A NINE-goal to two second half gave the Mallee Eagles their second win this year, a 45-point triumph over a disappointing Tyntynder on Saturday.
While the win lifted the Eagles out of the bottom two, it has also effectively ruined the Bulldogs’ finals hopes – needing eight wins from their final nine games to reach the magical 10-win mark.
Paul Davis booted five goals for the Eagles in the 12.8 (80) to 5.5 (35) win, with senior coach Brent Sheahan pleased with his side’s effort in securing their first win at home this season, particularly after half time.
“It was a good four-quarter effort and to be honest, that’s about the best we’ve played this year,” Sheahan said.
“Our effort was first class and I felt we were better at the contest too and that helped enable us to get our run-and-carry game going, which gave us some good, clean forward entries, which the boys capitalised on inside our forward 50.
“When we get our run-and-carry game going, we feel we can be a pretty dangerous team and are hard to stop, it’s just a matter of us playing that way on a more consistent basis.
“We felt our structure and game plan was working in the first half, it was more that we just needed to stick to the process and the reward would come.
“To their credit, the boys came out pretty hard in the second half and broke the game open with some really impressive footy after half time.”
With star midfielder Harry Allen out of the side, along with Matthew Despott and the Sheahan brothers, the Eagles were considered to be down on midfield talent against the Bulldogs, who welcomed back Elia Ware, Brock Storer and senior coach Josh Stone from injury.
Tyntynder’s midfield was no match for Shaun Harrison however, the onballer tearing the game apart with his speed giving the home fans plenty to cheer about.
Harrison wasn’t the only influential Eagle, with Braidon Bennett and Zac O’Meara also solid contributors in their defensive half, with Bennett keeping Tyntynder’s Justin Ellis goalless in a faultless display from the veteran defender.
Liam Whelan, Matt Corney, Tate Hulland, Matthew Gillbee and Storer were among the Bulldogs better players, but winners were few and far between for the visitors in what was a dirty day for last year’s finalists.
With the King’s Birthday bye next weekend, both teams now have a week to regroup, before the Eagles face one of the toughest tests in the Central Murray – beating Balranald at Greenham Park, while Tyntynder will play host to NNW United in a must-win game to try and save the Bulldogs’ season.
FINAL SIREN
| MALLEE EAGLES | 3.1 | 3.4 | 8.7 | 12.8 | 80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TYNTYNDER | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 5.5 | 35 |
VOTES
3 – Shaun Harrison (Mallee Eagles)
2 – Braidon Bennett (Mallee Eagles)
1 – Zac O’Meara (Mallee Eagles)
