commitment in these areas in the second half. He would have thought that he'd addressed the Ranges early in the term as they ran and created goals with positive team play. The Power responded to this "effrontery" with greater determination and purpose and they stemmed the Ranges flow of goals and then began to thrill the large crowd with some brilliant team work and awesome goals. The Ranges were on the back foot and, although they kicked a couple of goals, they seemed unable to withstand the sort of relentless pressure that the Power were applying at every contest. The lead was still 22 points by three quarter time but the momentum was with the Power going into the last term.
The Power had been good in their final quarters in recent games and they started the term with some gritty defence and purposeful and direct forward thrusts. They put the game beyond dispute with three excellent team goals and suddenly they seemed to realize that they could dominate a good side when it mattered most. Despite missing some "gettable" shots late in the term the Power were in total control and ran out the game deserved 52 point victors.
Final scores Gippsland Power 19 goals 17 behinds 131 points, defeated Eastern Ranges 12 goals 7 behinds 79 points. Goal kickers, Chris Dunne 5, Ben Fraser 4, Brett Dore, Lachlan Hansen and Ben Ross 2, Ricky Delphine, Tom Johnson, Dale Thomas and Marc Truscio 1. Once again the Power played great team football but had significant individual contributions from Chris Dunne, Zac Vansittart, Brett Dore, Scott Pendlebury, Craig Flint, Trent West, Ricky Delphine, Jeff Ryan, Beau Vernon and Ben Ross.
Despite some concerns about their goal kicking in some parts of the game, Paul Hudson and his fellow coaches were delighted with the boys performance and especially so with their second half. When the game was in the balance against a top side the Power stuck to the game plan and showed the sort of determination and discipline that's required to win finals. When you add their undoubted and abundant natural skills to this "mix" it's not hard to see why the rest of the TAC Cup competition sees them as the real deal in 2005.
Next weekend is the final bye for the TAC Cup and is timed perfectly for the Power to get their injured players right and the others rested for the last three games of the regular season. The Power will then face the Northern Knights at Morwell, the Stingrays in Dandenong and the Western Jets in Morwell in the last game. There is a sense of unfinished business with the Stingrays as they defeated the Power earlier in the season after the Power had a 54 point lead by midway through the second quarter.
Paul Hudson will use this run home to get the boys cherry-ripe for the post season action and will be keen to work with them to eliminate the minor "glitches" in their play. He will be pleased with their existing commitment and work ethic and it's going to be an exciting time for the Power players, staff and supporters as they attempt to finish the season off with style.
Last Modified on 26/05/2008 11:54
