Talk in the AFL recently has been about whether defence or attack wins premierships. And, just maybe, some of those AFL coaches and critics talking about the issue should go and watch Moama one weekend, because the Magpies have both and it has won them 21 of their past 25 matches.
Moama reinforced it is a force to be reckoned with in the Murray Football League this season with a surprise 107-point victory against Congupna on Saturday.
Moama smashed the visitors, winning every quarter to run out convincing winners at Moama Recreation Reserve.
Despite a number of key players missing and coming off a tough 18-point loss to Cobram last week, Moama, led by a stellar midfield performance and seven goals from Angus Grigg up forward, was simply unstoppable.
Grady Ward opened the Magpies' goal kicking account in the first quarter, the youngster coming up from under 17s and booting the early goal with his first kick in his first game of senior football.
Young midfielders Daniel Thorp and Ryan Hon were prolific in the opening term as each racked up 11 disposals, including many clearances, Hon also kicking 1.1 while running forward.
Tom Gilligan was another who was lively up forward in the first term, while Shannon Keam was solid though the midfield and pushing forward.
The Magpies went into the quarter-time break with a 15-point lead as Congupna was held goal-less, but, while happy with the start, the home side clearly wanted more blood.
That they got in the second term as early goals to Grigg and Luke Eldridge quickly put the margin out to 27 points.
Grigg was the star of the quarter as, helped by good and constant delivery from the midfield, he booted 4.3, with most following strong contested marks.
Moama's injury woes continued though, with Hon copping a high knock at ground-level and suffering mild concussion mid-way through the term after being best-on-ground at quarter time.
He did not return for the rest of the match, leaving the home side with just two men on the bench for the last two and a half quarters.
The Road's first goal of the game came at the 19-minute mark of the second term through Josh Wellington and they snuck home another late one just before half time.
However, by the main break, the visitors would have barely reached double figures for the inside 50m count, with Moama winning the midfield battle and the likes of James Gilligan, Chris Hatfield and Jade Pumpa bouncing back anything which reached half-back.
By the main break, Moama was well and truly in control, leading by 46 points, but that was just the start of the onslaught.
A goal to Congupna's Heath Barton just minutes into the third term put Congupna back to within 39 points, before Eldridge's second of the day moments later effectively spelt game over.
The Magpies went on to kick five of the last six of the quarter, including two in seven minutes to Daniel Thorp and Grigg's fifth.
Ryan Hudson also ran up from defence to get in on the goal-kicking action, as Moama led by 63 points at the final change.
A knee injury to Matt Rickards had the home side down to one on the bench in the final term, but the lack of rotations did not seem to be a problem as Moama ran out the match just as it had started it.
Impressive young Magpies midfielder Lachie Thorp slotted two goals on the run in the space of five minutes,
before brother Daniel kicked his third of the day moments later to cap off a best-on-ground performance.
The Road managed just one major for the quarter at the 18-minute mark, before the home side kicked the final
three, Grigg finishing proceedings off with his seventh moments before the final siren.
Moama backman David Armfield said it was another strong showing by the Magpies.
‘‘It was good,’’ he said. ‘‘We knew how they were going to play, with a rolling
zone where they push all their forwards back, so we knew it was going to be difficult, but we stuck at it to our credit.
We played well. ‘‘(Saturday), our ain focus was winning stoppages
through the midfield because we have been lacking a bit in that area, but I think we did that in the second half.’’
Armfield said it was good despite injury problems going into, and during, the match, the younger side, with
the likes of Ward, had stepped up to the plate. ‘‘He has been going really well in the thirds, Grady, so
he deserved his run,’’ he said. ‘‘We have a few injuries at the moments so its good having the break next week. We will get a few
back (after the break) and hopefully start stringing some full games
together with our main team for the rest of the season. ‘‘Things are going all right at the moment, but we have
just got to keep working on it I suppose.’’ Moama had 10 individual goal-kickers kick its 22 goals, with Grigg booting seven, Tom
Gilligan and Daniel Thorp three each and Eldridge and Lachie Thorp two apiece.
The side’s best was led by Daniel Thorp and Tom and James Gilligan. Michael Sage was good in the ruck and
spent time forward and filling holes down back while James Scambler put in another solid match, playing
through the midfield and forward line. Hatfield rounded out the best.
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impressive performance. The Magpies led at every change. An 11-point quartertime lead became 18 points at the half, before a six
goal to two second half saw them put the visitors right away. Kyle Phipps, Will Hobbs and Ben Thompson all booted two goals for
the home side, while Robert Taverna, James Mulvahill and Sam McNeill were the team’s best.
Moama’s reserves team skipped to its sixth straight win on Saturday, downing Congupna by 48 points in another
—Chris Cavanagh
Last Modified on 17/05/2010 11:48