BALRANALD stormed home in the last quarter to record a 33-point victory over Tyntynder at Alan Garden Reserve on Saturday.
In front of an impressive crowd, the young Roos showed real composure to defeat their more fancied opponents, booting eight goals to two in the final stanza. Roos captain Harrison Soraggi dominated across half-back, while Balranald full forward Ben Fuller put on a polished display, booting eight goals for the afternoon.
The Roos were on fire in the opening term, as ruckman Jordan Wilkins dominated the early ruck contests. His tap to Jydon Neagle was a beauty, enabling Colin Andrews to kick the opening goal of the game with a left-foot 30-metre soccer kick.
Fuller was able to win a free kick from then next piece of play for his first goal for the day and Balranald were dominating the contest, which seemed to unsettle Tyntynder.
Harrison Soraggi was an exceptionally fine player in the opening term as he continually won the ball in the midfield and across half-back. He received great support from Neagle and Drew Lloyd’s athleticism was a real concern for the Dogs coaching staff.
Tyntynder took a while to settle and were finding it difficult to penetrate deep into their forward half. A clever snap by Ben Hallam from 30 metres out seemed to stem the flow halfway through the term. Isaiah Bull began to find the footy off half-back for the Dogs and he combined well with Hallam and Elliot Broad to repel Balranald’s forward thrusts.
Goals to Neagle and Lloyd blew the margin out to 15 points late in the quarter, but a goal to Jason Eagle right on the siren brought the margin back to nine points at the first break.
Tyntynder coach Josh Stone was critical of his players for not pressing up in order to stop the Roos from breaking free, while Tom Lister, who gave the quarter-time address for Balranald, spoke about maintaining discipline and the need to keep up their run around contested situations.
In the opening minute of the second term Eagle snapped a left-foot goal from 50 metres out that had to be seen to be believed, but Lloyd was equal to the task and snapped truly from a pack situation after Andrews found him with a clever tap.
The game started to be dominated by both half-back lines which is often the case at the Alan Garden Reserve. Harrison Soraggi, Ryan Middlebrook, Jack Salau, Jarryd Stead and youngster Sam Curran worked overtime to repel Tyntynder, while at the other end of the ground it was Bull, Hallam, Broad and brothers Pat and Cayden Crowe who performed at a high level.
Eagle came off the ground late in the term with an ankle injury with the game very much in the balance.
The match seemed to go up a level in the third quarter, with Josh Dwyer going to full forward in the place of Eagle, who was done for the day. Dwyer had an immediate effect on the game, booting three goals as he made great position and outpointed the Roos’ defence.
Fuller also lifted his work rate after being quiet in the second term, kicking two goals, one of which would have been in the running for goal of the day. A late goal by Brodie Bennett on the siren gave the Dogs an unlikely three-point lead at the final change.
Large crowds surrounded both huddles and scores at other grounds were being eagerly sort by spectators and officials in order to understand whether there was any chance of a late change to the finals make-up.
Balranald dominated the last term, leaving the Dogs in their wake. Fuller booted four majors for the term due to splendid downfield work by Harrison Soraggi, Middlebrook, Lloyd, Andrews and Wilkins. The Dogs’ better players in the last term were Hallam, Harry Simpson and Marcus Wattie.
Balranald’s finals aspirations were over several weeks ago, when they lost to Swan Hill by 11 points, but they showed on Saturday that with a bit more recruiting and a big pre-season on the weights by their younger players, finals will be a real possibility next season.
In the final analysis, Tyntynder had no answers to the Roos’ run and their coaching staff must be concerned going into the elimination final against Lake Boga with injuries to Eagle, Broad and Bull.
VOTES
3 Votes Harrison Soraggi (Balranald)
2 Votes Ben Fuller (Balranald)
1 Votes Drew Lloyd (Balranald)
MATCH RESULTS
TYNTYNDER 2.4 4.8 8.12 10.14.74
BALRANALD 4.1 6.2 9.3 17.6.108
GOALS – TYNTYNDER – Joshua Dwyer 3, Jason Eagle, Ben Hallam 2, Patrick Blake, Kyle Brasser, Josh Stone 1.
BALRANALD – Ben Fuller 8, Drew Lloyd, Jydon Neagle 3, Colin Andrews, Ryan Middlebrook, Connor Soraggi 1.
BEST – TYNTYNDER – Harry Simpson, Joshua Dwyer, Brock Storer, Elia Ware, Josh Stone.
BALRANALD – Drew Lloyd, Jydon Neagle, Benjamin Fuller, Harrison Soraggi, Jack Salau, Ryan Middlebrook.
