Loy Yang B Gippsland Power maintained its unbeaten status in the 2012 TAC Cup season with a win over an under manned Eastern Ranges side. The Power were without only one of their best possible side whilst the Ranges had 21 players missing due to injury or school football commitments. Power coach Nick Stevens was concerned with the side’s slow starts and attempted to address what he saw as a key factor in their preparation for the game.
It didn’t take long for him to realise that the boys hadn’t learned the lesson as the Ranges scored the opening goal after receiving a free inside the forward fifty zone. The Power hit back after some vision by Nick Graham set up Tom Muir for a mark and goal. Instead of going on with this more positive play the Power gifted the Ranges with another goal after a free kick and fifty metre penalty.
By the end of the term they led the Power by two points but closer analysis of key statistics showed the poor start to match. Things like the fact that the Power had eighteen forward fifty entries for just one goal. They crowded key forwards and forced them to lead deep into pockets with no chance of kicking goals. Nick Stevens gave them a strong reminder of what sort of disciplined, team oriented football was required during the quarter time break.
Early in the second term the boys upped the ante. Daniel Jackson used a clever handball to set up Shannen Lange with a running goal before Simon Deery was equally as clever to give Muir his second major. Not to be outdone, Deery was at it again with Graham and set up first gamer Alex Carr who snapped brilliantly. Soon after Lange worked hard and kicked a goal before Carr turned provider and set up Tim Membrey for another inspiring major.
A string of effective and purposeful handballs saw Will Hams and Lachie Channing combine well to allow Matt Northe to join in the fun. However, the boys let themselves down with some weak defence and allowed the Ranges to goal from a rare forward fifty entry. It took more good work by Lange to finish off a better term by the Power and they went to the long break thirty four points up.
It was the Power who opened the scoring in the third quarter with a classy goal by Jackson from a boundary throw-in. More overcrowding continued to clog up effective leads by forwards and the pockets were used again. Nifty work by Northe and Membrey allowed Ben Kearns to get the side back on track before some long and direct kicking by Anthony Tipungwuti, Deery and Membrey resulted in another important goal to Josh Scott.
Simon Deery took full advantage of a free kick in the ruck before Nate Paredes kicked well to give Kearns another after some dodgy play up the field. By the end of the quarter the Power led by fifty eight points and had kept the Ranges goalless with some more effective defensive tactics. Conditions were getting tougher for the sides as the light deteriorated but it seemed as if the Power were ready to finish the game off with some more effective play.
In ordinary conditions the Power began the term in ordinary fashion and went back to the ineffective play from the first quarter. Countless scoring opportunities were wasted before Matt Northe stopped the rot with a great goal. After a Ranges kick-in, Scott intercepted it and bombed a long one from fifty out and then Membrey, Jack Leslie and Paredes went long and direct to give Jake Thomas a chance to join the goal kickers.
By the final siren the Power were eighty-eight points up but it was a far from convincing margin considering the huge number of times that the Power had the ball inside their forward fifty in comparison to the Ranges.
Final scores Loy Yang B Gippsland Power 16 goals 13 behinds 109 points, defeated Eastern Ranges 3 goals 3 behinds 21 points.
Goal kickers Shannen Lange 3, Matt Northe, Tom Muir, Josh Scott and Ben Kearns 2, Tim Membrey, Simon Deery, Daniel Jackson, Alex Carr and Jake Thomas 1.
Ryley Hall has led the defence all season with his disciplined and strong play and was again at his best in this game. He soundly beat opponents one out but, also won many vital possessions to generate run and effective attacking play. He wasted few of these hard-won chances and didn’t take a backward step in the process.
Another defender who has led from the front has been Jack Johnstone and he too stood tall again. Like Ryley, he didn’t concede an easy possession and worked very hard to ensure that each of his many possessions was used to telling effect. He has faced some strong challenges in 2012 and seems to be thriving on them.
Anthony Tipungwuti was yet another defender who was at his unique best with his ability to shut opponents out of the game but really stood tall when he created chances to generate and implement attacking play as well. His outstanding ball skills and pace gives the side a huge advantage when he backs himself.
Forward Simon Deery gave the team an effective target to use all day and he worked tirelessly to use his many hard-won possessions by hand or foot. His mobility, pace and aerial skills were again on display but he really excelled when the ball was at ground level and in contested issues.
Josh Scott matches many of Simon’s skills and was another who stepped up to the mark both in big packs and in contests at ground level. His fierce tackling inside the forward-fifty area is an added bonus and often results in scoring opportunities for team mates.
Tough on-baller Shannen Lange was inspirational in the busiest parts of the match with his ability to apply amazing pressure on opponents. He won many such contested balls as well as ensuring that his opponents don’t get an easy possession. When given space he kicked three great goals as well.
Young ruckman Jake Thomas has made excellent progress in 2012 after taking big steps as a member of the Power under-16 squad last season. He did well in the rucking duels again in this match but was also highly effective around the ground and in one-on-one contests.
Will Hams, Jake’s Sale teammate, also worked hard on all aspects of the game. He took on and beat opponents as well as wining many critical key possessions himself and using them effectively for the team mates throughout the match.
In his opening TAC Cup game, Maffra’s Alex Carr showed cool skills under pressure and seemed to relish close, contested issues. After his return from a pre-season injury he has showed that he has a lot to offer the side this season.
The TAC Cup has a bye next weekend and some of the Power side will be able to return to club football throughout Gippsland. At least six of the side will be required to join state squads as they prepare for the up-coming national under 18 championships. Nick Stevens will also be keen for several of the regular Power players to use this weekend to get a vital rest after having worked so hard already throughout the 2012 season as they face some very challenging games in the next few weeks.
Last Modified on 03/09/2012 14:06