by Jim Gordon
OUYEN UNITED V JEPARIT RAINBOW
A big crowd at Blackburn Park was in attendance for a match that seemingly did not have too much to offer. United sit clearly in second and will get the double chance, the Lakers sit on the bottom, injuries leaving their season in tatters after a bright start to the year.
Despite the wide margin between the two sides at the end of play, early on it was an entertaining game with plenty of free flowing football up and down the ground. Ouyen United were hosting members of the flag winning 1986 Ouyen Rovers side back in town for a 25 year reunion. They would no doubt have enjoyed the day’s proceedings seeing United run out winners by 20 goals after brilliant first and third terms in which they kicked ten goals in each quarter.
Jeparit Rainbow started brightly with Daniel Greig marking 20m out and having no trouble kicking the first goal of the game. The Lakers had a lot of the play in the first part of the first quarter. They were breaking from the centre just as much as United, they had players kicking and passing accurately and when Heath Clugston marked and goaled, they were still in the match, at least for a short while.
With Tyler Edelsten missing due to a broken collar bone suffered against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers, disaster struck for Jeparit Rainbow when they lost coach Luke Werner in the first five minutes due to a leg injury. With Edelsten missing, midfielder Ben Marra put his hand up to play on Brad Vallance. Marra did a great job considering he was giving away so much height and managed to restrict the brilliant Vallance to three goals.
With Werner out and Marra on Vallance, it was up to the Clugston boys to carry midfield. Ashley and Heath were the best Laker players on the day. Daniel Greig proved his versatility playing forward and in the ruck ending up with three goals.
Sonny Lindsey was in fine form ending up with 12 goals for the day. He had six by half time most of which were scored from contested marks where Lindsey was able to use his trademark body strength to out bustle his opponent and mark. Jeparit Rainbow started with Andrew Hiscock on Lindsey and then passed the unenviable task onto Brett Fisher.
Peter Caldow was in everything and is finding form at the right time of the year. He is running into position, marking well and is creative around the goals. His first quarter goal was the result of some clever scouting around the pack, a lovely run through half forward and a kick from 30m on an angle that never looked like missing.
Caldow was involved in another brilliant piece of play, this time with Damon Healy who cleverly tapped the ball out to Caldow in the forward pocket. Caldow held the ball up and waited for Healy to run pass, handballed and Healy goaled from the outside of his boot with soccer-like skills.
Jeparit Rainbow tried hard early. They had good running players in Corey Waldron, Heath and Ashley Clugston whose leg speed and ability to make space sent the Lakers into attack many times, but they fell down in the key forward positions and didn’t have a target to cap off any good play by their midfielders.
Ouyen United kept Jeparit Rainbow wide whenever possible, denying them the space to run through the centre. If the Lakers lacked key position forwards, Ouyen United had them in abundance. When Bradley Vallance or Lindsey were covered - it did happen a few times - Glen Joyce, Marc Hahnel and Caldow had Dom Leach, Wayne Grace or Brett Knowles creating an option.
Ouyen United created a lot of run out of their backline. They did not seem to miss Andrew Jardine who has been staring lately, as Kieran O’Shannessy and Adam O’Callaghan cut off a lot of Laker forward thrusts and when they got the ball, they looked for their running half backs to carry the ball forward. In the second term Joshua Coates was particularly effective in getting out on his own, running with the ball and looking to accurately deliver into the half forward line.
Adam O’Callaghan and Brenton Jardine enjoyed the freedom of the wide open spaces of Blackburn Park to gather the ball and run forward using their superior leg speed against an undermanned Jeparit Rainbow forward line.
Joyce was a dominating force in and around the centre. His body strength enabled him to break away from the opposition and he seemed to have plenty of time to deliver the ball to a team mate or kick long into the forward line. Joyce shares the load with Hahnel and Knowles and this trio are also strong overhead making them hard to negate.
That’s it for the Lakers this season. They can’t make the four from here, but with the good young talent they have, they will be able to start to plan and prepare for the 2012 season.
Ouyen United take on the might of Beulah next week in a game that is a must-see for all Mallee Football League fans. It will be the first of three matches these two will play in rapid order to decide the 2011 flag.
SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS V BEULAH
In a ruthless and methodical display of power packed football, Beulah showed just why they are on top of the MFL ladder and why Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers are battling to find a spot in the four.
The damage was done in the first half with the Blues kicking 13 goals whilst holding the Tigers to one. There was no way back for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and even though they held Beulah to five goals for the rest of the match, they could only manage four themselves.
Garry Hallam was best for the Blues. Gareth Hose is having a great season, Tom Hallam always puts in and both Jarred Combe and Sam Martin were consistent performers all day.
David King was back to his early season goal kicking form. He finished with seven for the day and was well supported by Peter Lehmann who grabbed three goals.
For Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers, Taylor Hannig was their best, coach Colin Durie is an inspiration, Luke Martin, Joel Lloyd, John Foskett and Jeremy Weinert were others to at least try hard for most of the day.
The Tigers should still hold onto to fourth place. Even though they really only need to win one of their final three games to make the finals, two wins will ensure a finals berth.
Beulah take on Ouyen United at home in a preview of this year’s second semi final and no doubt Grand Final. Beulah deserve favouritism at this stage as United are yet to defeat them in over two years, but the Blues will need to bring their best game to this match as the Demons are playing very well at the moment and have a star-studded lineup to take to Beulah.
WOOMELANG LASCELLES V WALPEUP UNDERBOOL
A resurgent Woomelang Lascelles easily account for a disappointing Walpeup Underbool at Woomelang on Saturday.
After an even first term in which the Roos wasted chances kicking six behinds to the Cats’ two goals straight, Woomelang Lascelles gradually got on top to lead by four goals at half time, the third term was even, but the final margin blew out to 40 points at the end with the Cats clearly on top.
Tim Hanns played his best game for the season for the Cats to be their best player, Andrew Lolicato did well as did Joshua Ratcliffe in the ruck and Clayton Lee around the ground.
For Walpeup Underbool Matthew Palmer was their best, Travis Latta and Jim Wakefield tried hard all day. It was good to see Jeremy Rowe play out a full game to another of the Roos’ better players. Chris Vorwerk was a consistent trier and Matthew Brown is having a good season.
Walpeup Underbool can still make the finals. This loss has set them back, but with Kane Munro back and other injured players to return, they could win at least two, possibly three of their next four games to sneak in. To do this, they are need to lift their intensity and desire to win, sadly lacking in this loss at Woomelang.
Last Modified on 24/07/2011 16:30