WBFL: Casterton Sandford take down North Gambier

FLYING HIGH: Casterton Sandford’s Nicholas Upton was flying high at Island Park on Saturday, as he provided strong hands for the Cats in their Round 14 clash with North Gambier. Picture: JAMES MURPHY

CASTERTON Sandford caused its second upset in as many weeks on Saturday when it hosted ladder-leader North Gambier for a 33-point victory at Island Park.

After accounting for East Gambier in Round 13, the Cats have now proven themselves as hot contenders for finals which start in a couple of weeks.

The match started as an even affair, with Dylan Ayton kicking the first major of the day to see the Cats lead by four points after the opening term.

North hit back to outscore its opposition in the second term and hold a four-point margin going into half time.

However, it was after the long break where the Cats really came alive, with Matthew Killey claiming the first goal for the second half.

This major was quickly answered by the Tigers, but it was then the hosts made their break.

A goal to Trent Nesbitt began the chain, before Killey kicked his second and playing coach Hamish Jarrad led by example to also score two majors for the term, finishing with a tally of three for the game.

The Cats’ solid quarter was wrapped up by a goal to Josh Stephenson, while Hamish Telford scored North’s only other major for the term.

A set shot resulted in a minor score to North’s Tom McLennan on the siren and saw the Tigers down by 21 at three-quarter time.

The Cats’ dominance continued in the final term, as they scored four majors to North’s two, with the Tigers finding it difficult to break through the solid defence of its hosts.

Killey bagged his third goal for the game, while Tom McArlein scored his first and Carlin put through an impressive shot to finish with two.

Stephenson also made his mark for the Cats, as he scored two majors for the game, while his work through the midfield was influential for his side in the second half.

For North, Declan Carmody played a major role through the middle, as he provided plenty of opportunities and earned his place as best-on-ground for the Tigers.

Fraser Marshall also played a solid game for the visitors, while Brett Kennedy upheld his fine form of late, holding his own in the ruck.

Kennedy scored two majors for the match and was joined by Matthew McInerney – also with two – as the Tigers’ top scorers.

Casterton Sandford’s playing coach Hamish Jarrad was pleased with the final result and was impressed by how his team played for the full four quarters.

“I was happy with the boys, it was a good win,” he said.

“We just played the way we want to play our footy.

“It was nothing special, we just applied heat on the ball and stuck to our structures and processes all day.

“That was our focus coming into today, we wanted to get the game played on our terms and I thought the boys did that really well.”

With the Cats undefeated at Island Park since their Round 4 meeting with the Tigers, the team has built an impressive reputation on its home ground this season.

“We obviously enjoy playing at home and with the home crowd behind us,” Jarrad said.

“It is always easier to play where you train.”

Reflecting on the game, Jarrad said it was once again the efforts of the whole team that resulted in its success.

“I thought, similar to last week, it was a really good team effort,” he said.

“I don’t really like talking about individuals.

“We are here as a team – we need 22 contributors every week to win these games.”

However, he mentioned a few standout players who he believed to be solid contributors on the day.

“I thought obviously Michael Cummings’ work through the midfield – his work rate was outstanding,” he said.

“Trent Nesbit in centre-half forward presented well for us all day.

“Dylan Ayton on the wing and Tom McArlein up forward, he won a lot of one-on-three contests.

“Josh Stephenson’s second half was massive when he went back into the midfield and I thought Matty Killey when he went forward in the second half changed the game for us a little bit as well.”

A key variable in the Cats’ success on the weekend was its strong hands in defence, along with in the forward line.

The likes of Cummings, McArlein, Tynan Shannon, Trent Nesbitt and Nicholas Upton were all flying high and excelled in the marking contest.

Looking forward, Jarrad said the next two rounds will be the deciding factor for his team, as it looks to uphold its form going into finals.

“Last time we went to Malseed Park, we got beaten by West,” he said.

“We are under no illusions, as a footy side we need to bring the heat every week.

“We are not an overly skillful footy side, we don’t have great individual talent where we can just rely on players to win us games.

“We have to play as a team every week.

“Our aim at the start of the year was to make the four.

“Once you get to finals it’s a brand new ball game again.

“We are definitely not getting ahead of ourselves.

“Our focus is just purely on making sure we play the brand of footy we want to play every week.”

When asked on the possibility of Saturday’s clash being a glimpse of this year’s grand final, Jarrad said he believes the top pegs on the ladder still reflect the two best teams in the league.

“I still think East and North are the best two sides in the competition,” he said.

“The game today does give the boys a lot of confidence, it has been a long time since we have beaten the top sides.

“This group, it has been a long time since they have been successful, so that belief is a big thing and it is probably something we didn’t have at the start of the year.

“To get that belief in the group, that we are not intimidated by these top sides any more, it is a big step in the right direction.”