On Saturday, the Warhawks hosted Caulfield on a glorious, bright and sunny afternoon. A last hoorah for Autumn.
The Caulfield team arrived in stages, and we were only able to face-off going towards 3pm. Caulfield had16 to start, Bendigo had 14.
The game was reasonably even in the first quarter, with Caulfield kept to 2 and Bendigo able to score once, through a good shot from Jarrod Topp-Lowe after he brought the ball out of defence (otherwise known as “doing a Wookie”). The Caulfield players had very good stick work overall, and great fitness and running, especially from some nimble under-17s. As usual, the Warhawk defence worked well and most shots were kept out by Gino Iuliano in goals.
In the second quarter, Caulfield stepped up their scoring to the tune of five, and Bendigo were shut out, despite a few shots. At half time, the score was 7-1.
In the second half, Caulfield continued with their peppering of the Warhawk goal, and Gino was kept very busy. Caulfield scored 7 more for the half. Bendigo could not settle in the forward line and Warhawk mistakes were pounced on and the ball sent to the other end with tiresome ease. Bendigo scored once in the third, when Ian Lock took a pass coming around from behind goal to hit a wall of players, but still managed to slot the shot. In the fourth, Mark “Wookie” Reader beat off a couple of youngsters to hammer home a long shot, and Alex Orr got a late one with a fine long shot out of the sun off half a step. The Caulfield guys didn’t see that coming.
Marty Boyle copped a hard shot to the ribs in the second half and had to sub off for the remainder of the game (I hope you pulled up alright, Marty). The wonder to me is that the Caulfield player found a fresh spot on Marty that I hadn’t hit before with a ball (sorry, Marty, I always seem to get you at training).
Anyway, the game finished with the score 14-4. Club votes were awarded to Gino Iuliano (three, plus two Association votes) for a fantastic showing in goals, two club votes went to Alex Orr and one to Mark Reader, and I think I’ve run out of superlatives for these two guys. Well done.
I had my partner Emma watching the game on Saturday, who has a good eye for team sports. Her assessment was that our (usually my) effort to slow and settle the ball in attack and try set play, actually seemed to play into the hands of the Caulfield defence, giving them time to set up and relax, in the knowledge that it probably wouldn’t come off and they could force a turnover. On the other hand, when we played in a more-chaotic manner up front, using big defenders to break things open (and intimidate the small middies) and have the shot come from somewhere unexpected, it looked better to her. While we continue to have trouble with stick work and movement up front (and that’s just practise), I guess this is true, but the latter is an exhausting way to play. We need to keep trying with organised forward play, because it’s the most efficient way to build a big score and win a game, but I guess sometimes I might need to mentally over-ride the urge to control the ball, and just take a step and wind up. I think my conservative style robbed Gino of an admirable assist on Saturday and he wasn’t happy.....
We play Williamstown at Williamstown next week. Good luck with them, lads, I have to work.
John Webb
Senior player
Last Modified on 26/05/2015 12:12