Trevor Jackson
Mount Burr 10.9 (69) d Tantanoola 9.8 (62)
SATURDAY night at Mount Burr the stakes were high.
Tantanoola fronted up to face the Mozzies and took the game right up to the home side.
A big focus on Mount Burr as a club saw several events take place, with the game pencilled in for a night clash and it did not disappoint.
In the end just seven points separated the two sides, with the Mozzies holding off a determined Tigers keen to chalk up their first win of the season.
Last week Tantanoola was dealt a big loss at the hands of Robe, while in contrast, the Mozzies claimed as-big-a-win over Nangwarry.
However, on the night the two sides matched up well and after the a strong first quarter, the home side found itself at the mercy of the Tigers.
Tantanoola banged on five goals in the second term while holding the Mozzies to just two and trailed by just two points at the long break.
From there the rain began to set in and the game became a real struggle for both sides.
Mount Burr had stretched the margin to 11 points at the final break but the Tigers were not done and pushed hard in the final stanza to fall short but just seven points.
Mozzies coach Reece Duncan was pleased with the result after a hard slog in the wet conditions.
“It was a tough one,” he said.
“We were four goals up after the first quarter and they had four behinds, so we started well.
“Then in the second corner we got a bit ratty with our forward entries.”
That second quarter could have cost the Mozzies dearly as the rain made it a test of endurance rather than skill, with a back-and-for in a spectator’s delight.
“After half time the rain came in and it became a bit of a slog fest,” Duncan said.
“We went with it, then they would come back and kick a couple.
“For spectators it would have been good to watch, but out on the ground it was all in and that was how the night went really.
“As it got darker and colder the slipperiness became a bit of a factor and it was a bit more old-fashioned wet weather football.”
In the end Duncan put the win down to desire to stand up and be counted by each player on the ground.
“I had one of the past premiership captains speak before the game and his message was simple – everyone at Mount Burr does their job and plays their role, there are no superstars, we just do what we have to,” Duncan said.
“At half time we spoke about blokes standing up and playing their role and the senior guys did that.
“But the younger guys really stood up, led the way with their attack and didn’t take a backward step.”
Duncan made mention of a few young players who impressed on the night.
“Jackson Dean made his A Grade debut and got third best,” he said.
“He played a beautiful role at centre-half-back, he did exactly what we wanted and got better as the game went on.
“Calum Sparks had to shoulder the ruck after our other ruckman went down.
“Between him and Josh Wallis, they really helped us get the win.
“Brady Sharp played his first A Grade game this year and he stood tall and competed.
“Overall it was a whole team effort in the second half.”
That same effort will be needed this weekend when the Mozzies travel to Kalangadoo to face the wounded Magpies.
Duncan said he expects another tough contest, with the Magpies sure to want to atone for the weekend’s defeat up at Robe, but more importantly, as the league appears to even out more at this early stage.
“There are no weekends off this season,” he said.
“It is not like you can pencil in a few wins here and there.
“You really have to bring your game week in, week out.
“There is not much you can read into it yet, so we will just take each week as it comes.
“Kalangadoo will be a another tough one, but we will just see what they dish out.”
