West Gippsland FNC Round 17 review

MATCH REVIEW

Inverloch-Kongwak held Kilcunda-Bass to a single goal for three quarters of footy on its way to securing a top four spot on Saturday. The away side ran riot in the first two quarters, setting up an impressive 94-point win.

Things could not have started better for I-K, as their midfield ran rampant against a shell-shocked Kilcunda-Bass side. Beattie-Powell, who had an impressive four goals for the game, and Toussaint were excellent with the ball for the Sea Eagles, while Cross martialled a strong defence. This dominant showing saw the visitors go into the first break with a remarkable 42-1 lead.

The Panthers were able to get a goal on the board in the second term, but this was all they could celebrate for the first half, with I-K continuing to dominate around the ground. Gibbins made his presence felt in the second term and this, combined with a clear advantage in contests and accurate kicking, led to a 74-7 halftime lead for the Sea Eagles.

The struggles continued for Kilcunda-Bass in attack, with the team again being held to a single point for a whole term in the third. I-K also struggled though, with the side only managing one shot on goal, which they converted for a major. Despite the 72-point lead at the final break, the away side were determined to improve on their third quarter effort and did so in the final term. The side held Kilcunda-Bass to a single goal for the quarter while they booted four through impressive attacking play from Beattie-Powell, Toussaint and Gibbins. The Sea Eagles finished with nine separate goal-kickers and a 108-14 win.

MATCH REVIEW

Cora Lynn brought down Warragul Industrials by 113 points on Saturday – 23.17-155 to 6.6-42 was the margin.

Cora Lynn had a strong opening quarter, kicking six goals five in to Dusties’ two goals two. The second term saw Warragul continue to struggle, adding just two majors to their tally.

Cora Lynn doubled their first quarter scoreline, putting another six goals on the scoreboard. The Cobras led the scoring by 54 points at halftime.

Cora Lynn hit the 100-point mark in the third, booting three goals and five behinds. Dusties managed to slot another major and a minor score and entered the final quarter 69 points down.

Another major score went to the Dusties in the final term and they finished the day on 6.642.

But it was Cora Lynn who won they day, finishing on 23.17-155. Nathan Langley was best on ground for the victors. He was backed up by Nathan Gardiner, Hayden Briggs, Jai Rout, Troy Tharle and Jackson Dalton.

MATCH REVIEW

THE future looks bright for Garfield moving forward as two youngsters inspired their team to a commanding 75-point victory on their home deck over Dalyston last Saturday. Teenagers Tom Fitzpatrick and Josh Evans were both significantly influential in the victory. Gippsland Power listed Fitzpatrick kicked five goals in a best on the ground performance and Evans, an under-16s player, fronting for his first senior game showed poise beyond his years.

In a game that bore no consequence in determining the fortunes of the West Gippsland Competition final’s race Garfield controlled the game from the onset.

The Stars worked quickly into action and early entries into their scoring zone saw Daniel Helmore prominent but two early misses didn’t do justice for their hard efforts.

After the Magpies went deep into attack themselves, the Stars rebounded with flourish from their half back line and a long ball to their captain Sam Batson opened space. He in turn found Fitzpatrick on the loose, who swooped and ran into an open goal.

Dalyston showed resolve to counter-attack through Clay Tait and Luke Wakefield only for Blake Carew’s set shot from 50 metres to be knocked through on the line.

The Stars leapt on the next opportunity following the long direct route and quick ball movement allowed them to find Ned Marsh over the back for their second.

Late in the quarter, another fast break, released Batson and with the help of a timely shepherd he hit up Leigh Diston straight in front to give the Stars a three goal lead at the first change.

Drizzly rain commenced at the resumption and for a period both teams found the slippery conditions difficult to master.

It was becoming a battle of the backlines with Ryan Silver serving Dalyston well again and James McKellar proving hard to pass for the Stars.

