Dogs devour young Dees

South v East Gambier Football & Netball
STRETCH: East Gambier’s Tully Balshaw stretches for a mark at Blue Lake Sports Park on Saturday as his side clashed with South Gambier in Round 10 of Western Border football. Picture: FRANK MONGER

GRAND final aspirant East Gambier recorded one of its biggest victories in recent seasons over arch rival South Gambier by a commanding 92-point final margin at Blue Lake Sports Park in perfect playing conditions.

Even though each lineup was missing key players, the end result aptly reflects the current contrast in respective playing lists and ladder positions.

While the well-resourced Bulldogs are building to make an assault on breaking a 29-season premiership drought, the rebuilding Demons are striving to lay a foundation for future seasons.

East entered the arena without power forwards Matt Scanlon and Mark Rumbelow, but regained central defender Frazer Scanlon, while South was missing pivotal play-maker Brett O’Neil and utility big man Jak Ryan.

From the first ball up East dominated play as they continually shared the ball and swept play towards their goal front until regular backman, now forward, Matt Ferguson marked and kicked truly to the joy of his teammates.

Bulldog ball gatherers and carriers Jesse Fry, Jack Dawe, Matt McCallum and Tom Williams created havoc for the besieged Demons, while the visitors outer-zone defence led by Frazer Scanlon and Jayden Eldridge stifled any spasmodic threats to score from the home side.

East tarnished a near perfect quarter of total committed team football by squandering gettable shots at goal with a wasted return of 6.8, while holding South goalless until late in the term.

To the developing Demons credit they collectively lifted their second-term work rate and matched the Bulldogs in the contested play situations to stem the opening term avalanche and there by restricted the scoreboard damage to three goals while advancing their tally by one.

The second half saw East continually rotate its even spread of abundant “get and go” runners in and out of the action, including promising teenager Giancarlo Cooper (who won the MAC Medal) and hard man Tully Balshaw, which set the foundation for a 10.9 scoreboard advancement while holding a persistent South to a 4.1 return.

During this time the Demons created some promising forward thrusts but the Bulldogs defensive zone held firm aided by hard running midfield teammates who were prepared to push back to assist.

Bulldogs’ joint coach Matt Willson said it was pleasing to have a consistent effort throughout the game.

“We have probably played that type of football in patches over the year, but not for the full 25 minutes of consistent effort from the backline through, which is obviously pleasing coming into the back end of the year to be playing like that,” he said.

“From a team perspective we have just tried to bring a bit of consistency, as we know we have the skills and run, but the intent around the contests and defensive pressure set it up for us, which has been a focus over the last couple of weeks.

“Across the board we did not have any passengers, but individually Jesse Fry was really good around the stoppages and his ball usage was exceptional and clean, while Matt Ferguson and Shem Balshaw stepped up for us up forward with key personnel missing.”

South coach Heath Mitchell said there was plenty for his side to focus on now, but he was pleased his players knuckled down to prevent a blowout.

“A huge focus for our group over the season has been understanding and acting on the direct link between preparation and performance,” he said.

“Our boys are starting to understand and appreciate that it is only consistent performances at training that develop consistent performances on Saturdays.

“East Gambier gave our boys a huge lesson in running power and we explained to the group that running power is pure preparation, which isn’t developed on Saturdays but on Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, so our challenge now will rise to that level.

“That said, after the first quarter I was proud that our boys didn’t allow it to become an absolute blowout of 20 plus goals and again we saw glimpses of the future in Kaleb Bowd (15 years old) and Henri Capewell (16 years old).”