By Marcus Uhe
It was a win full of heart, determination and character.
For much of Gembrook Cockatoo’s season opener against Berwick Springs in round one of Outer East Football Netball on Saturday, it looked as though the Titans would be celebrating a maiden win in the club’s first ever contest of Premier Division football on its home ground.
When Jett Kearney kicked his third goal of the afternoon and the third on the bounce for his side, after the Titans’ defensive press forced yet another turnover in the Brookers’ back half late in the third term, the margin had reached a game high 25 points as Michael Firrito’s side looked out of answers.
Myles Wareham kicked the final goal of the term to give Gembrook Cockatoo a sniff, before Firrito rallied the troops at the final huddle.
In his first contest as senior coach, Firrito, who put the boots back on after announcing his retirement at the end of last season, described his side and having been “passive” and “reactive” for much of the afternoon.
With the margin within reach at three quarter time at 20 points, it was time to throw caution to the wind.
“I felt like we played most of the first three quarters in the back 50,” Firrito said.
“We were like a boxer taking hits.
“In that last quarter I asked for a response and we played the majority of the game in our (forward) 50 and they were the ones that were on the back foot, chipping the ball around, trying to buy some time and out on their legs.”
Firrito had preached a Summer of fitness and running during his first preseason in charge and expected it to be a strength of his side in 2024.
With his assistant coach in former Berwick premiership captain Michael Harold running the fitness regime, round one presented the ideal chance to prove their credentials and show that a gruelling Summer was worth every sprint, time trial and shuttle run.
Out went the slow, considered approach from the back half with their ball movement and in came run, risk and dare.
Two goals in the opening three minutes signalled their intent, and told the Titans to switch on.
Aaron Firrito looked to make it three in four minutes, emerging through the front of the stoppage with the Sherrin tucked under his arm and with his sights set on the big sticks, but hit the post with a running shot from just inside the 40 metre arc.
While the attempt failed to yield the maximum result, it was clear that the Titans needed a breather and some time in possession.
Berwick Springs elected to take some heat out of the contest and initiate slow play, halting the green and white wave bearing down on them like the gloomy grey clouds overhead at Mick Morland Reserve.
A 10 minute arm wrestle for ascendency was eventually snapped by the Brookers, who cut the lead to just two points at the 16 minute mark.
Debutant, Corey Phillips’ vice grip on a tough mark at centre half back after a kick out brought runners and speed on the ball, as the aggressive approach found a way through the Berwick Springs zone and into the waiting hands of Joel Firrito deep in the forward line for his third major.
Now within a kick of the lead, it appeared the Titans were out of options.
Their back six played like a cohesive unit all day despite lacking continuity and experience playing together, welcoming Cameron Miller, Brodie McConnell and Matt Soutter-Smith to a quality mix behind the footy including Riley Hillman, Jayden Malek and Brodie Worland.
For much of the afternoon they had the answers, but found themselves at sixes and sevens in face of the late charge from Gembrook Cockatoo.
A Warlond turnover deep in defence was intercepted by Callum Bourne, and the resulting 25 metre penalty following a collision with Kayden Buseli after the mark was taken, advanced him to within striking distance.
He made no mistake with the kick, and somehow, 22 minutes into the final term, the Brookers had their noses in front.
The count up clock on the electronic scoreboard ensured an element of ambiguity and suspense, with the players as unsure as the captivated and bewildered spectators as to how long remained for the Brookers to hold on, and for Berwick Springs to hit back.
The Titans won the next centre clearance but missed a chance in front of goal to make the most of the inside 50.
Within a minute, Wareham was celebrating a fourth major, having watched his teammates penetrate the press with ease and capitalising out the back in a bevy of open space.
Eight points was where the margin settled, 10.8 68 to 8.12 60, with four points going into the all-important points column on the table.
“Everyone wants to get off to a good start, but I guess the manor that we did it in probably make us even more proud,” Michael Firrito said.
“(It was) a game that we weren’t able to get on our terms but we found a way to get back.
“One of the things I said to our guys was, you can never have the game on your terms for 100 per cent of the time, there’s going to be ebbs and flows.
“It’s all fine and well when everything’s going rosey to think you’re strong of character, but generally it’s when times are tough and the chips are down and your backs are against the wall where you really find out what the individuals and the group is like.
“It could have gone one of two ways, we could have lost by 40 points or we could put ourselves in a position to win.
“The result speaks volumes of what I think of the group and what the group is.”
Led by Michael Misso on club debut, the Titans had the upper hand in the midfield battle for much of the afternoon and took control of the contest in the third term during a run of three consecutive goals.
Despite the absence of star pair Chris Johnson (personal reasons) and Hayden Stagg (injury) they were winning the clearance battle and locking the ball in the forward 50, leading to repeat shots on goal and mounting pressure on the Brookers’ backs.
For much of the third quarter, the route to goal looked barren for the Brookers, outside of a classy snap out of a stoppage from Joel Firrito.
Patrick Snoxall wore a heavy hit for his side late in the third that gifted Wareham his second of the afternoon and drew a response from his teammates, unhappy with the treatment from Misso.
The first half was a grind for both sides, still fighting early season jitters and committing a number of skill errors.
The Titans scored seven consecutive behinds in the second term, unable to capitalise on their dominance as Gembrook Cockatoo plugged holes in the back half.
From considerably less chances, Joshua Tilly kicked a crucial steadier for his side to break the deadlock, in what was the only goal of the period.
Berwick Springs will no doubt rue what could have been, but the Brookers were fully deserving of the four points.
Tilly and Damien Volta looked a class above in the midfield for Gembrook Cockatoo, while Joel Firrito finished with three goals.
Misso, Kearney, Justin Markulija and Rhys Fletcher were among the best for Berwick Springs.
