Seniors
In amazing 90 point turn around from when the two sides last met Heidelberg West showed why they are a team on the up, stunning a Parkside outfit firmly looking towards finals action.
In some of the heaviest conditions seen at Heidelberg Park in recent years many would have thought the older bigger bodies of the Devils would waltz to a comfortable victory. However caretaker coach Grant Toms has had the boys playing some brilliant team orientated footy and it was only a matter of time before the boys took a major scalp.
The West boys came out and were desperate to make a great start and they did kicking 5 goals to 3, lead by Grant Toms whose attack on the ball early was outstanding and fellow midfielders Terry West , Luke James, James McLean-Brunton and Dan Bailey followed his lead. When young Cam Taylor got free and sold some candy and converted the boys were up and about. While Aidan Young was showing his class in the heavy conditions across half-forward.
The middle 2 quarters were an absolute slog with the heavens opening making conditions even worse causing a lot of skill errors from both sides. With their finals hopes on the line parkside lifted their urgency and slowly edged closer but with Kirby Bell proving to be an excellent target up forward and providing many crumbs for Cam Taylor and Damian Bonnici and when Kirby plucked in an unbeleivable one handed mark the west faithful were thinking it was there day as they held on to a slight lead of 4 points at 3 quarter time.
The final quarter started with West kicking the vital opening goal through a difficult set shot from Cam Taylor to gain a slight buffer but Parkside werent finished as they continued to apply pressure from their forward press and peppered the goals only to register minor scores. The West defense has been resolute over the past 6 weeks and this day was no different. Greg Camilleri and Josh Braunton continually displayed their tremendous courage dropping back into holes and in front of packs to take marks and cut off Parkside forward thrusts. Meanwhile John Shanahan and Jimmy Grant were as disciplined as they always are never giving their opponents an inch. When an errant Parkside kick-out landed on the chest of Youngy the opportunity was there to ice the game. Youngy did the right thing by the West supporters and kicked truly from 40m and West had claimed their best victory in over 5 years, showing they are on the way up.
Goals - C Taylor 4, A Young 2, K Bell 2, M Camilleri, J McLean-Brunton
Best - C Taylor, L James, T West, G Toms, A Young, J McLean-Brunton
Reserves
For a season that started so well the boys lack of training showed as they lost to Parkside who previously hadnt won a game for 2 seasons. The game started poorly for West as parkside were clearly more desperate in the trying conditions kicking 4 goals to 1 in the opening term. from their on West set about the task of clawing their way back and controlled a lot of the play around the ground but werent able to convert the countless opportunities kicking a wasteful 6 goals 12 behinds for the game while Parksides effiency up forward was the difference.
Ruckman Damian Butters again defied his age in the ruck, while Steve Wambeek was everywhere and did his chances of back to back best & fairests no harm. Youngsters Liam Lacy and Adam Fisher continued to show improvement while Mick Missen and Andy Muir returning from injury played a variety of roles from Centre Half Back, Midfield, Centre half Forward and even a stint in the Ruck
Goals - M Missen 2, A Muir, A Fisher, L Lacy, J Webb
Best - S Wambeek, M Missen, L Lacy, D Butters, A Muir, A Fisher,
Warringal Hawks
The young Hawks claimed their 2nd win of the against a struggling Hurstbridge outfit and getting themselves off the bottom of the ladder which is an excellent effort for their first inaugural season.
The boys took their time to get going early due to the slippery and muddy conditions, struggling to break free of Hurstbridge in the first half leading by a goal at half time. The second half really opened as the hawks kicked 8 goals to 2 to run 46 point winners. For the winners Brad Stewart, Brad Moore, Ryan Gall, Kane Moore and Rowan Purchase were excellent in a great team performance, while Brae Ferguson kicked a season high 4 goals at Centre Half Forward
Goals - B Ferguson 4, S Stanley 2, D Sulpizi, B Stewart, B Moore, J Ryan, R Gall
Best - B Stewart, K Moore, M Quadara, B Ferguson, B Moore, R Purchase
Last Modified on 12/08/2012 11:33