AN understrength Tooleybuc-Manangatang have suffered the embarrassment of going goalless for an entire game of football, as the Mallee Eagles registered an impressive 101-point win in challenging conditions.
It was the Eagles’ sixth consecutive win, continuing to further solidify their claims as a genuine finals threat.
Despite the continued absence of several key players, the 16.12 (108) to 0.7 (7) result was a body blow for the Saints, who remain a game and percentage behind fifth-placed Balranald but have fallen to seventh following Cohuna’s win over Tyntynder.
“It was a pleasing result to keep them goalless, we pride ourselves on defending first and attacking second, so to keep them goalless was a big tick,” Mallee Eagles co-coach Harry Allen said.
“Our whole spine was very good, but our back six is proving to be a real headache week after week, especially with ‘Posty’ (Jayden Post) and Joe (Halloran) down there.
“You can only play what’s in front of you and (Tooleybuc-Manangatang) clearly had four of five of their better players away, but they still have some weapons and if you don’t pay close attention to them, they will hurt you, particularly in those conditions.
“We were adamant pre-game that we wanted to stick to what our DNA is and that’s built around defence and contest, and I thought we ticked both of those boxes really well.”
A strong wind blowing straight across the ground made ball movement and goalkicking difficult for both teams.
“We were outplayed,” Tooleybuc-Manangatang coach Brad Morris said.
“With the kicking game heavily impacted for both teams by the conditions, (Mallee Eagles) were able to adapt and utilise their forward handball and run and carry.
“They had options off the back of the stoppages, and we continued to try go by foot, which didn’t work.
“Our effort was there, we just broke down with our systems.”
Allen agreed with Morris, with the Eagles moving the ball more freely after half-time as the sting went out of the contest.
“Once the game opened up a bit, we played a bit more daring footy,” Allen said.
“The first half we were a bit more cautious in not wanting to jump the gun too early, especially in those conditions, but we didn’t really want to stray away too far from what worked in the first half.
“Once we started getting the ball from the stoppage out to the clubrooms side and bringing it forward that way, we were able to open up the ground a little bit.
“The last kick was always the hardest one, Darcy (Hourigan) isn’t your typical key forward in many respects, in that once the ball hits the deck he’s still in the contest and ‘Meady’ (Andrew Mead-Harding) was probably our best forward.
“To have eight goalkickers was really pleasing also, as it was never going to be one of those days that would be easy for the forwards.”
Joe Halloran was pipped by Harry McGregor for best on ground honours for different reasons, with Halloran keeping dangerous forward Josh Williams goalless and McGregor not only intercepting many of Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s forward entries, but creating off half-back as well.
It was an even performance up forward and through the midfield from the Eagles, with Darcy McGregor, Brent Macleod and Allen all dominating, although Jesse Wilson, Johnathan Marsden, Connor Nutting and Blake Grant also held their own in stages for the Saints.
The only negative for the Mallee Eagles was a knee injury to Zac O’Meara, who didn’t return after half-time but is expected to be fit to face the Cohuna Kangas this Saturday.
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VOTES
3 – Harry McGregor (Mallee Eagles)
2 – Joe Halloran (Mallee Eagles)
1 – Andrew Mead-Harding (Mallee Eagles)
