By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP – ROUND 10
THREADING four quarters together on Saturday almost got the Power across the line.
Going toe-to-toe with Dandenong throughout the afternoon, Gippsland showed its current 1-9 form line is only indicative of the past and not it’s week-to-week potential.
A sensational start saw Gippsland get out of the blocks against the new-look Stingrays and from there on nothing Dandenong did could shake off the visitors.
Showing experience well beyond their years, the likes of Will Stephenson, Callum Porter and Travis Bindley took the game on and gave the Stingrays a few surprises.
It didn’t go their way at the end of the day, with Gippsland’s earlier accuracy somewhat fading when the match was in the balance, but the signs are pleasing for coach Leigh Brown.
“Dandenong missed a few goals early and we probably missed a couple late that maybe could’ve got us across the line,” Brown said. “But all in all the effort was outstanding from our boys and just a four-quarter effort is what we’ve been looking for in particular and it hasn’t been there consistently throughout the year but it definitely was there yesterday (Saturday).”
Out and out star Ben Ainsworth – who would be a shock omission from this year’s AFL national draft top 10 – did a few mercurial things, including a one-handed grab in the goal square to back up his efforts from last Monday’s Vic Country clash.
But it was next year’s talent that captivated most of all – especially Officer dynamo Callum Porter.
From an interrupted pre-season as a 17-year-old to one of the Power’s midfield generals in the blink of an eye, Brown thought Porter had seized his opportunity early and was part of a captivating group readying themselves for a top-age tilt in 2017 as well as finishing off this season strongly heading into the second half of the campaign.
“We’re probably in a different boat that we’re pretty young and had games throughout the year where we’ve had a bottom age ruckman and three bottom age mids in there for the majority of the game,” Brown said. “Yesterday throughout Will Stephenson in there, Cal Porter his whole game in there, Kieran Jones as a ruckman was in there for his whole game, Austin Hodge in there and had Nick Hogan and Cal McKeon who are bottom agers going through there.
“They’re hard, fierce at the ball and that they’re developing well and having this many opportunities will hold them in good stead not only this year but next year as well.”
Brown praised the defensive work of Ellinbank’s Sean Masterson, one of many West Gippsland area players to rise up to the occasion – alongside goalkickers Jai Rout (three goals), Nathan Voss (two goals), Trent Armour (two goals) and the aforementioned Porter.
“The guys from the West did pretty well – Jai Rout ended up with three goals, I thought Masterson played a super game as a defender and his first quarter in particular was outstanding and then they put a little bit more time into him as a defender in the second half, but I still thought he was our best player on the day,” Brown said. “Voss’s form has been up and down but he was good yesterday and Rout’s had a very good month, Armour came back into the side this week and has been playing local footy for a month or so and putting his best foot forward.
“It’s all about work rate and consistency for these guys and that’s what they produced yesterday.”
Gippsland hosts Western Jets on Saturday from noon.
