GIPPSLAND POWER MEDIA RELEASE 
BY BRYAN MITCHELL
In cold and blustery conditions at Craigieburn, engie Gippsland Power continued their progress up the TAC Cup ladder after recording a twenty-six point victory over a steadily improving Greater Western Victoria Rebels side. The Power came off a stunning win against the Sandringham Dragons while the Rebels had drawn against the highly rated Oakleigh Chargers. 
Power’s selectors were forced into making two changes to their strong team as Nick Lowden had been suspended for one week by the tribunal due to a strong tackle and Fraser Phillips had been rested after a strenuous school excursion. Coming into the team were, Grady Cocksedge who had recovered from a nagging wrist injury and debutant Harrison Pepper who was finally available after having national basketball championship commitments.
As a consequence of these two new players joining the team, it meant that eight of the twenty-three in the side were from the Moe football club. When you add the fact that Noah Gown had been a Moe player in 2017, it gives that club a unique level of impact on the Power side. The obvious impact of such a scenario is that many of the team are well aware of their team mates’ capabilities and specific needs in terms of the team’s best interests.
The Power’s excellent recent form and the “Moe awareness” factor meant that they went into the game as favourites and early in the match it looked like they were ready to demonstrate that they deserved this recognition. However, the further the term went, the less likely they looked capable of controlling the match. While dominating general play, they were unable to convert this to scoreboard pressure and, as such, allowed the Rebels to stay within reach after half the quarter had elapsed.
It took a strong mark by and long kick by Rylan Henkel to finally break the run of missed opportunities by the Power. However, instead of being inspired by his finishing prowess, they then missed another four very gettable chances to establish a big lead at the end of the quarter. To add insult to injury, the Rebels then exploited two unnecessary turnovers and drew level with the Power as the term ended. 
It meant that Leigh had plenty of issues to “discuss” with the boys but the obvious factor was that they had scored one goal from fifteen forward fifty entries compared to the Rebels who managed two from their seven chances to score. The selectors had thought that the boys had finally stopped being this wasteful and but, briefly, their doubts in the side’s ability to use the ball properly up forward in 2017 and early this season returned.  
Leigh asked for the sort of commitment that they had demonstrated recently and they used the ball precisely from the centre bounce and Austin Hodge kicked the opening goal. Once again they wasted more such chances to score and made this inefficiency even more costly when they “gifted” the Rebels with a goal due to a turnover. To illustrate how costly their ineffectiveness had been, the Rebels’ goal came from their first entry in their forward fifty zone after twelve minutes of play. In comparison, the Power had already had eleven such entries at the same time.        
Some strong pressure by Noah Gown allowed him to kick a vital goal and, from the resultant centre bounce, Harvey Neocleous and Noah combined with skill and pressure to allow am Flanders to take a good contested mark and kick another crucial goal. The Power continued to apply pressure all over the field but couldn’t convert this on the scoreboard. To further punish them for this wastefulness, the Rebels scored another on the siren to reduce the Power lead to six points at the long break.
Once again the statistics gave the coaches plenty to talk about but, the most telling was still the relative efficiency of the teams when going inside their fifty metre zones. Both sides had scored four goals but, crucially, the Power had done this after thirty such entries while the Rebels had done so after only thirteen ventures forward. The “déjà vu” feeling for the Power coaches would have been powerful but, Leigh focused on the positives and encouraged them to get back to what he believed was their “proper” game.
It was the Rebels who seized the initiative early in the third term with a goal and cores were again level. It needed typically hard work by captain, Xavier Duursma to win a free kick and then score a goal to regain the lead for his team. As if inspired, Gown and Harry Pepper combined on the run to allow Xavier to kick another inspirational major. The Rebels hit back after some rare undisciplined play resulted in a “gift” goal to undo a lot of the Power’s better play.
To make this problem even worse, the Power wasted further chances to make a difference on the scoreboard and it took individual brilliance by Flanders to intercept the Rebels and kick another vital goal. By the end of the quarter, the Power led by thirteen points and had finally got the use of the ball up forward to an acceptable level of efficiency. The Power defence had been under intense pressure during this term but, manfully, they stood firm as a unit and individually.
