Border Mail |
MYRTLEFORD co-coach Brad Murray led the Saints to back-to-back wins with a best-on-ground performance in their 24-point win against Wodonga at McNamara Reserve on Saturday.
Murray stood tall, taking on every conceivable role a coach would aspire to do, inspiring his emerging charges into refusing to ignore another sniff of victory.
Again the Saints found themselves slow out of the blocks giving up the first five scoring shots and trailing by 20 points early in the game.
The first quarter, however, was full of goals, the open brand of football on show producing 12 majors.
The Saints might have found another forward option with Tim Madden bobbing up to kick five and Travis Murray three.
James Taberner, overlooked by the Bushrangers, chipped in with three, showing signs an AFL draft selection could well follow that of his talented brother Matt.
Only one point separated the teams in favour of Wodonga at half-time but Myrtleford hit back strongly and put the game beyond doubt when it kicked five of the first six last-quarter goals, with a clinical Brad Murray snap the clincher.
Nathan Cossignani, Kristan Height and Lee Dale were dominant midfielders for the Saints, while Matt Dussin, Matt Spencer and Blair Jose controlled the air.
Myrtleford co-coach Leigh Corcoran said the team’s concentration on winning the ball paid dividends.
“Our main focus was to win the contested ball and get our hands on it as much as possible,” Corcoran said.
“We are starting to move the ball with better intent and purpose.
“The key is finding as many options for players to play in multiple positions to increase our flexibility and be versatile.”
Bulldogs forward Steve Murray did his representative chances no harm with a busy display, although his 3.5 at goal could have been at least six goals.
Defender Jack Russell was outstanding for Wodonga, while Tim Kindellan, Matt Seiter and Neil Reeve gave coach Ben Hollands plenty of effort.
Hollands lamented another wasted chance.
“You don’t need experience to have a genuine crack,” Hollands said.
“We quite simply need to have more step up.
“It was a game we came here believing we could win and at stages showed why that confidence was realistic.”
