‘The Slow Start’ from “The Outer Eye”
Norwood’s 2016 campaign started at our bogey venue – Vermont, where we have never won in 10 seasons of 1st Division football. Whether it’s the small ground, the quality of opposition, mental frailty, poor form, bad luck or a combination of all of the above, we just cannot get over the line at one of the EFLs most forbidding venues. So, with a somewhat new line-up which included 5 fresh faces (Patrick Weardon, Jordan Ceppi, Jordan Clarke, Lucus ONeill and Blake Charles), we took our latest shot at burying the Vermont hoodoo.
The game started in typically tough tense and tight fashion, neither side able to launch any meaningful attack on goal, such that at the 12 minute mark Vermont led by the solitary point they had scored. New ruckman Blake “The LumberJack” Charles was winning more than his fair share of hitouts, but many were being sharked by a zippier Vermont on-ball brigade. Our subsequent forays forward seemed laboured, and with our forwards unable to gain separation many large packs formed, making the spoil simple and allowing Vermont’s sweeping defenders to whisk the ball away easily from the resultant crumbs. They then spread better than us, using what little space there is on the tiny Vermont ground wisely, and proceeded to hit the scoreboard. They grabbed 3 goals before we scored our lone major through Matt Aver, but by quarter time we were up against it, trailing by over 4 goals. 1.0.6 - 5.3.33.
Coach Knighter was calm but clearly disappointed with the workrate of the key forwards (Matt Aver excepted) and demanded more hard leading. He also wanted to see more of our small forwards and crumbers “front and square” to reap us some rewards. The general workrate and effort in the 2nd quarter lifted considerably, and we dominated field position and possession. But despite an early free and goal to Leroy, we could not further impact the scoreboard. We drove the ball in repeatedly, but haphazardly and without the precision required, and Vermont’s strong defence held firm against all our efforts. A couple of half chances resulted in just behinds, and when Vermont eventually went forward for about the first time in the quarter it was inevitable that they would snap an opportunist goal, cancelling out all our efforts. By half time we trailed 2.4.16 – 5.4.34.
Not much changed after half time as the game produced few goals and many stoppages. Both defences were on top but Vermont always looked the more likely to sneak a goal. Matt Aver and debutant Justin Clarke snagged our goals, but Vermont added 3.6 themselves and the scoring shots and scoreline told a true story at 3/4T, 4.5.29 - 8.10.58.
Knighter made a point in the huddle with the magnets, moving Leroy, who had been comfortably held, to CHB, while another quiet performer, Zak McCubbin, went into a sweeping role in defence. Stuey Hill went into the ruck and the tiring Lumberjack moved to the log-cabin for the remainder of the game. Vermont kicked the first two and threatened a rout, but we responded proudly, finally hitting the scoreboard through classy finishes to Holmer (2) Bater (2) and Clarke with his 2nd. But it was all in vain as Vermont cruised to victory by 22 points, 9.7.61 – 12.11.83.
Good players were few, but Matt Aver held his head up high as the only constant forward threat, while Pearso at half-back and Clarke as a high half-forward performed admirably and, as always, Holmer and Hilly gave their all. Patrick Weardon and Jordan Ceppi were quiet, but did just enough quality stuff to suggest that they could be very good recruits as the season unfolds.
So a less than exhilarating start to season 2016, but with debutants coming in and seasoned performers going out, it will take time for the group and the game plan to “gel”. Let’s hope for a major statement with a big bounce back at home against newly-promoted Doncaster at Mullum Reserve next week. Our Reserves and U19s were also beaten and need to pull their socks up as well.
Go Wooders
Last Modified on 11/04/2016 15:04