Eventually the home team built enough forward pressure and it was Batson again who raised the stakes with a mark within the arc and an excellent finish despite the cross breeze. Michael Wallace added the next with another thumping kick from outside 50 as the Stars made the most of their chances. It took all the guile and game craft of the experienced Dean Wylie to produce Dalyston’s lone goal for the first half. He cleverly delivered to Blake Carew at the top of the square to give the Magpies some sense of achievement, in what had been a testing first half. Twenty-three points up, the Stars were not inclined to loosen their grip and clicked into gear through young Evans whose sharp pass found Nick Macente to commence the scoring in the third term.

The Stars were sticking their tackles and not allowing the Magpies any flow. Their own ball movement was slick as they threaded handpasses to release team-mates who had the ability to hit targets further afield. Garfield launched their next offensive with a criss-crossing movement, utilising the width of their large oval to full effect. Ned Marsh completed this clean passage with a lace out pass to the leading Fitzpatrick who added his second. Dalyston were not completely ready to throw in the towel and worked the ball successfully along the grandstand side and Wylie capped off a team goal.

However, that was all she wrote for the Magpies as far as scoring goals went and Garfield clinically constructed their opponent’s downfall from that point in the game. Allowed the luxury of too much space Fitzpatrick kicked the next two goals, presenting on the lead each time and finishing with precise foot skills.

Seven goals up, the final quarter showcased the promise of talented Josh Evans. Having already had a busy day he set up the Stars next goal with a long entry that was plugged through in the congestion by Michael Wallace. After Fitzpatrick added his fifth, the Garfield forwards conspired every time the ball entered scoring range to include Evans in the play. And finally, to the great delight of his mates behind the goals, Evans slotted his first goal in senior ranks to cap off a day to remember.

MATCH REVIEW

Koo Wee Rup got up against Bunyip on Saturday, winning 10.11-71 to 5.7-37.

Bunyip had the momentum in the first term and had almost doubled the home side’s score by the end of the quarter with two clean majors to one goal one behind.

But all that changed in the second term, with Koo Wee Rup finding their groove and hosting a scoring masterclass, adding a quick five goals five to their tally and keeping Bunyip to just two more behinds.

The Demons led the Bulldogs by 28 points at the main break. That margin grew in the third with the Bulldogs managing just two behinds to the home side’s two majors.

The final term saw Koo Wee Rup add another two goals to their tally, bringing their fulltime scoreline to 10.11-71.

Bunyip finished the day on 5.7-37. Rory Connelly was best on ground for Koo Wee Rup. Matthew Voss, Liam Hetherington, Bradley Harding, Luke McMaster and Caleb Milojevic also received honourable mentions.

MATCH REVIEW

Nar Nar Goon grabbed a top five spot on Saturday after a huge fourth quarter saw them come away with a convincing win over the Giants in Korumburra.

The Goon booted five goals six in the final term and held Korumburra-Bena scoreless to secure an important 96-45 win.

The game started even, with both sides accumulating a significant amount of the ball in the middle and creating opportunities through fast ball and player movement.

Cann and Walker got on the scoreboard for the Giants in the first term, ensuring their side hung tough and went into the quarter-time all square at 20 apiece.

The away side began to gain the upper hand in the second quarter though, with Blackwood playing a dominant role on the ball and McDermott and Stevens combining well up front. On the back of this swing, Nar Nar Goon went into half-time with a 46-30 lead. The Giants held tough in the third term, clearly coming out of the gates motivated and with something to prove.

Their ball skills were impressive in the wet conditions, and strong play from Simmons and Snooks seemed to have them right back in the contest. The teams kicked two goals each in a very even term, with the away side leading by 15 at the final break.

No one would have foreseen what was to come however, with Nar Nar Goon completely blitzing the home team in every aspect during the fourth quarter.

Their midfield work was unstoppable, with Blackwood and co winning huge amounts of the footy in the contest and dealing it to their outside players with precision. McDermott and Stevens benefited heavily from this in the forward line, and finished with three each for the game. Nar Nar Goon’s defensive pressure was also ferocious, the team applying strong tackle pressure and spoiling the ball at each Giants marking contest. The away side held Korumburra-Bena scoreless in the term and emerged 51-point winners.

MATCH REVIEW

The Seagulls have soared in the upper echelon of the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) throughout the season, but at quarter-time on Saturday it looked every bit as though they were about to take their game to new heights.