By Russell Bennett
WEST GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL NETBALL COMPETITION
REVIEW – ROUND 1 (SPLIT ROUND)
While the Sea Eagles’ faithful stood proudly as their first senior premiership flag in 31 years was unfurled at Inverloch on Saturday, Ben Soumilas and his players had one thing on their mind – their next task at hand: defeating Cora Lynn in the grand final rematch and getting their 2018 campaign off to the strongest possible start.
They had a real fight on their hands to clinch the four premiership points before ultimately walking away with a 22-point win, 11.16 (82) to 8.12 (60).
It was a far cry from the 95-point margin in the final game of last season, but no one at Inverloch truly believes they’re a 16-goal better side than the Cobras.
In the wake of Saturday’s game, Soumilas readily admitted his side was rusty – due to a combination of factors. Their endeavour was there, but their execution wasn’t. Not really.
By Soumilas’ own admission, his side’s kicking efficiency stats were well down on Saturday – uncharacteristically so – and they didn’t cover themselves in glory with the footy in their hands.
They’d break out of defence, and link up with hands only to have their last kick in the chain break down. The effort was there, but the polish wasn’t.
The Cobras, meanwhile, embarked on a new, rejuvenated era after the departures of Nathan and Ryan Gillis, and Nathan Langley.
They were younger, more energised, and played with plenty to prove with the likes of Chris Johnson, Lochie Peluso, Jackson Dalton and Chase Blackwood impressing in particular.
For the Sea Eagles teenager Campbell McKenzie made a real impact down back, as did new recruit Conor Cunningham in the ruck. For a big man, his disposal by foot and ability to gather the loose ball at his feet is particularly impressive.
Skipper Dale Lawton and stars Shem Hawking, Josh Purcell and Andy Soumilas all had strong performances but each has plenty of upside moving forward.
But it wasn’t all good news for the Sea Eagles with star half-back Dylan Clark – crucial to the makeup of the side – suffering a broken collarbone from a tackle, and Will Hetherington succumbing to a hamstring injury after lighting the game up in the early going.
Clark’s injury looks particularly severe. He’s already had surgery and the Sea Eagles are preparing to be without him for at least the next two months.
Undermanned for much of the contest on Saturday, Inverloch’s midfielders rested forward rather than coming to the bench. So, while the likes of Andy Soumilas and Purcell were down on their usual output, Ben Soumilas put that – in part – down to the extra workload throughout the game.
“We’re planning to be a good side and want to be right in the mix again, so the most pleasing thing when you’re coaching a good team is when you don’t play well you still do enough to get the win, and that’s not being disrespectful to Cora Lynn – they really came to play with good run,” Soumilas said.
“They were impressive in their own right, and they’re going with their youngsters, but we just didn’t play enough of the game in the way we’d like to.”
This week, a new-look Kilcunda Bass will host Dalyston – which has lost plenty of top-end talent over the off-season; neighbouring rivals Bunyip and Garfield will square off in what could be a thriller; and Nar Nar Goon, which has welcomed a string of significant, highly-touted recruits over the off-season, will host Korumburra-Bena at Spencer Street.
