GFL review – round 4

By Ken Moore
DROUIN posted the highest score of the round in beating Wonthaggi by 84 points. The Hawks moved the ball with confidence all game, won all four quarters and overshadowed their opponents in all departments.
Dual league best and fairest, Andy Soumilas, was at his ball-getting best and with Pat McGrath, Justin Evans and David Olsen the Hawks monopolised the midfield possessions.
Troy Kneebone proved a hard man to stop with eight goals and had he kicked straight could have easily got a dozen.
Bunyip recruit Brad Walker again showed he was a good acquisition with many well-crafted disposals, Dromana recruit Aaron Coyle was again solid in defence and ruckman Bob McCallum played a splendid game all over the ground.
Coach Ben Soumilas thwarted many attacks in defence and Daniel Barrand presented well across the forward line.
The Power was indebted to quick forward Kainen Scrape, midfielders Ryan Underwood, Phil Young, Josh Olden and captain Tom Gilliland, who drove the ball out of defence with real intent.
Brad Carmody kicked four goals but had plenty of close attention from Segifili Asa Leausa and Cam Jones repelled many attacks.
Over the first month of the season the Power has won only one game, against Leongatha in the opening round, and it appears it does not have the midfield depth to compete with the topliners in the competition nor the forwards to pose a serious threat.
On Saturday night under lights Leongatha ground out a hard-fought 18-point victory over Warragul. Both teams dilly-dallied with the ball and used it poorly, which largely destroyed the contest as a spectacle.
The game hung in the balance at half-time when the Gulls led by only two points but the Parrots controlled play in the second half and always looked the more likely winner.
Warragul kicked with the advantage of a slight wind in the last quarter but could not make any inroads.
Leongatha was pleased with the return to the club of Tommy Dowd, after being cleared back from Northcote Park, and he did well in a run with role against Gulls star Ryan Davey.
Colin Sanbrook picked up regular touches and ran the ball out of defence on many occasions, solidly built youngster Tom Marriot did not flinch in the packs, Sean Westaway hinted he was a promising type with a number of good disposals from his wing position and both Jack Hughes and Ben Geitz suppressed many attacks in defence.
For the Gulls half-back Brad Nott instigated many forward forays, Darcy Brown, the captain of the under-18s this season, ran hard and straight at the ball and showed plenty of strength for some one so young.
His thirds teammate Brad Hamilton did not look out of place in defence and as ever Brenton Sheehan did little wrong in the last line. Ruckman Matt Gray showed plenty of grit to bounce back from a hard knock in the second quarter to be among Warragul’s better players.
In the other games, Maffra was expected to be tested by Morwell but it strolled home for an impressive 42-points win.
The Eagles led by only 18 points at half-time but opened the throttle in the third quarter and put the result beyond doubt with an eight-goal-to-two third term.
The finesse of experienced trio Hayden Burgiel, Ben Batalha and Ben Coleman set up many of the Eagles forward thrusts.
Morwell was soundly beaten were it counted – in the midfield. The Tigers’ best players included Julian Blackford, who has made a tremendous recovery from a knee reconstruction, young defender Jack Brown, wingman Courtney Sherrif and half-forward Mannon Johnston, who amassed 32 possessions.
Traralgon remains undefeated after a 40-point win over Sale. Former Gippsland Power best and fairest Jackson Hall starred, plucky backpocket Matt Jones excelled for the second consecutive week, experienced defender Jamie Aitken ran hard and drove the ball forward with many long raking kicks while Churchill recruit Daniel Hawking was prominent across the forward line.
The end margin was not a true indication of what transpired over the afternoon, for the Magpies had the equal of the inside 50s but let themselves down with poor kicking that yielded only two goals from 13 scoring shots between quarter and three-quarter-time.
Former Carlton rookie Craig Flint was outstanding with 18 marks in defence and received good support from Andrew Quirk and Kane Fraser. Sale couldn’t match the Maroons midfield.