WANDELLA v NULLAWIL
NULLAWILL’S unbeaten start to 2021 continued with a hard fought 41-point win over a determined Wandella at the weekend.
It was a case of making the most of your chances for the Maroons, with the visitors registering just one more scoring shot for the entire game than their opponents despite the margin.
The Maroon’s had nine individual goalkickers, including Andrew Casey who dominated up forward with six majors as Nully run out eventual 18.5.113 to 10.12.72 victors.
Both sides attacked the ball hard right throughout the contest, with neither side taking a backward step all afternoon.
Nullawil in the end though were cleaner with their ball use than the Bombers, and moved the ball a lot more efficiently to boot.
The Maroons in particular were able to spread from the stoppages, moving the ball to their outside runners more effectively and were therefore able to hit up their forwards with more proficiency.
Matt Quigley again had the ball on a string through the middle for Nully and dominated the game around the stoppages.
He was helped by the performance of Mitchel Barry in the ruck, who was influential for the Maroons in the absence of Dean Putt.
For the Bombers, Tim Robinson was among their better players down back, while Peter Moore returned to form playing across half forward and on the wing.
James Flack returned to the Wandella midfield after missing last weekend with a strong four quarter performance, while Ryan Lancaster and Jack Pay could also be well pleased with their afternoon’s efforts.
Despite the loss, there were still a number of positives for the home side to take away from the game, particularly the knowledge that as the season progresses, they are slowly closing the gap between themselves and the competition benchmark.
For the premiership favourites, it was another chance for them to fine tune the game against a quality opposition, who they will no doubt face later on in the season.
MACORNA v ULTIMA
ULTIMA finally broke through for their first win of the season with a heart stopping three-point win at Macorna on the weekend.
The visitors took a ten-point lead into the final break, but that advantage quickly evaporated when the Tigers kicked the opening two goals of the final quarter.
It was looking like more heartbreak for the winless Roos until Brendan Sacilotto toe-poked a loose ball in the direction of Jack Delmenico, who slammed through his first goal of the afternoon to give his team a 10.7.67 to 9.10.64 win.
Macorna had first use of the strong breeze and took full advantage in the first term, opening up a 21-point lead at quarter time – before the Roos hit back to level the scores at the main break.
The game really was set up for Ultima in the third term, when the visitors managed to score four goals for the quarter despite kicking into the by now dropping breeze.
Mitch Seton-Stewart was once again the barometer for the Roo’s, with the hard running midfielder at his dominant best, while Shannon Milward was also influential on the wing.
Josh Dwyer and Nicholas Leach had a great battle in the ruck, with neither player really dominating the other, even despite Dwyer’s impact late in the game with a number of telling marks.
Jaydon Stiles was always going to be a key player for Macorna, but the competitions leading goalkicker was well held, firstly by Dan Fox for the first two and a half quarters, then Martyn Cooper.
The two key defenders for Ultima kept Stiles to just the one solitary goal, with the only negative being a shoulder injury to Fox in the third quarter.
Luke O’Toole was also hugely influential down back, with the veteran constantly intercepting anything that came his way deep in defence.
Jordan Simpson was the Tigers’ only multiple goalkicker with two majors as he continued his good season with another strong performance, as did Tyler Hird, Mitch Stevens and Grady Smith for Macorna.
MOULAMEIN v HAY
A NINE goal performance from Lions veteran Simon Bunyan has kept Hay’s season alive as his side registered a remarkable 51-point win over Moulamein on Saturday.
Played at a windswept Nyah Recreation Reserve due to Covid restrictions placed on games originally slated for NSW venues, the Lions blew the game apart in a remarkable third quarter, turning a 17-point deficit at half time into a 34-point lead at the final change with an extraordinary 10-goal burst.
The Swans were unable to stop Hay once the momentum shifted, with the Lions going on to record a 17.8.110 to 9.5.59 win and keep the fourth-placed Quambatook under pressure in the battle for a finals berth.
The first half was a hard-fought affair, with neither side really gaining the upper hand on the other. Brady Fordham was finding plenty of the ball out of the middle for Moulamein, but so was Hugh Crighton for the Lions.
But after the half time break it was all Hay, with the Lions not only piling on the goals, but also shutting out the Swans danger forwards.
Sebastian Webb shut down the dangerous Michael Morson while James Eddy completely nullified any influence Andrew Silva was having on the match, with both players managing only one goal each for the afternoon.
Jack Cattanach and Jackson Ferguson were superb across half back, controlling the air and giving their team plenty of run and drive out of the back half.
As good as they were though, Scott Adams in the ruck was easily best on ground, with the Lions’ big man taking complete control after half time, giving his midfielders first use of the ball and even winning a number of clearances himself.
Moulamein will no doubt be disappointed with their performance, particularly in the second half.
They won’t have too long to dwell on it though, as they face an improving Quambatook next week in what has now become a must win game for the Swans if they want to secure a top two finish.
MURRABIT v QUAMBATOOK
QUAMBATOOK maintained their grip on a top four berth with a strong 30-point win over Murrabit in the final game for Round 11.
Led by Adam Barclay in his first game, the Saints led at every change to eventually record a 14.8.92 to 9.8.62 win over the Blues at Murrabit.
With Jack Baker and Jordan Lampi missing from their line-up, Quamby could have been considered slightly vulnerable against the Blues.
But any suggestion of an upset slowly disappeared as the visitors took control out of the middle.
Jason Butty and Barclay led the way in front of goals for the Saints with four majors each, while Michael Bradbury and Chris Kendall both contributed two of their own.
At the other end of the ground, Tom Hetherington and Brayden Turvey were the Blues major goalkickers with just two each.
It wasn’t down to poor play on their part as to not being able to hit the scoreboard, but more down to a lack of supply.
Murrabit just struggled to get their hands on the ball, with Quambatook dominating around the contest.
Ricky Wild and Jarred Schlitz both had a day out for the Saints and were among their better players, as was Dylan Pascoe and Luke Jongebloed.
For the Blues, Michael Grant starred across half back once again, with his ball use and run out of his teams defensive fifty improving by the week.
Marc O’Neill and Nathan O’Toole worked hard through the middle while Josh Bray was once again strong in defence.
Kyle Keane is another who continues to find form after missing a number of games earlier in the season with injury and is slowly hitting his straps across half forward.
