Gippsland Power - Media Release
By Bryan Mitchell
Gippsland Power received a strong reality check last week when they went down to the Bendigo Pioneers in the seasons first wintry conditions at Optus Oval. The Power went into the game without James Bristow due to injury and Jaryd Risol and Brendon Rathnow who both had returned to school football commitments in Melbourne. Never the less they had good reason to be positive about their chances due to their excellent form in the first two rounds of the TAC Cup and the fact that they had shown improvement from round one to two.
Conditions at Optus Oval meant that there was a need to play basic football and not try to over use the ball. Bendigo settled into the right sort of football first and had the Power making skill and decision making errors when under pressure. They were exploiting the Powers inability to man up and had the first major on the board before the Power had looked like getting their game going.
Some better forward pressure resulted in a Dan McKenna goal but it was the Pioneers who took the initiative for the rest of the term and the continually punished the Power for their poor accountability. By the first change the Power trailed by 18 points and were really struggling to get any cohesio0n and purpose into their game.
Bendigo further emphasised their dominance of the game with an early goal and things looked grim for the Power. To their credit they lifted their work rate and some good teamwork set up Nick Stockdale for a much needed goal. It wasn't pretty football by any means and Nick Heyne kicked another and the Power were back in the hunt. More pressure on the forward line allowed first-gamer Chris Endres to kick another and the Pioneers were the ones struggling with the intensity of the game. Half back Jackson Hall popped up on the forward line to kick another goal and the Power had erased the quarter time margin. Things were looking even better after Mc Kenna bobbed up with his second but the Pioneers scored two critical majors in red-time to assume a 6 point lead and punish the Power for their often undisciplined play.
The third term was played in steady rain and once again the Power were being punished for being second to the ball and giving away the inevitable free kicks. Both sides were being disadvantaged and frustrated by the overtechnical umpiring as the officials showed little understanding of the impact of the conditions and pattern of the game.
Neither side was able to get much system into their play in the third term and the Pioneers broke the deadlock 12 minutes into the quarter. Heyne replied for the Power after some better pressure by the Power and they began to create more scoring opportunities for themselves. Unfortunately they were unable to convert them to goals and they went into the last change 5 points down.
The game was up for grabs of the start of the last term and Bendigo took the initiative as a result of a great snap form an impossible angle. They added another within minutes but the Power responded with some more direct play to allow Nick Stockdale to kick his second. The Power squandered some hard-won scoring chances and took the pressure off the Pioneers. They were playing the better football, especially under the conditions, and once again capitalised on some ill-disciplined Power play to kick the game clinching goal.
Final scores Bendigo Pioneers 11 goals 8 behinds 74 points defeated Gippsland Power 8 goals 13 be3hinds 61 points. Goal kickers, Dan McKenna, Nick Stockdale and Nick Heyne 2, Jackson Hall and Chris Endres 1. Orbost youngster Nick Heyne put in another excellent display on the wing and showed the skill and composure of a seasoned veteran. Fellow bottom-ager Michael Stockdale was another to be composed under extreme pressure and was outstanding in defence as well as creating ply when he ventured up field. His cousin Nick put in a strong performance up forward and then on the ball and showed what could be achieved with determination and hardness at the football.
Tristran Francis threw himself fearlessly into many contests to win the hard ball and apply pressure to opponents in contests all over the ground. Haelen Kay was very steady in defence and showed great poise and discipline to nullify his opponents as well as create positive passages of play. Jack Brown was another youngster to show composure under pressure in conditions that didn't suit and indicate that he has lots to offer in 2007. Ruckman Brent Connelly did well in the stoppages as well as being a factor around the ground with some strong contested marks. Key forward Dan McKenna was again a lively and highly effective option for the side and made the most of his limited opportunities.
For Adrian Hickmott and his assistants Danny Miller, Ash Green and Jim Dear it's not time to panic but they have plenty of issues to address in the coming weeks. Under the pump, too many of the Power players tried to do it by themselves rather than play as a team. Subsequently, the side lacked crucial cohesion all day. The individual endeavour was excellent but they will need to team together better in coming weeks if they are to be properly rewarded for their efforts.
The TAC Cup is all about being on a steep learning curve and obviously the Power have a long way to go on their journey in 2007. They have shown already that there's plenty to be optimistic about with what they've shown so far and need now to address the deficiencies shown in their games so far. They take on the Dandenong Stingrays at Morwell this week and this will e a perfect litmus test for how well they have learned the lessons of last week.
Last Modified on 26/05/2008 12:40