GIPPSLAND POWER - MEDIA RELEASE
By Bryan Mitchell
Gippsland Power maintained their undefeated status in the TAC Cup with an extremely ugly and hard fought win against a plucky and determined Northern Knights at Preston last week. The Power went into the game as nominal favourites based on the relative ladder positions of both sides but quickly discovered that their lofty position held little fear for the Knights. After putting a goal on the board the opening seconds and then missing two more opportunities to break away, the Power seemingly were going to have an easy day out. Someone forgot to show the Knights the script and they took the initiative for much of the rest of the term. They were shown little respect by the Power and immediately showed that this approach was a very serious error of judgment. They were making the Power look second-rate and had a well-deserved 17 point lead by the first change.
In the second term the Power had the wind and quickly began to work their way back into the game as the result of more accountable and purposeful football. However, the Knights had other ideas and they stemmed the flow of goals and began to pressure the Power into turnovers which they converted to telling goals against the run of play. By the long break the Knights led by 12 points and seemed to have all the answers.
Paul Hudson was at pains to remind the boys what they committed to as part of the game plan for the match. He reiterated his instructions with a couple of telling adjustments and it was a far more determined Power side that took the field in the third term. They were in attack quickly and the pace and skill of Marc Tuscio was on show as he finished off some far more direct and focused play by the Power. The Power kicked six goals to three for the Knights and seemed to have the momentum going their way at last.
They led by six points at the last change and had the wind behind them for the final term
The last quarter opened with some determined football by both sides and neither was taking a backward step in the heat of battle. The Knights kicked the first goal and suddenly the match was up for grabs. Under such pressure many teams would have capitulated but the Power raised the ante and showed just how far they would go to ensure a win. With some heroic individual efforts and some inspirational team play they withstood the Knights challenge and then put the issue beyond doubt with a "Pele" special by Nathan Lieshout and the "coup de grace" from Jay Neagle.
Final sores Gippsland Power 13 goals 11 behinds 89 points defeated Northern Knights 11 goals 11 behinds 77 points. Goal kickers Marc Truscio 3, Jay Neagle, Trent West, Ben Fraser and Nathan Lieshout 2, Chris Dunne and Nigel Benn 1. Better players were Ricky Delphine, Trent West, Tom Dowd, Ben Fraser, Zac Vansittart, Lachlan Hansen and Brett Dore.
Paul was pleased with the endeavour shown by the boys when under such extreme pressure. They accepted the challenge thrown down by the Knights and had the character to overcome the Knights persistent efforts. They now find themselves ahead of their pre-season goals and will readdress the next phase of the season from a position of strength at the top of the TAC Cup ladder. He urged the boys to maintain the mindset of the hunter rather than sit back and accept the role of the hunted that often goes with the top sides of competitions.
There is still plenty of scope for Paul and his coaching panel to improve the teams' performance and the really exciting fact is that they have such depth of skills and endeavour already.
The TAC Cup now has one of its scheduled byes to allow some of the players to participate in the trial program for the Victorian Country under 18 and 16 state programs with master coach Leon Harris. The Power is well represented in both squads with 12 in the under 18 group and 11 in the under 16's. The rest of the Power players are able to return to their home clubs and have the chance to display some of the exciting skills that have been so evident in their five wins this season.
In the under 18's the club is represented by Ricky Delphine (Pakenham), Chris Dunne and Dale Thomas (Drouin), Rob Eddy ( Leongatha), Xavier Ellis (Lakes Entrance), Ben Fraser and Steven O'Bryan (Kilcunda Bass), Lachlan Hansen (Nar Nar Goon), Nathan Lieshout (Bunyip), Jay Neagle (Traralgon), Scott Pendlebury (Sale) and Trent West (Wonthaggi).
The under 16 squad members are Will Kelly (Heyfield), Jackson Hall and Nick Stockdale (Traralgon), Brenton Sheehan ( Warragul) Rob Michaeledis (Morwell), Ashley Payne (Newborough), Justim Emery (Rosedale), James Blaser (Trafalgar), Tristan Francis (Korumburra-Bena), Andrew Oldmeadow (Nar Nar Goon) and James Bristow (Sale).
Last Modified on 21/05/2008 17:31