By DAVID NAGEL
PAKENHAM has absorbed the most powerful knockout punch in the South East Football League to roll Narre Warren by five points in an absolute belter of a contest at Kalora Park on Saturday.
The Lions claimed their most celebrated victory since their 2009 premiership victory over Doveton after a great start -a 27-point lead at quarter time- which was swallowed up by the Magpies in the second term.
Most teams don’t rise from the canvas after the Magpies’ signature move, the old eight-goal second quarter elbow-drop, which leaves mental and physical scars that are hard to overcome.
It was the Lions’ ability to pump themselves up from that deflation, and then kick back from two goals behind, late in the contest, that left coach Steve O’Bryan most proud. O’Bryan was glowing in his praise for his group, after late goals to Damien Holmes and Russell Lehman sealed victory.
“They came back hard like the good side that they are, but it was all about staying positive, staying attacking like we were in the first quarter and sticking to what we know,” O’Bryan said of his half-time chat.
“I asked the players at half time to keep concentrating and keep sticking to the things they do well, and full credit to them, they played amazing footy and I was very proud of them in the end.”
Daniel Fry and Jake Smith kicked four each for the Lions but it was the second half performance of Lehman, who kicked three goals after the main break while going toe-to-toe with Michael Collins, fine performances from midfielders Dean Blake and Anthony Young, and enormous forward pressure from will-o’-the-wisp Jake Barclay that carried the Lions across the line.
O’Bryan suggested the victory could be lot more valuable than just the four points that were on offer.
“Look, they had (Josh) Tonna out, Kaino (Kain Baskaya) and (Lee) Boyle were underdone, so we’re not getting ahead of ourselves but that was an enormous win for our confidence,” O’Bryan explained.
“There’s nothing better than having your boys confident. Otherwise they go back into their shells and stop trying the things that they’re good at. They’re a very determined bunch of boys and when we’re going well we’re capable of beating anyone.”
Narre coach Chris Toner must be sitting back, trying to remember the day that he ran over a black cat for bad luck.
After winning 44 games on the trot, the Magpies have now lost four of their last 14, all by under a kick.
It’s far too early to say they are in decline, but they’ve now lost three of their last four matches and the Lions’ 20.12(132) score-line was their highest conceded total since round 18, 2011.
Andrew Hunter had great game in the ruck for the vanquished, while Collins, Col McNamara and young big-man Jordyn Flannery all contributed heavily to a great contest. Kerem Baskaya was the leading forward on the ground with five, but was held goal-less in the final term by Stephen Morey.
The Magpies now have a fortnight to reflect before heading to Edwin Flack Reserve to take on Berwick while the Lions will need to refocus ahead of Saturday night’s Anzac Day clash with ROC.
