Hampton Park coach Jason Chapple said he was embarrassed by his side’s capitulation to Beaconsfield on Saturday and predicted changes at selection. By Brad Kingsbury
HAMPTON Park coach Jason Chapple berated his players after they were comprehensively smashed by a rejuvenated Beaconsfield on Saturday.
The Redbacks were lucky that the 64-point margin was not greater after trailing by 73 points at three-quarter time and Chapple said he was embarrassed by the lack of effort and foreshadowed changes at the selection table.
“We were made to look second rate. Beacy had desire and they were first to the ball all day,” he said.
“There will be changes. People are saying there will be big names dropped, but I don’t rate the efforts of a lot of players in the side at the moment so, to me, they aren’t big names at all.”
“I’m not there to impress supporters or anyone else, I’m there to get the side playing the sort of football that wins games. I’ll take the blame for the effort but it’s on me to make the decisions to fix the problem and I’ll be doing that,” Chapple promised.
From the first bounce the traffic was all one-way and the Hampton Park midfield was non-existent allowing the Eagles to control proceedings.
Beaconsfield’s early-season lack of system has been remedied by the recent return of coach Haydn Robins to the goal square, together with the form revival of experienced performers including Chris Kelf, Robbie Taylor, Daniel Charles and Daniel Mislicki.
Robins followed his five-goal comeback with another bag of six on Saturday.
Redback recruit Hayden Fredericks had a great tussle with Robins, while Brett Armitage, Scott Gilder (seven goals) and Mick O’Brien battled it out all day, but it was another forgettable day for the side.
ROC proved itself a genuine finals contender, despite going down to Doveton by 14 points in a top-class match at the Officer Reserve.
The Kangaroos did everything but defeat the reigning premiers in a desperate final term after trailing by five points at the last change.
Doveton swooped and ran the ball out of defence to convert on several occasions late in the match, maintaining a slender lead and withstanding each thrust forward by the Kangaroos until the final siren.
ROC coach Hayden Stanton lamented his side’s mistakes, but took solace from the fact that he was without two key players in ruckman David Main and centre half-back Ben Waite, who should be available for the return clash.
Doveton lost Dale Kilpatrick who broke his leg just before half time.
The game was highlighted by magnificent individual efforts by Doves Matthew Miller, Justin Hill and David George, together with Kangaroos Callum White, Jarrod Goodes and Brad Jones.
Pakenham proved that its recent stellar form was no fluke with an emotional 15-point result over neighbours Tooradin.
The Lions powered away to turn a five point three-quarter-time deficit into a resounding win that saw them jump two points clear in third position on the ladder.
The game carried extra importance to both clubs with several former Lions now firmly entrenched at the Westernport oval including coach Dan O’Loughlin, his brother Tom and recent addition Clint Walker.
Lincoln Withers dominated the term and with assistance from Michael Holland, Jared Goldsack and Nathan Brown, while the Seagulls’ best included O’Loughlin, Tom Hallinan and Blake Batt.
Keysborough won its third game for 2006 with an emphatic 36-point result over Cranbourne.
Saturday’s victory against a young and fast opponent was the best indicator of the Burras’ development to date.
The visitors took it right up to Keysborough in the first half after the Burra was unbalanced by the loss of star full-forward Luke McGuinness in the first term with a knee injury.
The home side trailed by eight points at the long break, but put the result beyond doubt with an eight-goal-to-one third term.
Cranbourne’s better performers included youngster Matthew Rus together with Ryan Davey, Damien Whitnall and Aaron Pike.
Devon Meadows was given a 129-point football lesson by a ruthless Narre Warren.
The Panthers were expected to provide a contest, but Narre Warren did not allow it any space in attack and kept the home side goalless in the first term, while adding eight majors to have complete control of the contest by quarter-time.
The rout continued after the first break with key forwards Brett Evans and Lee Clark too accomplished for their battling opponents and the Magpie midfielders Ricky Clark, Glenn Hamilton and Daniel Field doing as they pleased.
The Magpies increased their lead at each change and, but for the efforts of Devon Meadows recruit David Grose with assistance from captain Jesse Dehey, Tom Hussey and big man Andrew Cotton, the damage might have been worse.
Berwick full forward Ryan Donaldson kicked 14 goals in a dominant display during the Wickers’ 165-point drubbing of Dingley.
The positive news for the Dingoes was the fact that they managed to kick six goals for the afternoon.
Donaldson has relished his return to full-forward in the past fortnight, booting 24 majors in two games and bolting to the top of the goalkickers’ leaderboard with 27.
The game was a non-event after Berwick kicked 10 goals to one in the first term.
Kirk Betts was again in scintillating form for Berwick, while Dingley’s better players included Darren Andrews and Tony Lavars.
