By RUSSELL BENNETT
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
REVIEW – ROUND 5
CORA LYNN v LONGWARRY
THERE are statements and then there’s what Cora Lynn did to Longwarry on Saturday.
The Crows have had an up-and-down start to season 2015, due to a range of contributing factors, and there’s still so much water to go under the bridge before the final eight looks anything like being decided.
But the Cobras’ Round 5 demolition of them was downright scary – a 124-point win, 26.7 (163) to 4.15 (39).
Longwarry’s inaccuracy in front of goal hardly helped its cause but Cora Lynn still amassed 33 scoring shots and had six multiple goal scorers – led by Ryan Gillis with five, and Nick Helsby (four) in a best-on-ground performance at Bunyip River Road.
The Cobras opened proceedings with a seven-goal first term while holding the Crows scoreless and they refused to look back from that point on – increasing their lead at every opportunity.
Helsby was sensational, as were youngster Jaxon Briggs and livewire small forward Anthony Giuliano (three goals), while Jackson Dalton and Ricky Clark each slotted three.
Semir Zijai (two goals), Luke Serong and Nick Walsh were the only three to impact the goal column for the Crows, while Tye Holland and Grant McDonald toiled hard all day.
BULN BULN v LANG LANG
THE Lyrebirds’ premiership-winning ability is proven, but so is the side’s work ethic and determination to improve.
It was a big reason for their success last year under Paul Alger and it has continued under Brent Eastwell.
“Our pressure was down a bit (leading into the game) but Lang Lang is a side with real potential so we had to make sure it was back up,” Eastwell told the Gazette.
“I put the onus on the boys to set the tone early, with Lang Lang kicking with the wind.”
The Lyrebirds still led by 13 points at quarter-time despite kicking into the breeze, but Eastwell admitted his pre-game planning was somewhat limited until the toss of the coin was decided.
They stormed ahead in the second term, though, keeping the Tigers scoreless while adding another five majors of their own and ultimately going on with it to record a 71-point win, 15.13 (103) to 5.2 (32).
Ruckman Matt Gray was a real standout for Eastwell’s side, booting four goals and spending a little more time than usual up forward.
He’d been forced to shoulder the load in the middle throughout the opening rounds in the wake of Bob McCallum’s departure to Drouin over the off-season.
“There’s been a lot more of a load on Matty’s shoulders this year whereas last year the ruck split was probably more 60-40 Bob’s way,” Eastwell said.
“We just knew that it wasn’t sustainable to rely on him (Gray) 100 per cent of the time this year.”
As for some of the side’s other standouts on the weekend, Eastwell said Tyson Bale – as part of a particularly strong on-ball brigade – was key.
“I had a chat with him late last year and he was keen on any feedback I could provide,” Eastwell said.
“He’s always looking to improve, he’s got that real never-say-die attitude and his whole game is built around pressure.”
And Bale – alongside Gray, Eastwell, Jack Nuttall (four goals) and Josh O’Brien (two goals) – definitely got rewarded for that pressure on Saturday.
“I think our midfield depth probably goes three or four players deeper than last year,” Eastwell said, referring to the likes of Trent Baker, Tom Crellin, Brad Virgona and O’Brien who are also being used through there.
Tigers youngster Dylan Wilson was among his side’s best against the Lyrebirds, as were Troy McPherson, skipper Aaron Creasey and player-coach Shane Urbans.
NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH v CATANI
THE Cats’ 10-goal win was emphatic enough, but Blues coach Paul Alger said his side was outplayed from start to finish on Saturday and was lucky to not be further than five goals behind at the first change.
Neerim had 11 scoring shots in the first quarter but could only manage 4.7.
“We were lucky they weren’t a lot further in front, to be honest,” Alger said.
“They came to play right from the start of the game and we were off the pace.
“They moved the ball pretty well all day, I thought.”
The Blues booted two goals late in the second term but still trailed by 37 at half-time.
Yet Alger said his men could have really been eight, nine or even 10 goals down at that stage.
The Blues mirrored their first half performance with another 2.3 over the final two quarters as the Cats ran away with it – 12.18 (90) to 4.6 (30).
Defender Brayden Kennedy continued his strong recent form for the Blues and, along with James Alexander and skipper Tanny Rodda, was among the side’s best on Saturday.
Mick Urie, meanwhile, was exceptional for the Cats – along with Aaron Fawcett, Mark Quigley and Dean Stringer.
POOWONG v NAR NAR GOON
THE challenge was set for the Goon to not have a Round 5 lull against one of the league’s strugglers.
Nobody would have realistically expected Tom Hallinan’s men to be pushed but it was important that they kept up their positive momentum from their stirring Round 4 win over Kooweerup.
And on Saturday at Poowong – it was mission accomplished, 24.13 (157) to 6.2 (38).
The visitors opened the gates with 10 scoring shots to just two in the first term to set the tone, before taking an 83-point lead into half-time.
They continued in much the same vein in the second half, adding another 55 points to just 19 from the Magpies.
Ash Adams continued his strong form for the Goon with six goals in an excellent individual performance while skipper Brent Hughes, fleet-footed wingman Brendan Hermann (three goals), and Nick Henwood (four goals) were also outstanding.
Meanwhile for Poowong Josh Chiavaroli, Clint Rowe, Tom Wyatt and Tim Hancock stood tall in another tough day for the home side.
In addition to the four premiership points, the result provided a much-needed percentage boost for the Goon – which leapt from eighth and a percentage of 108.15 after Round 4 to fourth and 145.78 after the weekend’s play.
NILMA DARNUM v NYORA
THE four points are all that matter for a side as ravaged by injury and as out of touch as Nilma Darnum currently is.
And on Saturday at its home ground, that’s what it came away with – even if it was unconvincing.
The Bombers started well – booting nine goals to three in the first half to take a 36-point lead into the main break.
They then added another four majors in the third term but the Saints kicked five of their own.
They were still 32 points in arrears at three-quarter time but far from out of the contest, as they showed in the last.
The Bombers did what they had to do in the last – holding on to a 16-point win, 15.9 (99) to 12.11 (83) – but it wasn’t pretty.
The two Bens – Arnold and Campbell – were stellar for the home side, while league-leading goal-kicker Jason Wells upped his season tally to 34 with another bag of six.
Sean Scarlett booted three for the Saints and was among the side’s best, along with Jay Breen, Chris Hodges and Nick Carrigy.
Dean Alger’s men are currently clinging to a top-eight ladder position but, to give an indication of their injury predicament, only nine players have taken to the field for all five of the Bombers’ games so far in 2015.
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS v ELLINBANK
THE Dusties also controlled the play from the outset against the Bankers on Saturday, restricting them to just two goals for the match – including a goalless first three quarters – in a 70-point win, 14.8 (92) to 2.10 (22).
Ben Northover was a real standout for the Dusties in his first senior game since their clash against Nilma Darnum in Round 2, while Joel Gibson, youngster Will Jolley (two goals), and star on-baller Shane Brewster (three goals) also had a real impact.
Daniel Johnson (three), Jeremy Cattanach (two), and Rhett O’Hara (two) were the other multiple goal-scorers for Ash Green’s side, while Sean Masterson was the sole goal-kicker for Ellinbank.
Ash Wallace and Mat Notman were among the Bankers’ best.
The Dusties remain undefeated so far this season in third on the ladder – a win clear of both Nar Nar Goon and Neerim South.
