The Eastern Ranges have put any lingering doubts about securing a finals spot to rest with a 16 point win over the Gippsland Power.
Heading into the match Gippsland were still a sneaky chance to pinch a finals spot, while on the other hand, Eastern were still a mathematical chance to miss the finals. However, the Ranges are now two games and percentage clear inside the top eight and have leaped-frogged the Oakleigh Chargers into sixth position on the ladder with one round to play.
The 16 point margin doesn’t entirely represent just how dominant the Ranges were in patches on Saturday afternoon, they lead from start to finish, getting out to a 36 point lead at the final change before the Power put up a fight in the last term to reduce the margin. The Ranges were always in control, and although fading late, will be pleased with their overall performance on the day.
Tate Short (15 disposals, five marks) backed up his impressive display against the Geelong Flacons two weeks ago with a best on ground performance, displaying his poise and skill. While the return of Callum Brown (32 disposals, two goals) and Dylan Clarke (30 disposals, 9 tackles) showed just how important the two stars are for the Ranges midfield. Jaidyn Stephenson continued his good form of late up forward, kicking three goals, but what was even more pleasing to see was the wide range of goal-kickers on the day. Eastern had eight individual goal scorers, with plenty of those coming from midfielders such as Brown and Jordan Gallucci pushing forward.
NEXT UP:
In what will be the final round of home and away matches for 2016, Eastern will meet the fourth placed North Ballarat Rebels at Eureka Stadium in what should provide a stern test for the Ranges as they head into an Elimination final. When the two sides last met in Round 8 of this season, the Rebels were narrow victors by eight points. On that particular day Eastern was without some of its star players, and with a full-strength squad this time around will back themselves to defeat a side that has lost only five matches this year. If the Ranges do prevail they will finish the season in sixth position on the ladder and take on either Oakleigh or Calder, lose and they could slide to eighth for a meeting with the highly fancied Dragons in the first week of finals.
GIPPSLAND POWER: 0.4 2.7 3.11 9.15 (69)
EASTERN RANGES: 1.7 5.8 9.11 12.13 (85)
GOALS:
Gippsland Power: Ainsworth 3, Voss 2, Armour, Patullo, Rout, Renooy.
Eastern Ranges: Stephenson 3, C Brown 2, Ross 2, Lynch, Clarke, Jacotine, Gallucci, Mullenger-McHugh.
BEST:
Gippsland Power: Ainsworth, Patullo, Leslie, Patterson, McKeon, Masterson.
Eastern Ranges: Short, Ross, Mullenger-McHugh, Stephenson, Keppel, Clarke.
Last Modified on 16/08/2016 13:10