Yet again the Power allowed the Rebels to regain the initiative with another gift goal but they quickly hit back by applying their trademark pressure in contested issues. Such commitment by the captain Duursma and Flanders allowed the skills of Tyrone Hayes to be put to telling effect. The umpires made an odd decision to give the Power a free kick back up field but, they worked hard and created a chance for Flanders to finish it off with his unique flair.
It appeared as if the Power had finally shaken the Rebels challenge off but they reminded them that there was still a contest to be won with a relatively simple goal. The Power went forward again and Zac Skinner took full advantage of a free kick to restore a seemingly unreachable lead. To confirm this, long and direct attacking play by Brock Smith and Hayes was capped off by Flanders and this extended the final margin to twenty six points.
On the surface, it was one of those games that did little to reward the side but give them four premiership points. However, closer analysis shows that, although they were incredibly wasteful of their hard-won scoring opportunities in the first half, they got it right in the second. Their more productive approach resulted in seven goals from only twenty-two entries compared to four from thirty in the first half. Importantly, this was just what they had done in their more recent games and justified Leigh and the coaching assistants’ faith in the boys and their ability to focus on the team plan. 
Final scores, engie Gippsland Power 11 goals 13 behinds 79 points defeated Greater Western Victoria Rebels 8 goals 5 behinds 53 points. Goal kickers, Sam Flanders 4, Xavier Duursma 2, Tyrone Hayes, Austin Hodge, Rylan Henkel, Noah Gown and Zac Skinner 1.   
Early in the match, the Power midfield unit was vital in keeping the ball out of the Rebels control and Bailey Beck played an important role with his ability to apply consistently intense pressure in contests. When the side began to be more productive he was one of the prime movers to set up the right pattern of play. His twenty plus possessions, nine marks and six tackles reflect his importance all day. Like Bailey, Xavier Duursma was in the thick of the action from the opening bounce and used his strength of mind and body, ball and foot skills and self-belief to lead by stellar example. His thirteen tackles reflect the level of his impact. Even when resting off the field he encouraged team mates by being incredibly positive toward them on and off the field. 
Defender, Kyle Reid is another who has been an inspirational leader by positive action despite being under pressure from opponents. Not only did he totally nullify the impact of key forwards but had the confidence, skill and focus to win many possessions and use them to full effect. He had twenty plus possessions and nine marks to reflect his crucial role in the victory. Matching Kyles’ contribution up forward, Austin Hodge also worked tirelessly in all aspects of play. He provided an active pathway into attack with his aerial skills but, once the ball was at ground level, worked even harder to win contested ball and then use it positively. 
Hodge’s fellow key forward, Noah Gown was the side’s other avenue to attack that ensured that the ball went forward and, even more importantly, stayed there due to his intense application of pressure in contests in the air and at ground level. He thrives on putting himself into contests and his team mates have the confidence to look for him all the time. Like Bailey, midfielder, Boadie Motton is continuing to be one of the key prime movers for the side. His team at all time focus means that he continually puts his body at extreme risk to stop opponents, win the loose ball and then ensure that it’s used by hand or foot, intelligently and quickly.
Since returning to the side this year, Bailey Patterson has become one of the vital cogs in the side’s backline. Statistically his twenty plus possessions, five marks and five tackles would be an impressive contribution. However as a top ager, he leads youngsters like Brock Smith, Ryan Sparkes, Tye Hourigan and Jake van der Pligt by example and they are thriving as a consequence.
The Power now has another week off due to state squad commitments and it come at a good time for the boys. They have worked hard to follow Leigh’s game plan and are now getting it right more and more. They face a severe challenge in the next match as they take on the Geelong Falcons. After a slow start to the season, the Falcons are getting back to their formidable best and Leigh is well aware of what’s required to be competitive with them. His faith in the boy’s ability and confidence to stick to this plan is very strong and they will go into this match ready, willing and able to maintain his trust in them.