By Nick Creely
Pakenham coach Ash Green admits that it was extremely difficult for his side to go out and play football on the weekend against Belgrave.
With Pakenham head trainer and hugely popular figure Neil Poulton’s sudden passing throughout the week, Green said the last thing on his club’s mind on the weekend was going out and playing for four points.
“It’s been a tough week – being a young team, it’s impacted them a lot, and all the players to be honest,” he said.
“It was really hard; the boys were really flat in the first half. I pushed them pretty hard to just get them out of that mindset.”
Green said that football took a backwards step through the week in order to come to terms with the tragedy, and that it was obvious that from the outset that his group struggled to get their mind on the game.
“It was our mindset, we missed a lot of tackles early, even the voice and encouragement wasn’t there – we didn’t talk much about Neil in the pre-game, but we spoke about it all a lot on Thursday, and it impacted our preparation a bit,” he said.
“We didn’t prepare really on a football sense this week, it was more making sure the kids were right – footy took a backwards step, but we had a game to play, and we got better in the second half.
“But the bye’s come at a good time – we would have struggled again mentally if we were playing this week.”
The Lions’ football and netball clubs – along with Belgrave – shared a minute silence prior to the game on Saturday to pay tribute to a man who meant a lot to the community, before Green’s second-placed group got the job done comfortably despite some wayward kicking at goal, 16.24 (120) to 3.4 (22). The returning Dermott Yawney proved a handle for the Magpies, while debutant Thomas Gamble kicked three in an impressive performance.
“I’m proud of the guys, they worked really hard, and Belgrave didn’t make it easy for us,” he said of the game.
“We hit the post five times in the first half, and when you kick more points than behinds, it does build a bit of pressure.
“It’s been an emotional week, and I’m proud that the boys got away with a win – we certainly sang the song with plenty of gusto after the game in a bit of tribute to Neil as well.”
Green said that the support from the community was overwhelming, and thanked those that came out in support.
“We had a lot of people there to support, Saturday wasn’t about the football club – we really appreciated the support provided by Belgrave, and they offered anything we needed, and the umpires were fantastic too,” he said.
In the remaining match of the AFL Outer East Division 1 round, a wayward Monbulk did what they needed to against Warburton Millgrove at home to keep its distance from Pakenham at the top, 11.22 (88) to 5.2 (32).
Rounding out the split round on Saturday will be a fascinating battle between Mount Evelyn and Officer, in what looms as a finals-like encounter, while Doveton will look to continue to build its momentum when they travel to take on Emerald.
The clash between the Rovers and the Kangaroos will be of particular interest in the final order of the top-five, with both sides locked away in fourth and fifth respectively with 24 points, however Doug Koop’s side sit in fourth with a greater percentage of 8.72. A loss for either side could mean finishing higher than fifth is unlikely.
In Division 2, Gembrook-Cockatoo picked up a monster win against Yea to further cement itself in the top-five, 24.13 (157) to 7.1 (43).
The Brookers were well served by Tarkyn Lockyer with six majors, while Colin Bastow, Josh Tilly and Mitchell Brown (five goals) were destructive.
In the remaining matches, Seville defeated Alexnadra, 17.14 (116) to 7.9 (51), Powelltown got the better of a wasteful Kinglake, 17.16 (118) to 4.16(40), while Yarra Junction comfortably defeated Yarra Glen, 16.8 (104) to 11.10 (76).
Thornton Eildon had the bye.
