By DAVID NAGEL
FOR a man who knows his football inside out and has such an intricate game plan, Cranbourne coach Simon Goosey certainly has a way of simplifying his message.
It was that clear thinking under pressure that played a key role in Cranbourne kicking 12 goals to two in the second half on its way to a 37-point win over a very disappointing Berwick at Edwin Flack Reserve.
There was no panic in the Eagles’ camp after Berwick had slammed on 7.5 to no score in the second quarter, turning an 18-point quarter time deficit into a 29-point half-time lead.
“I was really happy with the way the boys responded, but it was all about getting our hands on the ball and getting back to what we did in the first quarter,” Goosey explained.
“We got done in the midfield in the second quarter because our work rate was down on what it needs to be to play our style of game … just 10 percent, but that’s enough to let ourselves down.
“There was no panic; it was just more readjusting and getting more pace through the middle of the ground. We could have dropped our heads or get back to what we know.”
Cranbourne wasn’t outplayed; it was smashed in the second term with Berwick having 12 scoring shots to nil courtesy of a dominant 18 to three inside 50 count. The in-and-under work of Madi Andrews and Michael Harold got the ball moving forward, giving Mitch Johnson, five goals, the opportunity to hit the scoreboard hard.
But Berwick could muster up just four goals in the other three quarters of footy, outplayed, and outworked by Cranbourne who levelled the inside 50 numbers at 44 by day’s end.
“To keep them to two goals to one in the second half means our team defence was really good,” Goosey said.
“Then when we got it inside 50, we locked it in, and to have 28 scoring shots from just 44 inside 50s, any time you score at more than 50 per cent means you give yourselves a chance.”
In the absence of Marc Holt, it was Michael Theodoridis who became the main beneficiary of his team’s good work, kicking five for the Eagles, while Troy Tharle complemented the ‘Golden Greek’ with a tireless display across half forward.
Mat Fletcher and Max Gearon got plenty of the ball through the midfield in the second half while Luke Bee-Hugo also showed plenty of dash after half time.
Berwick coach Rhys Nisbet is having his patience tested. Having worked hard in the pre-season to narrow the gap between his side’s best and worst, Saturday’s performance would suggest the extremities have shrunk just marginally … if at all.
The Wickers, with a zero-two record, get a week off now to prepare for a visit from an on-the-rebound Narre Warren, while Cranbourne host Tooradin in Saturday night’s Anzac Day spectacular at Casey Fields.
