ANY doubt about North Gambier being a threat to the Western Border Football League flag for 2019 was dispelled on Saturday as the Tigers ran over the top of East Gambier at Vansittart Park.
The round three clash was eagerly awaited, with the Tigers back to their best in the opening two clashes of the season against Millicent and South Gambier.
With the Saints and the Demons already struggling this year, the question was could the Tigers – who missed the finals last season – stand up to the might of the Bulldogs, who finished runners-up?
That was answered in emphatic fashion on Saturday to put North clear at the top of the table and set the early benchmark of the season.
The 34-point result sees the Tigers as the only undefeated side in the league after three complete rounds.
The main focal point was again coach Justin McConnell up forward.
His body work one-on-one with Riley Janeway – or occasionally a couple of Bulldogs – was exemplary.
He held his ground and stood tall to pull down plenty of marks and finish the day with another bag of goals – this time seven.
That makes a total of 21 goals after three matches to lead all comers in the league.
But despite the comfortable final winning margin, it was anything but an easy game, with the Bulldogs applying plenty of pressure through the middle two quarters.
They were without the versatile Matt Scanlon, the high-flying Mark Rumbelow and the defensive strength of Nick Lock, while the Tigers were basically full strength.
North was off to the better start, with five unanswered goals in the opening term.
McConnell bagged the first major just two minutes in to set the scene.
Big man Brett Kennedy added another soon after and from there North continued to apply forward pressure.
McConnell grabbed another high ball inside and converted and after 15 minutes the Tigers were up by 21 points, with East unable to hit the scoreboard or contain the Tigers’ coach.
Hamish Telford continued on from his recent good form, pushing the ball forward at pace and when Dylan Munn dribbled a major along the ground it was as if the Tigers could do no wrong.
Mayson Ashby finished the term with a goal and East could only answer with a solitary behind.
East began to turn the momentum in the second term, with a fortuitous goal off the ground to Tully Balshaw, before Jack Dawe kicked an inspirational major from deep in the pocket.
John Forster and Luke Thompson teamed up down back to resist the North attack and the ball rolled through the middle from the likes of Jayden Eldridge, coach Matt Willson and Mark Keiselbach.
When the long break came North had not added another major, with the Bulldogs closing to within 14 points.
With plenty of work to do, East upped the tempo in the third quarter, with Willson clearing the centre and pushing forward.
When Forster found Kev Thomson with a long ball right in front of goals there was just eight points in the contest.
From there the Bulldogs had much of the run and when Thomson was awarded a free on the boundary, a subsequent 50-metre penalty took him right into the teeth of the big sticks and he banged another home for the lead.
The Tigers turned the tide soon after through Munn and it was game on.
From there North looked more composed and at the final break had opened a handy 16-point advantage.
With the rain beginning to fall persistently, an early goal to the Tigers in the final stanza made it tough for East to come back.
With 10 minutes to play the margin was only 21 points, then McConnell again rose to the occasion, with a strong mark and a goal to put the game beyond doubt and when the final siren sounded, the Tigers’ faithful celebrated.
McConnell has clearly put other sides on notice with his goal kicking prowess so far, but also his side’s ability to clear the middle of the ground and push forward with accuracy to hit targets.
McConnell said he wanted to set the game up early, after two contests where he thought they were slow off the mark.
“We made a point about starting well and to the guys’ credit they executed really well,” he said.
“To East’s credit they fought back, then I thought when the game was on the line the boys were able to stand up again.
“From where we were last year, it was a really positive step for us.”
McConnell said it was pleasing his players were able to respond to East at both ends of the ground in the third term.
“They kicked the first two goals in the first couple of minutes of the third quarter, but then I thought the character of our group was really good to respond and run the game out,” he said.
“Our ability to score in the first and last quarters was really evident, but we also kept East goal-less in two terms as well, which is really important.”
McConnell identified players such as Telford, Tom McLennan, Dylan Munn and Nick Mark as having a big impact on the contest.
He said their ability to deliver accurately into the forward 50 ensured the scores would come.
Overall McConnell said the more pleasing aspect of the victory was the improvement yet to come from the side.
“We still have lots of room for improvement, which is exciting,” he said.
“It will be a big test for us this week which will show us again how far we have come.
“The most important part is the guys have some really good spirit, they are tight and united and I know it is only early, but there are some positive signs for us moving forward.”
The Bulldogs will need to regroup, with the hopes of more fit bodies this weekend when they head across the border to face a tough test against Casterton Sandford at Island Park, while for the
Tigers it will be another big test against the resurgent West Gambier, who sit second on the ladder after just one loss in their opening three rounds.
