Hampton Park’s Ryan Simpson takes a great mark in tough conditions against Keysborough opponent Tyson King at Booth Reserve on Saturday. 21584 Picture: Luke Plummer.By Brad Kingsbury
DETERMINATION and a loyal home crowd were not enough to spur HAMPTON PARK over the line against third-placed KEYSBOROUGH at the Booth Reserve on Saturday.
The Burra toughed out a somewhat unconvincing eight-point win over the Redbacks, with both sides lining up in the finals next weekend.
The Redbacks started with captain Josh Taylor leading by example and taking on star Burra spearhead Luke McGuinness and coach Jason Caples starting on young tyro centre-half forward Tyson King.
The Burra started well with two quick goals, but Hampton Park answered smartly and the match settled into its rhythm quickly with no room for spectators at the stoppages.
The Redbacks looked set for defeat when the Burra slammed on five unanswered goals in a 14-minute burst, to lead by 32 points at half-time, however Caples regrouped his charges and they came out full of intent in the second half.
Running backmen Ryan Simpson, Sheldon Fredericks and James Van Elewoud turned defence into attack, but the Keysborough defence stood strong with Corey Wilkinson doing a fine job on key forward Kevin McLean and Daniel Born outpointing beanpole Redback Shane Moffatt.
The difference at three-quarter time was 21 points and when Gary Murphy reduced the margin to 10 points with a great snap, a whiff of victory swept across the ground.
That was quickly dispelled by lanky youngster Dean Gentle who replied with a crucial goal from 35 metres out, edging his side 16 points clear with 10 minutes to play.
That turned out to be enough and even a miraculous dribble goal from Biagi late in the quarter, his fourth major for the day, was not enough to boost the Redbacks to the post.
Despite the match meaning little in the context of the finals for Hampton Park, Caples said he would have liked to have got up.
“I’m a bit disappointed that we put in so much and lost the game, but they had more to play for than us,” he said.
“We showed we are right up there. The players tried really hard and I was pretty happy with a lot of one-on-one results.
“In the second half we were probably a bit more wary of closing down their midfield. They used the ball pretty well early on but when we put more pressure on, it showed with their delivery nowhere near as good.”
NARRE WARREN tuned up for its tilt at a third consecutive premiership with a free-flowing 53-point win over CRANBOURNE at Casey Fields.
Magpie small men Ricky Clark, Nick Scanlon, Chris Collins and Brad Scalzo were sure by hand and foot and they worked their way to a 15-point lead in the opening term and extended that steadily as the match progressed.
Scanlon finished with four goals from a wing, while star Cranbourne forward Marc Holt was well held by Danny Brewster but still kicked three goals to tie for the league goalkicking award.
Eagle defender Troy Aust held Lee Clark to three goals in a great performance, while fellow backmen Robert Beadel and Daniel Arfi were also among the day’s better performers.
PAKENHAM completed a perfect home and away season with a regulation 52-point victory over DEVON MEADOWS at the Toomuc Reserve.
The Lions were challenged by their improving rivals for almost three quarters before applying the afterburners and kicking the last five goals of the game to run out winners with something to spare.
The day was not without its dramas for the home side however, with talented defender Beau Wheeler being knocked out and concussed 10 minutes into the game and taking no further part, and burly spearhead Daniel Fry having his nose rearranged and leaving the field not long after.
The game was a scrappy affair with the Panthers finding it hard to convert in attack, despite the persistence of playmakers Scott Morrison, Craig Hunter, Jesse Dehey and Brett Armitage.
DOVETON scored a predictable 10-goal victory over winless bottom side TOORADIN at the Western Port oval.
The Doves booted six goals to one in the opening term and set the scene in blustery and cold conditions, extending their lead at every change.
Simon Black was the best of the forwards, finishing with four goals, while Ryan Hendy, Brad Virgona and Shannon Henwood were among the votes for the visitors.
Both coaches strongly criticised the umpiring on the day, with Dove Tom Hallinan describing it as atrocious.
ROC coach Ben Delarue stepped down from his post and brought his long and decorated playing career to an end with a 13-point win over BERWICK at Starling Road.
The former star Springvale Scorpion premiership player ended his two-year coaching stint with the Kangaroos on a good note with his senior side taking out the dour struggle in appalling conditions to jump the Wickers and finish the year in ninth place.
The Kangaroos held a slender lead at every break and booted four goals to two in a desperate final term to send club 200-game stalwart David Turner into retirement with a smile on his face.
The only positive for Berwick was the victory of veteran spearhead George Gorozidis in the league goalkicking championship.
Gorozidis held on to tie with Cranbourne forward Marc Holt, despite booting only one goal on the day.
PEARCEDALE upset elimination final favourites LANGWARRIN by 17 points with a brilliant final term, to progress to next weekend’s Nepean league first semi-final.
Led by dominant sharpshooters Daniel Murray with nine goals and Kaine Smith with five, the Panthers booted five goals to three in the last 25 minutes to win the cut-throat clash after leading by only three points at the final change.
Luke Damon, Chris Waghorne and former Cranbourne junior Matthew Grazules were among the best players for the victors.
