Border Mail |
YARRAWONGA provided an ominous snapshot of its true capabilities in disposing of North Albury by 60 points at J.C.
Lowe Oval on Saturday.The Pigeons were bolstered by the inclusion of Brad Ottens and the three-time Geelong premiership ruckman injected another dimension to an already imposing line-up.
He finished with six goals on debut and his personal contribution was only eclipsed by a spectacular final term from Brendan Fevola, who booted four goals in the last quarter to finish with 8.6.
Ottens booted a goal with his first kick for the Pigeons, but up forward wasn’t the only area of the game he excelled.
His ruck work was peerless and he contributed all over the ground.
He took seven marks in the forward 50 metres and showed his unselfish side in the last quarter when he off-loaded a handball to Jeremy O’Brien, who made no mistake on the run from 30 metres out.
The Pigeons stretched the Hoppers for height and talent up forward with Ottens opposed to Jethro Calma-Holt and Fevola having youngster Josh Senior for company all game.
Daniel Leslie has played on Fevola in recent encounters, but he spent large periods of the game on another Pigeons’ dangerman, Kayne Pettifer, who booted only one goal.
The first quarter was a scrappy affair as both teams went to the first break locked together on 1.4 before Ottens ignited the Pigeons in the second.
Ottens set up Fevola for his first goal of the game early in the term, but he became the dominant force on the ground to boot the next three.
Yarrawonga cashed in on the clearance work of Craig Ednie and Xavier Leslie to open a 24-point lead.
But the Hoppers dug in and responded with the next two goals including a brilliant run by Kade Brown.
The margin was reduced to a straight kick when Jason Gram slotted a goal from close range after Rory Feltwell was unable to take a free for high contact.
Gram was otherwise a non-factor thanks to Matt Irvine.
The Hoppers were still in touch at half-time, trailing by only 13 points, after a brilliant 50 metre goal from 100 gamer and one of the team’s few four quarter performers, Matt McDonald.
North Albury squandered genuine goal-scoring opportunities and was punished by Yarrawonga for some poor skill execution.
The Pigeons dominated the third term to kick 5.7 to 1.3 with Ottens having six goals alongside his name at the last change. But the highlight of the term happened at the other end when Yarrawonga co-coach Drew Barnes ran down Hopper Brian Durbridge to prevent him kicking what looked like being a simple goal from the square.
The Hoppers suffered a blow in the third term when ruckman Ben Ryan was forced with a hamstring twinge.
Yarrawonga was well served down back by Matt Dwyer and Jared Thompson as the Pigeons opened a match-winning 40-point break at the last change.
The final quarter belonged to full-forwards, Fevola and Adam Prior.
Prior booted two to take his match tally to five, but he was overshadowed by Fevola, who turned it on to end the game with 8.6.
Pigeons coach Chris Kennedy said the win was a turnaround from a sluggish effort against Wangaratta last round.
“They were frustrated with themselves last week and they proved otherwise today,” he said.
North Albury coach Jason Akermanis dropped out of the selected team and watched on as the Pigeons broke clear in the second half.
“We are building a side that has to be good for four quarters,” he said.
“We were really good for two and in the third they were just able to win the ball.
“But there is no doubt as we start playing more and more together, we are going to be able to do better team things.”
