Gippsland Power - Media Release
By Bryan Mitchell
Gippsland Power went into their round 10 TAC Cup clash against the Western Jets with almost a new side. There were 9 changes due to state commitments and injury and it was always going to be a challenge for the boys as although the Jets had some out, they were nowhere near as compromised as the Power. Adding to the pressure on the Power was the fact that 5 boys played their first TAC Cup games.
Nathan Rogers and Sam Cole were regular list players while Tom Crosby was elevated from the rookie list and Jack Carson and John Butcher are both under 16 boys who won there opportunity due to their precocious brilliance.
Facing so many individual and team challenges could have meant defeat for the Power but, to their collective credit, they dug deep to record a narrow bu well deserved win.
Some vision by Will Kelly to set up Brent Connelly opened the scoring for the Power but this good start was undone when the Jets responded due to some defencive indecision by the Power. Debutaunt Rogers created an opportunity for Jaryd Blair who capitalized and it looked likely that the Power would take the initiative. A long penetrating kick by Carson allowed Kelly to run a kick a long goal before Nathan Grylls and Connelly combined for another.
Power fans got a glimpse of the future when Carson and Butcher combined for a major only to see the jets hit back and capitalise on another costly Power error in defence.. Another long , penetrating forward thrust cast Butcher in the unlikely role of a rover and he kicked his second. The Power seemed to be in control and went into the first change 26 points up.
It was the Jets who had the early momentum in the second before Crosby took a strong mark and then kicked a goal as a result of his aerial efforts. Some vision by Chris Endres allowed Beau Vernon in for another but this was then wasted as another defencive "howler" gave the Jets a sense that they were still in the game. The Power were flirting with their form and going away from the disciplined game that had served them so well in the first term. In stark contrast, the Jets were hard at it and they had two more on the board and suddenly it was a contest. This was exemplified when the Jets scored another that bounced through fro a set shot with no Power big men on the line. A timely snap by Endres restored some scoreboard respectability for the Power but the Jets had the initiative despite trailing by 10 points.
The third term was all about pressure as both sides attempted to wrest control of the game. Connelly opened the scoring for the Power before Nick Stockdale and Crosby combined for his second in what was becoming an impressive debut under pressure. Once again the Power were punished for not having a big man on the goal line as the Jets scored another gift goal. Some outstanding forward pressure by Kelly gave Blair his second and the Power finally looked as if they were going to surge away. The level of pressure had risen and neither side was giving an inch. The Power led by 22 points at the last change and it was a matter of who wanted it most for both sides.
The last term was like an arm wrestle for the first 15 minutes with both sides unable to goal. The Jets were able to snap the deadlock with another gift after some slipshod Power work and suddenly there was pressure on the Power boys. It was the Jets who seemed the most composed and they had yet another after the Power ruckmen were punished for their laziness by not being on the line for a set shot. Despite this, it was the Power who held by the siren but the Jets had their tails up and seemingly were coming home stronger than the Power.
Final Scores, Gippsland Power 12 goals 16 behinds 88 points defeated Western Jets 12 goals 14 behinds 86 points. Goal kickers, Brent Connelly 3, Jaryd Blair, Tom Crosby and John Butcher 2, Will Kelly, Beau Vernon and Chris Endres 1 each. On a day when the Power needed on field leadership Jaryd Blair lifted his work rate in his third game to be in most contests around the ground as well as using the ball with purpose and precision. He was the catalyst for many good passages of play. Tom Crosby would have been on the Power list but for an injury during the pre-season and showed that he has what it takes to be a dominant player at this level. 24 possessions, 14 marks, two goals and a dozen tap outs was the sensational result of his first game.
Will Kelly relished the extra responsibility imposed upon him and thrived in the contested issues as well as being a lively link man with his run and long kicking. Defender Shane McIntosh returned from injury and provided much needed steadiness for his less experienced team amtes. When the pressure was on late in the game he excelled and will only be better for the run. Jack Brown gave spectators some tantalising glimpses of his immense talent in defence and on the wing where his aerial skills, agility and long kicking were in evidence. On-baller Sam Kater was another to work hard in and around the packs and he was also able to initiate a lot of run with his pace and willingness to take opponents on.
Adrian Hickmott, although disappointed with the inconsistent efforts was rapt with the win because the boys worked their way out of a tough spot even though it was largely of their own making. He would have been particularly pleased with the efforts of the new boy but particularly those of Butcher and Carson who both showed enormous promise for coming seasons as well as putting up a serious case for games at the business end of the 2007 TAC Cup season..
The boys had set themselves a goal of four wins from the four games against the top TAC Cup sides in the Knights, Calder, the Jets and Geelong. They now travel to Skilled stadium two and one and knowing that the Falcons will also be missing several key players. Once again they will have to lift individually and collectively but, form what was shown this week, they have the sort of mettle needed to be competitive in the pressure cooker scenarios.
Last Modified on 26/05/2008 14:14