Hampton Park defender Sheldon Fredericks flies in front of a big pack in an attempt to win possession, during a tense final term against ROC on Saturday. Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Brad Kingsbury
HAMPTON PARK waited until the final term of its clash with lowly ROC before slipping into top gear and running away to a 19-point victory that did not tell the true story of the Saturday’s battle at Starling Road.
The Redbacks approached the game as though a win would just happen and were shocked by the Kangaroos intensity in the first three quarters.
Led by an eight-goal blitz from talented big man David Main, the young Kangaroos gave their loyal band of followers plenty to cheer about as they strived for their first win of the season, despite an obvious discrepancy in experience compared to their rivals.
Excluding Matthew Dixon and Sean Nunan, Hampton Park players were led to the ball and lacked the intensity required at senior level.
Young ROC stars Neil Adams and John Aidone, with assistance from Craig Eagleton, Ben Tivendale and defender Jarred Day, drove the ball to Main who was on target all day, and the Kangaroos led at every change.
With the home side five points up at the final change, both coaches put the acid on their players to win the game, but the Redbacks looked fresher as the last quarter began.
It was goal for goal early in the term but all the play was with Hampton Park and finally captain Josh Taylor stood up, booting two goals in four minutes, to give the visitors a 20-point break at the 14-minute mark of the term, breaking the Kangaroos’ hold on the game.
Further goals to Shane Moffatt and Kevin Mclean were answered late by ROC coach Ben Delarue and Main (after the final siren) but the Redbacks had done enough and earned a lucky and unconvincing victory.
Relieved Redbacks coach Jason Caples blamed his side’s mental approach for the early lack of intensity.
“I think we expected to win. We tried our best not to go in with that attitude but it crept in and I’ve got to admit, I probably was to blame in that area too,” he said.
“We probably played the first three quarters like that and we did pretty well to win it in the end.”
Delarue was bitterly disappointed for his players and the club’s loyal band of supporters and officials, and told his players that he would no longer accept capitulations like that.
Redback Jack Besley was reported after a second-term clash with Eagleton.
CRANBOURNE was led to an impressive five-goal win over DOVETON by league super-star Marc Holt who booted 13 goals in a dominant game at the Robinson Reserve.
The upset victory in the Mitchell-Garrett Cup challenge match stamped the Eagles as a genuine finals contender in 2008.
The Doves jumped the visitors and booted nine goals to four in the opening term, however the home side relaxed and Cranbourne stuck to its game plan led by creative half back Robert Beadel together with playmakers Aiden Beaton and Callum Lester.
The Doves suffered from a problem with discipline and gave away several 50-metre penalties as they capitulated in the final term.
Holt, who was reported earlier in the game, was unstoppable and won the match off his own boot in an effort that opposition coach Tom Hallinan described as the finest individual effort he had ever seen.
NARRE WARREN gave BEACONSFIELD a comprehensive 64-point lesson at the Perc Allison oval.
Narre Warren was simply too classy at the fall of the ball and was cleaner by hand and foot when the pressure was on.
The inclusion of Stingray Tom Gillies proved an important move with the Magpies better able to match the Eagles edge in height on the tight ground and he, together with teenage ruckman Aaron Mills and star on-baller Michael Collins, created opportunities for attacking moves throughout the afternoon.
The Magpies upped their work rate in the second term and broke free with key forwards Lee Clark and Ryan Stanes helping their team to a match-controlling 38-point advantage at the long break.
The Eagles did not stop trying but with key goal kicker Luke McConnell blanketed by first Jarrod Anderson and then under 18 prospect Jackson Parker (after Anderson left the ground with injured ribs), Andrew Williams was their only real avenue to goal and Lee Boyle made him earn every one of his five goals.
Narre Warren extended its advantage to 56 points at the final change and cruised home.
PAKENHAM continued its winning form with a methodical 34-point result over BERWICK at the Toomuc Reserve.
The Wickers opened the game playing one-dimensional football centred on getting the ball to key forward George Gorozidis and that allowed the Lions to rebound in style, building a match-controlling 45-point lead at half time.
Wicker coach Ronnie Burns asked his players for a better effort at the main break and got the response he was after, with loyal Berwick locals Brad Molineux, Andrew Morozoff and Paul VanSchilt lifting their work rate and Gorozidis breaking free of the Joel Padley blanket to boot five goals in the second half.
However the Lions continued to control the tempo of the game with every player having an input and Fry finishing the afternoon with five goals also.
KEYSBOROUGH handed TOORADIN a 166-point thrashing at the Rowley Allen Reserve.
The Seagulls were kept to only one goal for the match, kicked in the third term by defender Jason Boocock, while Keysborough forwards had a field day booting 28 majors to move to the top of the Casey Cardinia league ladder.
Prolific spearhead Luke McGuinness snared 11 goals in a dominant game at full forward while Matthew Freeman, Tyson King and Clinton King added three goals each to the tally.
There was little joy for the struggling Seagulls who were outclassed in all aspects of the game.
