A gusty second term fight back led by best on ground GORMANDALE’s Jordon Sandy saw the Tigers slam home eight goals following a barren opening stanza.
Bursting out of the blocks it was all one way traffic in the opening 25 minutes of play as Cowwarr flattened the home side dictating play on their terms whilst making the most of their opportunities in front of goal.
Gormandale were presented with the opening scoring shot of the contest. Ruckman Al Jenkins the recipient of a fast and drilled delivery hitting the tall target on the chest. Jenkins shot on goal stretching the limits with the ball falling short in the goal square. Rushed through for a behind, the Saints backline drew clear from the defensive arc.
Both sides squandered chances in front of goal before Chris Distefano running tight along the boundary opened proceedings for Cowwarr.
Winning the contested football Pat Tainsh was a ball magnet early his electric pace from the centre clearance looking to set up Robbie Ferguson. The small forward lively as he snapped a behind before breaking through for his first major. Ferguson backing up Brett Street’s major with Cowwarr’s third as they pressured the Tigers defence into making undisciplined errors.
Steve Burgess gifted Marcus Twomey his first as his clearing kick from defence went straight down the throat of the Saint. The scoreboard told the tale as Todd Mann registered the Saints fifth major, the visitors building an unassailable lead.
It was an animated Luke Henderson at the quarter time huddle, and for some it was no doubt a sense of dejavu with the Tigers starting out the contest in similar fashion to last week.
Trailing by five goals, the Tigers responded with Sandy to become the man of the term. Slotting through a quick goal from the opening bounce Sandy had the Tigers up and about.
Winning the centre taps Jenkins, ensured ball magnets Brendan Solomon, Luke Francis and Matt Zappulla made the most of his handy ruck work the Tigers adding a second major to the score board courtesy of Sandy. In a mirror image to their opening two majors the Tigers midfield brigade drilled the ball into attack, Sandy on the receiving end of a 50 metre penalty, as he slotted through not only his but his sides third.
Cowwarr back man James Pryde pushed Francis aside as he positioned himself under the ball to take the mark, the umpire quick to blow the whistle with a free kick resulting in a fourth straight courtesy of Francis.
With everything going their way, the Tigers relished the conditions in the second term as the Saints struggled to clear centre half forward as play dominated in Gormandale’s forward 50.
Throwing the ball on the boot from outside 50, Sandy added another to his tally as scores were locked level. In fact Sandy would added a further two to close out the second stanza with six majors pencilled against his name.
Cowwarr’s sole major for the term coming through Ben Coffey who was moved from defence forward ahead of half time. The Tigers reversing a five goal deficit into a 15 point lead at the long break.
The premiership term continued in the line of the previous quarter of play, Sandy opened with his seventh, the forward on the end of a solid piece of play led by Solomon. Captain Luke Hegarty in his return game from injury hit the scoreboard, sweeping half back defender Tom Brennan pushed forward to add another as the flood gates threatened to open.
Despite being held relatively quiet, Tiger Joe Colaciello put the burners on as he ran along the wing his delivery into Sandy resulting in defender Linden Brunt being paces behind.
Saint Ferguson broke the Tigers four goal straight burst with his second, but Hegarty got the quick reply as the Tigers continued to answer the Saints challenge.
Trailing by 33 points at the final change the two sides exchanged blow for blow on the scoreboard however the Saints failed to eat into the deficit, the Tigers going on to register their fourth win of the season, 18.13 (121) to 11.6 (72).
Productive forward target Sandy, accounted for two opponents, with his second term the most damaging demonstrating the underlining importance of a key forward. Sandys double figure 10 goal haul a first for the relatively new forward.
Brennan was superb in mopping up the loose ball and cutting of the Saints delivery into their forwards, Brennan combing well with full back Brent MacFarlane. Ruckman Jenkins continues to evolve while Solomon led from the front in the engine room.
Cowwarr lost coach Luke Cooper to injury half way through the contest, Brett Street was lively in a three vote performance with Sean Alexander and Brett Grieve solid performers. Grieve feeling the effects of forward Sandy who crunched the defender in a marking contest.
CHURCHILL delivered a crushing blow to Yarram’s finals hopes and plans as they rallied to seal a 10 point victory, the win knocking the Demons outside the five.
Little separated the sides throughout the all-important clash, Yarram holding a four point buffer at the first change a margin that they would draw out to 19 points at the long change. Andrew Kiely and Justin Staley the key targets in front of goal for the Demons.
The premiership term was an old-fashioned grudge, both sides only managing to add a major apiece as the Demons appeared to have the momentum going into the final change.
With their finals aspirations on the line reigning premiers Churchill saved the best till last slamming home six majors to one in the final stanza to effectively double their score from the first three quarters, 12.8 (80) to 9.16 (70).
The goals for the Cougars came through Nick Campbell, Leigh McDonald and Brendan Holt, with captain Chris Williams superb.
The competition front runners made light work of their lesser ranked opponents as they flexed their muscle in an effort to jostle for finals positions.
ROSEDALE’s Jack Tatterson was a giant slayer, the Blues forward bagging a haul of 10 in his side’s 179 point thrashing of Glengarry.
The ladder leaders simply proved to be no match for the bottom placed Magpies who were held goalless after half time.
The Blues goals came through nine individual scorers with Jeremy Reid (four) and Corey Beaver (three) the next best to Tatterson. Adam Diamond continuing his solid form to be named best a field for Rosedale, with Chris Wangman a standout for the Magpies.
HEYFIELD’s inaccuracy in front of goal kept the Wildcats within arm’s reach early in the contest before the Kangaroos work rate and pressure on the ball carrier simply became too much to bare for the Wildcats.
Leading by seven points at the first change, the Kangaroos through best on ground Kodie Woodland put the foot down. Heyfield scoring 7.4 (46) to a straight kick in the second term to take a commanding nine goal lead into the break.
With their finals ambitions on the line the Kangaroos didn’t falter, James Beha, Jordon Stubbe, Jesse Bedggood and Woodland among the main antagonists in front of goal.
The second half continued along the same vein as the second term Heyfield outscoring Woodside 14 goals to three to run home comfortable 127 point victors. The win elevating last year’s grand finalists back into the five.
Second placed SALE CITY accounted for TTU in an enthralling contest.
Leading by 10 points at half time, the Bombers felt the effects of the tops dogs in a dominate premiership term which proved to be the difference in the 17.10 (112) to 15.5 (95) score line.
Sitting side by side on the premiership ladder standings the contest was an early preview to what spectators might see in the first week of finals. Evenly placed it would be the Dogs seven goal to two third term led by coach Hayden Burgiel with his bag of six, the coach one of five individual goal scorers, proving telling.
The final term was an old fashioned shoot out, the sides exchanging blow for blow on the scoreboard with City’s third term lead serving them well at the final siren. The Bombers rallied to outscore City six goals to five but it wasn’t enough.
City was well served by dogged midfielder David Piasente with Bombers current coach Jay Neagle and former coach Matt Stolarczyk among the side’s best players.
By Lauren Carey