Media Release
By Bryan Mitchell
The reality of the 2006 TAC Cup was rammed home for Gippsland Power when the Northern Knights thrashed them by 69 points in a powerful display of disciplined football. On the surface of it the result indicates that the Power were comprehensively defeated but closer analysis shows that the Knights had 29 more scoring shots and should have won by at least 100 points but for their inaccuracy. To compound the extent of their dominance, the Power managed 1 goal after half time to the Knights 9 after the Power were within nine points at the long break. It was a pitiful display by the Power and Paul Hudson has a real test ahead to get some sort of class back into the side for their trip to Bendigo in a fortnight's time.
The game opened in blustery condition and the Power had a slight advantage to the Morwell end. The Power were immediately under pressure and were struggling to make good decisions when using the ball. The Knights exploited this indecision and it took some good work by Ben Hughes up forward to keep the Power in the game. He was in everything and kicked the Power's three majors for the term. Ominously the fragility of the Power defence was exposed and the Knights trailed by 1 point at the first change.
This pattern continued in the second term and the Power were well and truly on the back foot. Marc Truscio crumbed cleverly off the pack to keep the Power in the game but the Knights were exploiting the Power's indecision in defence and some really "dumb" decision making. When the Power did go into attack they were playing the wrong side of the ground and some team work by Hughes and Kelly set up Ben Ross to keep the Knights half time lead to 9 points and the Power seemed to be in the game with the advantage of the wind in the third term.
The Knights pressure again exposed the fragility of the Power and they kicked clear as a consequence of poor decision making. Another Truscio snap gave the Power some hope but the Power again let themselves down to allow the Knights to lead by 29 points at the last change.
The last term was a total embarrassment for the Power. The Knights kept their work rate at maximum levels whilst the Power crumbled under the Pressure and meekly submitted in one of the side's most embarrassing performances in the past three seasons. It was starkly obvious that the Power missed the class and poise of Rob Eddy, Jeff Ryan and Beau Vernon and hopefully Rob and Jeff will be available for the trip to Bendigo.
Final scores, Northern Knights 14 goals 25 behinds 109 points defeated Gippsland Power 6 goals 4 behinds 40 points. Goal kickers Ben Hughes 3, Marc Truscio 2, and Ben Ross 1. On a day when the Power had few four-quarter contributors, Lachlan Hansen stood tall either in defence of an the ball. His 15 marks and 30 possessions indicated the extent of his contribution. His good mate Ricky Delphine again amassed amazing statistics with 36 touches but even he struggled to be clinically effective in this game. Ashley Payne, in his second TAC Cup game, was "thrown to the wolves" in defence and responded manfully to produced one of the few highlights for the Power. Tyson Goldsack worked very hard to provide a target for tem mates but was crucified by some poor finishing. Ben Hughes never gave up and was a consistent contributor either in defence or attack. Ben Jostlear worked very hard in and around the packs and could hold his head high at the end of the game.
In 2005 the Power responded to each defeat with some gritty resolve and disciplined play. That seems a light year away in 2006 and Paul and his coaching panel will need to rely on the veterans of 2005 to get the "new boys" into the right frame of mind to respond to such a severe challenge to their mental and physical resolve.
Last Modified on 26/05/2008 12:08
