THE goalkicking firepower of a tall and a small yesterday blasted the Tassie Mariners to their third win in four matches.
Follower-forward Todd Grima and crumbing forward Matthew Wade each kicked seven goals to spearhead their side to a great 45-point win over the Geelong Falcons at Skilled Stadium in a TAC Cup curtain-raiser to the AFL clash between Geelong and Fremantle.
The Mariners rattled on 9.5 to 2.3 in the last quarter to triumph 22.17 (149) to 16.12 (108).
"I rate that win as good if not better than the one we had over the Murray Bushrangers when they were absolutely flying back in 2002," coach Hamish Ogilvie said. "The boys followed their instructions to a tee and made such a din singing the club song afterwards that Freo coach Chris Connolly in the dressing-rooms next door had to stop addressing his players
till they had finished it!"
Another star for the Mariners was midfielder Grant Birchall, who racked up 30-plus possessions and capped it with two goals. It was an eye-catching performance by Birchall in what was his first game back from a shoulder injury after touring Ireland with the Australian under-17 team. Another onballer to shine was Sam Fielding, who not only won plenty of possessions but cut out Falcons' star Jonathon Simpkin.
Captain Sam Lonergan did well on the ball and across half-back, Gareth Delaney provided rebound out of a back-pocket, and Mitchell Thorp and Ashley Chapman were lively around goal with two each.
The Mariners' next mission is the Challenge Cup against the Northern Territory and Queensland at Optus Oval starting on June 11.
By: DAVID STOCKDALE
FINAL SCORES
TASSIE MARINERS 4.3 8.7 13.11 22.17 (149)
GEELONG FALCONS 4.6 8.6 14.9 16.12 (108)
Goals: Tas: Grima 7 Wade 7 Birchall 2 Thorp 2 Chapman 2 Page Charlesworth.
Geelong: Johnson 2 McGuane 2 Boak 2 Neal 2 Burchell 2 Kennedy-Hunt Barnett Crook Simpkin Couch Higgins.
Best: Tas: Fielding Wade Birchall Iles Lonergan Grima.
Geelong: McGuane Chisholm Burchell Higgins Boak Stanley.
Reports: Nil. At Skilled Stadium.
Last Modified on 29/05/2005 08:58