Ireland sent an ominous warning to the AFL All Australian side with a convincing win over the VFL at Trevor Barker Oval.
The Irish ball movement, precision kicking and ability to produce goals via quick transition play proved the difference as they recorded a 73-point victory.
Port Melbourne best & fairest winner Toby Pinwill was the best in the midfield for the VFL, continually playing on and running through the centre of the ground. His Port teammates James Magner in the middle and Luke Tynan in defence were also the standout players for the VFL, along with the defensive run of Frankston's Nic Newman and work of Lech Featherstone up forward. Featherstone gave the Irish a glimpse of Aussie Rules in the International Rules format in the final quarter with massive pack mark in the middle of the ground (pictured).
The tale of the game is best told from the final term. The VFL saved its best till last, winning the final term with relentless attack on the goals that had eluded them earlier in the game. While Ireland added five points early, the crowd erupted 10 minutes into the final term as Sandringham pair Myke Cook and Adam Cockie combined to provide a well-deserved goal for the VFL, as Cockie soccered through the first of four final term scores for the home side. Willismtown's Jake Owen moved into the role of goal keeper and kept a clean sheet, but was under far less pressure than the Irish added earlier in the game as the VFL improved its defensive efforts. Featherstone and Cockie both added overs to finish the term, along with a behind to Williamstown’s Scott Clouston, as the VFL won the final term 13 to 11 to produce a minor victory for the afternoon; showing great progress after the sides short preparation for the game.
However we must start at the beginning. Despite getting an early behind on the board to Featherstone in the first quarter, Ireland quickly kicked its first two goals and two overs to race out to a 22-point lead. While Pinwill added the first over of the game for the VFL, and teammate Tom O'Sullivan and North Ballarat’s Nick Rippon scored behinds, Colum Murphy showed the VFL how the game was played with three first quarter goals. He was joined by Irish captain Michael Murphy who also added a goal to see the visitors out to a 25-point quarter time lead.
The second term again started with VFL gaining the first score with Owen strong up forward producing a behind, but it was then all Ireland. The VFL only added another behind for the term to Williamstown’s Ben Davies as Cathal Cregg added two more overs to take his tally to three for the game, Pearse Hanley and Darren Hughes added goals to give the visitors a 51-point lead at half time.
Coach Damian Carroll asked for his forwards to put more pressure on the Ireland goal keeper in the second half, like the Irish had done so well in the first half to produce six goals against VFL goal keeper and Casey Scorpions captain Evan Panozza. Panozza was under constant pressure by the playon and run style of the Irish around goal, a game plan the VFL were unable to replicate.
Despite early goals to Sean Cavanagh and O'Neill adding his fourth to provide a 63 point lead to Ireland, the VFL started to find the target up forward after a number attempts on goal went wayward in the first half. Clouston kicked the VFL's second over of the game, quickly followed up by an over to Werribee's Jye Bolton. But Ireland finished the term with the final seven scores of the term, to take a commanding 75 point lead into the final quarter.
The VFL won the final term, with Sandringham best & fairest Adam Cockie finishing as top scorer for the VFL with nine points all in the final term.
The Irish team will now face the AFL All Australian side next Saturday in Perth.
Visit the VFL website this week for highlights of the game, plus a chat with goal kicker Adam Cockie, goal keeper Evan Panozza and coach Damian Carroll.
FINAL SCORE
goals (6), overs (3), behinds (1)
Ireland 4.2.1 6.6.5 9.9.8 9.11.13 (100)
VFL 0.1.3 0.1.5 0.3.5 1.5.6 (27)
VFL (goals.over.behinds): Cockie (1-1-0) 9; Featherstone (0-1-1) 4; Clouston (0-1-1) 4; Bolton (0-1-0) 3; Pinwill (0-1-0) 3; Rippon (0-0-1) 1, O'Sullivan (0-0-1) 1, Owen (0-0-1) 1, Davies (0-0-1) 1.
Ireland: C.O'Neill (4-1-3) 30; Murphy (2-1-4) 19; O'Shea (1-3-1) 16; Cregg (0-3-1) 10; Cavanagh (1-1-0) 9; P.Hanley (1-0-0) 6; Munnelly (0-1-2) 5; Boyle (0-1-0) 3; Hughes (0-0-1) 1; Moran (0-0-1) 1.
Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 16/11/2014 21:36