By Tyler Lewis
Narre Warren has bounced back in destructive fashion.
It was always going to come, a response from these Magpies, but the way in which the message was delivered was blood-chillingly cold.
After suffering their first loss of the season last week, the Pies persecuted the fourth-placed Olinda Ferny Creek in a 27-goal obliteration, 30.12 (192) to 4.6 (30).
The Pies skipped out to a 47-2 lead at the first change, before improving on their score by a minimum of five goals per quarter.
Leader of the club – and the forward end – Jake Richardson revealed the theme for his side this week surrounded a reaction, not so much on field, rather between the ears.
“For us it was more about our mindset going in,” he said.
“Making sure we play the way we want to play our footy, a lot of run, spread and win it on the inside.
“I think the week before against Woori (Yallock), we thought it might’ve just happened for us, we got pushed under the footy a lot and Woori were able to spread a lot better than we were.
“They made us look a bit slow when we watched it back on tape, but on the weekend I think the main thing was to play our brand of footy, get spread and speed on the footy going forward.”
Despite the Pies making the Bloods look elementary, Olinda Ferny Creek is set to finish fourth.
With Upwey Tecoma and Officer – which have combined for five wins this season – remaining, the Magpies will likely have three big wins, the first week of finals off, before a clash with either Wandin or Woori Yallock.
It’s far from perfect finals preparation for Narre Warren, but Richardson is confident his side will have plenty to work on to be ready for a date with either Woori Yallock or Wandin at Gembrook on Sunday 3 September.
“I think it’s about working on things we would work on, whether it be Woori, that we didn’t do against them last time,” he said.
“Doing those against Upwey (Tecoma) and Officer, with our set ups, kick-ins and how we want to move the ball going forward.
“Doing those things over the next two weeks, then going into a game with Woori knowing they’re going to have the belief now they’ve knocked us off.
“That’ll be a good contest if we do end up playing Woori in that first final.”
Each and every Pie stuffed the stat sheet on Saturday:
According to Premier Data, Kurt Mutimer had 51 disposals, 16 clearances and three goals. Trent Cody had 25 touches and five goals, while Richardson himself had 27 possessions and seven majors.
“Across the board, between him (Mutimer), I felt Tommy Miller (37 disposals) had a stack of it as well,” Richardson said.
“Trent Cody also got a heap of it, you do notice when someone is bringing in a lot of the footy, Kurt seems to do it every week though.
“I have been reasonably happy with my year, kicking a few goals which I haven’t done in the past, but my work-rate is more of a focus, getting up the ground and getting a lot of my touches on the way back.”
In other matches: Officer lost to Mt Evelyn 8.8 (56) to 14.10 (94), Upwey Tecoma caused an upset over Monbulk, 9.7 (61) to 11.3 (69) and Wandin handled Pakenham 11.13 (79) to 6.4 (40).
