By David Nagel
Even when it’s not your day…it may very well be your moment!
The age-old adage rang true for Cora Lynn superstar Nathan Gardiner who kicked two important – but very different – last-quarter goals to celebrate his 200th game in winning style against a combative Korumburra-Bena on Saturday.
The Giants did everything but slam the door shut on Gardiner’s milestone celebrations, kicking six of the first eight goals to lead by 17 points at the 20-minute mark of the third term.
It was 17 points, but felt much more in a low-scoring game that was massively affected by a strong breeze blowing to the outer wing of the Cobradome.
But the Cobras rallied just in the nick of time, booting four unanswered goals either side of three-quarter time to snatch an important and hard-fought 6.16(52) to 7.4(46) victory.
Gardiner looked set for a huge afternoon at the office in the early stages of the match, consistently winning the footy but not being able to find the big sticks.
It’s not the first time the champion full-forward has been off target this season; but he has enough credits in the bank to let those ones slip by.
But those early misses on Saturday were quickly pounced on by the Giants…and we had a ball-game on our hands.
Playing-coach Josh Hopkins opened the scoring for the visitors with a Nick Daicos-like ‘give-and-go’ goal that was polished off from 35 metres out on the run, before quick hands from Nick Besley created the Giants’ second from Clayton Quaife.
The Giants were up and about, but a late first-quarter goal to Chris Inverno cut the margin back to three points at the first break.
Mark Banham then received a free kick just two minutes into the second term and the Cobras had regained the lead.
It’s hard to imagine that Banham’s kick would be last six-pointer for the Cobras until the 28-minute mark of the third.
But that nightmare scenario for the Cobras was the actual reality, with Hopkins and his Giants appearing to take a stranglehold on the match.
Kye Benson set up Tom Crocker for the first of four consecutive goals; tying things up at 20 points apiece at the main interval.
The Giants then came out firing in the third, with Codie Anderson delivering the perfect crumbers’ goal before Bailey Nation kicked another that would have sent a scare through the Cobras’ camp.
It wasn’t the goal that was so concerning, more the manner in which it took place.
Nation’s kick took a bounce that Shane Warne would be proud of; with Nation’s ‘Gatting Ball’ pushing the margin out to 10 points.
It just had that ounce of luck about it that portrayed that the Cobras might be in trouble!
And Crocker landed a massive blow from the 50-metre arc; at the 20-minute mark of the third, the Giants had the advantage of a 40-23 scoreline.
Big Billy Thomas nailed a let set shot for the Cobras to cut the deficit to 10 points at the final change of ends.
But Cobras’ fans feared not…it was time for Gardiner to go to work.
The first of his two goals came from a typically strong mark against three opponents, before he bended through the Sherrin with a right-foot snap from the pocket.
Nine minutes later, 13 minutes into the last, Gardiner then toe-poked one through from centimetres out to give the home-town Cobras the lead.
Gardiner then took a spectacular grab just three minutes later; but fluffed his lines in front of goal.
The killer blow then came from Inverno, who put Cora Lynn 12 points up with a terrific left-foot poke from 35 meters out.
Crocker then kicked his third; cutting the margin to just six points as 22 minutes ticked by.
The Giants were still well in the contest, and everyone at the ground was a little surprised when the siren sounded just 90 seconds later with the ball in dispute in the midfield.
Gardiner and Inverno slotted two each for the Cobras, while Nathan Villella, Gus Da Costa, Heath Briggs, Jordan Butera, Christopher Inverno and Harrison Paul had a steady influence around the ground.
The Giants were so close to getting this one done; but were outplayed quite significantly when the game was on the line in the last quarter.
Crocker was outstanding up forward, kicking a game-high three goals, while Evan Allaway, Tyler Newton and Matthew Borschman joined Hopkins, Crocker and Nation on the Giants best players’ list.
Hopkins the coach will be massively disappointed in the result, but also buoyed by the fact that his young charges were so competitive against good opposition for so long.
As for the Cobras; well this was a lucky escape and certainly not the brand of football that will take it far in September.
Jimmy Munro will miss a significant portion of the season with a dislocated ankle, while Luke Hartley, Corey Machaya and Lachie Peluso are other key components currently sitting on the sidelines.
The Cobras stay at home in a real danger game against back-to-back winners Garfield, while the Giants stay on the road and head to Tooradin.
