Wayne Schultz's 4-goal haul combined with a courageous 27 possession effort from Stephen Brewer, and team-leading 7 tackles helped Port continue their home-winning streak with 13-point victory over the Bendigo Bombers.
Port Melbourne (8-3) started the match in a flurry, with quick goals to Stephen Brewer (27 disposals, 7 tackles), Adrian DeLuca and Ryan McMahon. The Bendigo Bombers (0-11) squandered a number of key opportunities in front of goal, netting minor scores. Despite the near ideal conditions both teams, both teams had to bear with a slight breeze across the ground, favoring neither team.
Wayne Schultz's brilliant reading of the play opened up the opportunity to kick two consecutive goals. At the 19-minute mark was a sickening collision between Nathan Batsansis (20 disposals) and Bomber Stacey Fiske, who went off to the rooms for a checkup.
By quarter time, further missed opportunities by Bendigo gave PMFC a solid lead of 25-points (31-6).
After 10-minutes of play in the second quarter, Hayden Skipworth scored the Bombers first major score of the day. The Borough countered immediately with Adrian DeLuca (2 goals, 13 disposals) scoring on the run from 30-metres out on a slight angle. The flooding was apparent at one stage by both teams, stemming the uptempo, run and carry brand displayed in the first quarter. Both teams were handballing countless times in an attempt to clear the ball from the backline and at stoppages. AFL speedster, Nathan Lovett-Murray slotted Bendigo’s second goal of the match, marking strongly, playing on and kicking from 35-metres out. Once again, the Borough answered immediately when Schultz (5 kicks, 4 goals) dribbled one through from 55-metres out to an open forward line. Bendigo cut back Port’s lead (45-28) at half time.
A couple of quick goals by the Bendigo Bombers in succession narrowed the Borough lead, making it a 5-point contest (45-40). The Borough dug a little deeper and Sam Dwyer (19 disposals, 6 clearances, 4 tackles) prevailed with a classy goal, however from the bounce on the next possession, Bomber Paul Scanlon answered right back with a 50-metre punt. Midway through the term, Jay Neagle marked, played on inside the forward 50 and scored, leveling the score 52-52. In-form forward, Heath O'Farrell, then kicked truly from a set shot, helping the Borough hold a 3-point lead. Lovett-Murray kicked his third goal of the match, as the lead changed on a number of occasions, but not before backliner Sam Pleming (17 disposals) switched from his usual position, moved forward kicking a goal at the 29-minute mark giving Port a 1-goal lead (68-62) going into the final change.
Port Melbourne continued with its slightly different forward line as the quarter began, with Pleming and O’Farrell (6 tackles) matched up against James Flahtery and Leroy Jetta. Sam Pleming kicked his second goal, as Port extended its lead with a clever second-effort off the ground. Jay Neagle kept the Bombers chances alive with his 2nd goal at the 20 minute mark of the final term, with Port Melbourne hanging onto a 6-point lead. Chris Cain found himself with more of the ball in the second half (13 disposals, 24 during the match) as Toby Pinwall was kept quiet by the Bomber taggers after racking 20 touches in the first half. Goal sneek Wayne Schultz kicked his fourth goal from 40 metres out at the 26 minute mark, giving the final margin of 13 points at TEAC Oval, as the Borough continue their 'home-cookin'.
SCORES
Port Melbourne: 5.1.31 ~ 7.3.45 ~ 10.8.68 ~ 12.16.88
Bendigo Bombers: 0.6.6 ~ 3.10.28 ~ 8.14.62 ~ 10.15.75
Port Melbourne
Goalkickers: Schultz 3, Pleming 2, Deluca 2, Dwyer, O'Farrell, Brewer, Dillon, McMahon.
Best: Brewer, Schultz, Cain, A. DeLuca, Pinwill, Dwyer, Pleming.
Bendigo Bombers
Goalkickers: Lovett-Murray 3, Daniher 2, Neagle 2, Zaharakis, Delahunty, Scanlon.
Best: Lovett-Murray, Atkinson, Flaherty, Houli, Zaharakis.
by David Skop
Last Modified on 21/07/2009 14:27