Casey Cardinia league review – round 13

By Mark Gullick
A FINAL quarter surge by Berwick propelled them past a determined Keysborough by six goals in a crucial match at Edwin Flack Reserve.
Both camps knew the importance of a win and a fierce, willing contest unfolded.
Berwick’s Nathan Page kicked the first goal of the game after a free kick and a 50 metre penalty.
Greg Walker put Keysborough in front with two goals from strong marks.
Grant Noonan kicked a late goal for Berwick, leaving Keysborough disappointed it didn’t make more of its numerous forward attacks.
Berwick kicked the only four goals of the second term to take firm control.
Keysborough fought back in the third term with five goals to trail by three points at the last change.
The Burra dominated the first portion of the final term, but poor ball movement and failure to hit the scoreboard hurt their chances.
Berwick seized momentum in the final half of the quarter and slammed on six goals to win the match by that margin.
“It was pretty much a typical Berwick performance; never give it away, just keep working,” coach Glenn Dale said. “I really had a go at them at three quarter-time as I didn’t think their performance in the third quarter was good enough.
“We had eight tackles and we just weren’t running the ball and weren’t using it properly. We tried to chip it around too much. We really put it to them at three quarter-time. We told them to run the ball and get it into some dangerous space and then our boys can finish it off. The most impressive thing was that we had 23 tackles in that last quarter. That’s when we play our best football; when we put them under pressure.”
Keysborough coach Brad Canavan was rueing his team’s inability to kick ahead when they had the running.
“We dominated in the third quarter and went into three quarter-time three points down when we should have been three goals up,” Canavan said.
“We just didn’t have the class and efficiency to finish. In the first eight to 10 minutes of the last quarter we dominated again, but couldn’t get a score on the board. They just wore us out and went bang, bang, bang and knocked us out.
“They outran us in the last 15 minutes. Our boys just gave up and dropped their heads, which is the disappointing thing. We lacked a little bit of intestinal fortitude and a little bit of desire and pride and we just dropped our bundle.”
Canavan was particularly unimpressed with how his players reacted when the game was on the line.
“We’d spoken about it all week and it was a mini-final for us,” he said.
“The opportunity to play finals is still there and if that doesn’t drive you, we’re not sure what’s driving you to play footy besides having a beer and hanging out with your mates. Funnily enough, we’re still a chance. If we win our next three, we’re close enough.
“It’s as simple as this; when the boys follow instructions we play well. When we decide to play individual football, we play terribly. We need 22 blokes pulling in the right direction, because we just don’t have the talent a couple of other sides have got and young kids that run. So the minute we have one bloke doing his own thing, it falls apart for us.”
Walker was Keysborough’s best player and his marking and long kicking was a real highlight.
Midfielder Ryan Goodes was excellent considering he carried an injury. Damien Wilsnach and veterans Tyson King, Corey Wilkinson and Michael Downie played well.
Luke McGuinness kicked five goals.