Leader News |
HE IS an assistant-coach dishing out years of wisdom at the greatest club in the land, but Shane O'Bree turned back time and dashed from a Darley back half like a spring-heeled adolescent on Saturday.
The 246-game Collingwood great who now serves under Chris Scott at Geelong sported Devils threads for the first time amid little fanfare but boy, did he leave his mark.
The 34-year-old eventually succumbed to a minor leg niggle in the second half, but long after the Devils had done all the damage against Melton South, 19.17 (131) to 12.5 (77).
But while the man from the big smoke was brilliant, coach Rod MacPherson contends the boy from the bush was better.
Shane Page, the highly skilled Devils newcomer, a product of embattled Kyneton, had the pigskin on a string.
"He was unbelievable for the whole game," MacPherson said.
"He played half-back, went through the midfield and his consistent effort for the whole day was outstanding.
"He has the ability to not only win the ball, but to make or change his decisions under pressure and pick up the right decisions.
"A lot of players commit to a kick or a handball and can't change their decision midstream, but those with a real high footy intellect, which he's got, can understand an option has been closed down and change their decision."
But while the Devils' triumph against an Eastern bloc native might have been four points gained, it was hardly four points salvaged after Darley's shock loss to Ballarat just a week prior.
"Cockiness, over confidence, underestimating the opposition, take your pick," he said.
"We thought with the breeze we were going to bang on four or five goals but it just didn't happen.
"It was a really damaging loss for us."
