NULLAWIL 8.13.61 lost to QUAMBATOOK 9.9.63
ON a day of upsets and surprise results, it was Quambatook who took the biggest scalp of all with a shock two-point victory over the previously unbeaten Nullawil on Saturday.
The Saints, who were defeated by Nully by 110 points in round 1, managed to turn around their form not only from earlier in the season, but also last week, after themselves suffering a shock loss to Wandella.
But the result of the Saturday before pale into insignificance compared to the weekend’s win, with Quamby’s victory breathing new life into a season that appeared to be a forgone conclusion four days ago.
With a tough week behind the Quambatook community following the death of a couple of local prominent community and club members, Quambatook joint coach Tim Free said the result was not only satisfying, but would hopefully build belief within the playing group.
“It’s one thing to suggest that Nully are beatable, but it’s whole new level to go out and execute and give yourself that genuine belief that it can be done,” Free said.
“While we understand they were missing some key players and we’ll no doubt expect them to play their best footy later in the season, it certainly gives our guys the confidence that they can match it with them if we bring that level of intensity and desperation that we did on the weekend.”
Kicking with first use of the strong wind, Quambatook were able to hold the Maroons to their first goalless quarter of the season, while piling on four of their own for the term.
But, according to Free, it was their second quarter effort kicking against the breeze that set up the victory, with the Saints outscoring their previously unbeaten opponents.
“Kicking three goals into the wind and more importantly holding them to one in the second quarter was probably where we won it,” Free said.
“It all came down to efficiency inside our forward 50, because I think the inside-50 count was comfortably in their favour in the second quarter, but when we went forward, we looked dangerous and were able to get some one-on-one contests that we got the better of.
“Not only that, we were able to work back hard and prevent them from scoring when they had momentum, which was the same for extended periods in the second half as they moved the ball really well.
“But we were able to defend really well and withstand their ability to score three, four or five goals in a row like they can do.”
With Nullawil missing key players including Mitch Farmer, Andrew Oberdorfer, Dean Putt and Patrick Kelly, the Saints were able to expose the Maroons in the first half, putting scoreboard pressure on their opponents for the first time this season and taking a 34-point lead into half-time.
Nullawil then found a gear after the main break, reducing the margin to 21 points at the final change, despite kicking into the wind – setting up a grandstand finish in the final quarter.
“The last half became a bit of a grind for both teams – (Nullawil) started to hit their straps and started to play a brand of footy that was definitely going to challenge us the longer the game went,” Free said.
“In the end, it became a game where we had to try and hold on and grind out a win – we were enormously proud of the boys to be able to stick to the plans and execute over the full four quarters and get the job done.”
Nick Birthisel was huge in defence for the Saints, as he intercepted and rebounded many of the Maroons’ forward entries, while Nick Mason was the other key contributor for Quamby, playing the duel role of both centre half-forward and the spare man in defence when the Saints were kicking into the wind.
For Nullawil, the usual contributors Jordan Humphreys, Daniel Watts, Matt Quigley and Zac Kelly were all among their better players, along with Cameron Streeter.
HAY 8.8.56 defeated WANDELLA 6.8.44
WHILE Quamby’s win rocked the foundations of the Golden Rivers Football Netball League, of no less significance was the encounter between Hay and Wandella – with the 12-point victory by the Lions keeping the door to the top four ajar.
The Bombers now find themselves just one game clear of fifth-placed Macorna courtesy of the weekend’s result and will now need to regroup ahead of their clash with Moulamein after the Queen’s Birthday bye.
Hay found themselves trailing by 14 points at quarter-time, but came out and took full toll with four goals to one in the second quarter, putting the game almost on level terms at the main break.
The game was won in the third quarter, however, with the Lions able to have the scores tied at three-quarter time despite the momentum being with the visitors.
It was a sea of red, blue and gold for the final 30 minutes. Hay scored the only two goals of the final quarter to record a rousing 8.8.56 to 6.8.44 win – just their second of the season.
Defenders Brad Pocock and Nathan Wilson were among Hay’s better players, along with the in-form Dean Aylett, Daniel Stewart, Angus Gardiner and Liam Whitbourne.
For Wandella, the only joy for the day was the return of Dillan Treacy, with the much-loved midfielder playing his first game since the 2019 preliminary final and being named best player for the Bombers. Tim Robinson, Kane Timmins, Declan Hogg, Mitch Collins and coach Logan Keighran were also among Wandella’s best.
MOULAMEIN 12.17.89 defeated ULTIMA 10.7.67
WHILE Moulamein may have picked up four much-needed points, they were made to earn them with a hard-fought 22-point victory over the improving Ultima.
Ultima showed they will be no pushover in the second half of the season, taking it right up to the third-placed Swans, who were never really comfortable in the blustery conditions.
The story could have been different, however, if Moulamein had made the most of their third-quarter momentum, with the Swans scoring just three goals from 10 scoring shots after dominating possession.
The Roos’ attack on the ball was first class as they went about throwing everything at their more-fancied rivals, but it was the extra polish from the likes of Rodney Reeves, Luke Smailes and Ely Miller that got Moulamein over the line.
Beau Duggan-Hulands continued his strong form up forward in the absence of the suspended Josh Flight, kicking six goals for the Swans, while at the other end Ryan Devereux did the damage with four majors.
For the Roos, Sean O’Reilly continued his good form since crossing from Nyah-Nyah West United, while Phillip Bennett, Lachie Edwards, Kyle Symons, Jacob Schaper and Jayden Kiel in defence were among Ultima’s best players.
MURRABIT 10.8.68 lost to MACORNA 12.12.84
IN another hard-fought affair, Macorna got the job done and kept their finals hopes alive with a 16-point win over Murrabit.
The Blues rebounded from their disappointing performance a week earlier against Ultima, showing a level of fight and commitment that would have pleased the Murrabit coaching staff.
Despite their best efforts, the Tigers had far too many winners across the ground for the Blues to blanket.
With coach and full-forward Jaydon Stiles missing from the Macorna line-up, the combination of Lachlan Ritchie and Joshua Walters up forward instead turned out to be a winning one, booting five goals each and proving the difference between the two sides in difficult conditions.
Bradley Jones, Kansas Varker, Malcolm Neiwand, Blake Forster and Xavier Wishart were also among the Tigers’ better players – while midfielders Nathan O’Toole and Marc O’Neill, along with Dustin Blake, Tom Hetherington, Sean Gillen and Jordan McNeil, were the better performers for Murrabit.
