By BRYAN MITCHELL
TAC CUP
REVIEW – ROUND 7
IN COMPLETELY un-Victorian conditions on the Gold Coast, Gippsland Power achieved a significant result in terms of their prospects for the 2015 TAC Cup season, by defeating Queensland by a point.
Under extreme pressure, the Power looked likely to suffer a narrow defeat with minutes to go in the match but, they rallied strongly and regained the lead to record a great victory.
As has become an important trademark for the side, the Power was applying their unique brand of intense pressure from the opening bounce and the Queenslanders were struggling to get any passages of cohesive play going. This pressure on the forward line allowed Tom Papley to open the scoring for the Power and Ben Ainsworth then sent the ball long into the forward line where Harrison McKay took advantage of a free kick. It would go back-and-forth through the clash, but finally the match broke open in the final quarter.
Early in the last term, the Power were able to cope with some intense pressure applied by the Queenslanders and McKay, and Ryan Hearn combined to find Jackson McMahon who goaled to give the Power a narrow lead. Almost on cue, the Queenslanders took the ball from the resultant centre bounce to kick a crucial goal and not long after kicked another relatively easy goal to regain the lead.
The Power needed some real leadership and Sam Skinner answered the call to again get the ball up forward where McKay would kick the goal and give the Power a narrow lead with only minutes to go.
The Queenslanders were far from done with and once again found team mates ahead of the play to regain the lead and… ‘seemingly’ secure a hard-won victory. But instead of following the script, with great decision making and skill, the Power worked the ball into attack. The ball then went long and direct, deep into the goal square where Hearn again used his height to take the most important mark of the day and kick the goal to give Power the win.
The win indicated how much self-belief coach Leigh Brown has been able to inspire in the Power squad as they never gave up, despite being under such intense pressure from such a skilful and well-developed team.
Todd Beck is now a key member of the side’s mid-field unit and has the sort of work ethic that ensures that he makes significant and effective contributions each week. His self-belief is developing quickly and he is now using his skills package very effectively.
Matt DeBruin, from Pakenham, is one of the fastest players in the club’s history – he is on a steep football learning curve and has made huge progress in using has pace as a midfielder and backman and his skill levels are improving each week and he is becoming a vital cog in the side’s game plan.
Gippsland faces the TAC Cup’s top side this weekend – the Northern Ballarat Rebels.
TAC CUP – ROUND 7
QUEENSLAND 1.1 4.2 10.5 13.6 (84)
GIPPSLAND POWER 4.2 6.4 9.6 13.7 (85)
Queensland Goals: J. Brown 4, W. Buzza 2, J. Allison 2, M. Chol 2, B. Keays, J. Licht, D. Budarick. Best: D. Budarick, B. Keays, R. William, J. Brown, C. Wagner, J. Allison.
Gippsland Power Goals: H. McKay 3, D. Costigan 2, R. Hearn 2, T. Papley 2, T. Marsh, J. McMahon, K. Renooy, A. Ferreira. Best: S. Skinner, N. Holmes, D. Costigan, H. McKay, J. McMahon, B. Dessent.
