Gippsland Power Media Release
By Bryan Mitchell
The round 12 TAC Cup clash with the Dandenong Stingrays promised much for Gippsland Power but in the end turned out to be a major let down for all concerned. They went into the match with many positives and were looking to use the game as a springboard for the "business" end of the season. After being without their top players for the past month due to injury and state duties, they were almost at full strength as they took on the Stingrays and had "discovered" several good players who had manfully stepped up when the team needed them. Given this scenario, hopes were high that they were ready to atone for a narrow and embarrassing loss to Dandenong in round one of the season.
Conditions at Shepley Oval were challenging for both sides and it was always going to be a test of physical and mental toughness. The Power began well and continually pumped the ball up forward only to squander opportunities when there was no one front and centre to capitalise when inevitably the ball hit the deck. Almost predictably the Stingrays hit on the rebound and made the Power play for their wasteful play. Brent Macaffer replied from a free and it seemed as if the Power had woken up that hard work was required. Ben Hughes finished off some clever ball use but Dandenong hit back to punish some really poor defensive options by the Power. It took some great teamwork to set up Ben Ross for the Powers third major and they went to the first break 7 points up.
Some poor defence by the Power gave the Stingrays the first of the second term and this was the impetus to shake the Power into action with Lachlan Hansen goaling after a 50 metre penalty. The Power then moved the ball with purpose to give Marc Truscio a crumbers goal before Ricky Delphine gave Macaffer his second. The Power were three goals up and seemingly in control but some slack manning up on the rebound and undisciplined play allowed the Stingrays to narrow the deficit to 3 points at the long break.
Once again the Stingrays punished soft Power defence to regain the lead and it took another 50 metre penalty to Tyson Goldsack to allow the Power to reassert themselves. The Stingrays struck back hard and Hansen replied after the Power had wasted too many forward thrusts with a lack of purpose. A brilliant goal by Goldsack from a kick in showed what the Power were capable of and it looked as if they were finally going to shake the Stingrays off. Not to be outdone, the Stingrays captialised on more slack Power defence and the Power led by 3 points at the final change.
Basically it was "who dares wins" in the last term and the Stingrays struck first after a ball up in front of goal. The Power were struggling to win ruck clearances and it was a dour struggle as both sides kept the Pressure on each contest. Poor defensive decision making was bedeviling the Power and the Stingrays gleefully exploited some inept efforts by the Power. Jeff Ryan scored a timely goal after some good work by Hughes but it was the Stingrays who finished the game off to once again outplay the Power.
It's hard to pick one reason to explain the Power loss. They tried reasonably hard but didn't have enough purpose with their forward thrusts to capitalise on their opportunities. The Stingrays won the mind games and experienced Power players were "sucked in" to be undisciplined and selfish when the team needed focus. The bottom line however is relatively simple, the Stingrays worked harder and far smarter than the Power. It dramatically showed Paul Hudson and his assistants that, despite some promising form of late, there was still a lot of work to be done for this squad to be competitive at the highest levels of the TAC Cup.
Final Scores Dandenong Stingrays 12 goals 9 behinds 81 points defeated Gippsland Power 10 goals 9 behinds 69 points. Goal kickers Brent Macaffer, Tyson Goldsack and Lachlan Hansen 2, Ben Hughes, Ben Ross, Marc Truscio and Jeff Ryan 1.
One defender who stood tall when others continually faltered was Tom Johnson who played his typically no-nonsense style of game to perfection. Backing him up well was Michael Todd who continually put his body on the line to win the ball and then provide run and rebound in the tight situations. When Lachlan Hansen focused he was almost unbeatable with 9 marks and 20 plus possessions but he was too easily distracted early in the game when poise was required. Ben Hughes turned in another honest and hard-working game in attack and defence and underlined his pivotal importance to the balance and potency of the side.
Tyson Goldsack was another consistent and potent player for the Power as an on-baller, ruckman and forward and showed great skill and agility in each position. Ben Ross tantalized with some absolutely brilliant running play but also did the one-per centers that mattered in the packs. Ricky Delphine won thirty plus possessions and was the perfect link player for the team throughout the match.
Paul Hudson has plenty of thinking to do to pick the boys up in readiness for the Northern Knights next week. The Knights have already humbled the Power in 2006 and will be ready to punish any slackness in application and decision making by them. The complacency that was evident against the Stingrays cannot continue if the Power are to redress the earlier loss to the Knights and hopefully the boys will realise that they need to play smarter football than what was offered last week. In the space of one week that have been brilliant and then ordinary and will need better personal and group commitment if they are to realize their considerable potential.
Last Modified on 26/05/2008 12:16