2011 VFL Seniors
Port Melbourne 5.5 7.6 9.10 13.16 (94)
Sandringham 1.1 4.4 8.8 10.10 (70)
GOALS:
Port Melbourne: Galea 4 Pitt 2 Dwyer 2 Sinclair 2 Cain Valenti McGrath
Sandringham: Boland 5 Michaliades 2 Curren Lourey Archer
BEST:
Port Melbourne: McGrath Dwyer Valenti McMahon Galea Cain
Sandringham: McQualter Boland Blake Marigliani Baker Gardiner
Match Report - By Serge D'Angelo
The Zebra’s needed to regain some kind of respect in the VFL community and the last two weeks have been spent in making sure that our performance against the unbeaten Port Melbourne was a very good opportunity to do so especially as it was the TV game.
The opening 10 mins of the first term would have only reinforced the opinion of the ABC commentators who I am told clearly thought we were about to be comprehensively beaten once again.
Little did they know that there is a great amount of pride in this group of players and although the scoreboard indicated a different story early on, the next 3 quarters would certainly change that scenario.
In the first term we found it difficult to get the Sherrin cleanly in our grasp even though Michael Gardiner was doing well at the stoppages. The forward entries were haphazard with Daniel Archer being able to kick our only goal. We did not handle the ball as cleanly as we would have wished and wasted possessions.
4 goals down , Port 10 scoring shots to Sandy’s 2. Not what we wanted, however, there was a belief that if we contested and applied physical pressure we could turn the game around. There were positives signs as Marcus Marigliani was in everything, Andrew McQualter and James Magner started to collect possessions in the clinches and increase their workrate.
The defence of Tom Simpkin, Jason Blake and Steve Baker (who by games end held Port’s Patrick Rose goalless : the competitions leading scorer.) made sure that scoring opportunities became less frequent. Losing Tom Walsh with a chest injury very early did not enhance our cause and this called for a restructure of the defence.
The second term began well as Michael Gardiner began to exert his influence around the ground taking marks and setting up our running players ending up with 19 possessions.
The moves of Jason Blake to an on ball role, Tom Lynch to defence, Nick Heyne to a forward defensive role on Port’s Pleming all worked well. Matt Boland began to find space and 5 kicked goals on the day in a fine display.
Sandy’s Big M’s (Marigliani, McQualter and Magner ) were exerting their influence on the game creating chances up forward and along with pocket rocket Chris Michaliades whose willingness to chase, harass began to make inroads on the scoreboard and we had manufactured minor comeback at the long break ; we had 20 points to make up in 60 mins of football against the league leaders. Coach Lovett urged the team to continue to play with aggression and work on winning the contested ball.
In the third term the response was terrific as an ever increasing confidence amongst the players resulted in excellent team play with the Zebras switching play placing Port’s defence under pressure for much of the second half.
All players lifted in this term as the disciplined defence of Simpkins, Lynch, Baker, Hallahan and Eddy kept Port to only 2 goals. The hard working midfield of the Big M’s, and young Stapleton , Smith and Ferraro cracked in and sent the ball into the 50 m arc. Resulting in forward’s Boland, Lourey, Heyne, Irving and Michaliades combining for 4 goals reducing the deficit to 8 points.
We were a real chance to cause an upset but had no illusions as to the difficulty of the task as unfortunately we lost Nick Winmar in a nasty collision meaning we were down to only 20 fit men.
We played very attacking football and took risks although missing a couple of easy chances we still managed to hit the front. The lead see - sawed for much of the quarter. Andrew McQualter who had 28 possessions at the time he hurt his shoulder reducing the ability to place running pressure on Port’s midfield. This made a major difference, as we needed every single player doing their bit let alone losing one of our best on the day.
Port converted late chances, kicking 3 goals in time on. We had fought hard throughout the game and were certainly not disgraced but still very disappointed with the loss and makeno excuses as we had our chances. However, we can take some solace in the fact that we took it up to the unbeaten Port on their home ground. We cannot be satisfied with the loss but the effort was what is expected from all players each and every week. If we are to play finals then this kind intensity and commitment will be required next week against Werribee this week at home.
2011 VFL Reserves
Port Melbourne 4.1 5.1 5.4 9.6 (60)
Sandringham 2.1 3.4 5.6 7.7 (49)
GOALS:
Port Melbourne: O'Sullivan 3 Bonaddio 2 Keely 2 Johnston Green
Sandringham: Dore 4 McMahon 2 McBain
BEST:
Port Melbourne: Johnston Francis Johnston Keely Bonaddio
Sandringham: Dore Cathcart Meehan Plostins Andrews Andreoli
Match Report - By Mick Ablett
Although another L will show up in the results column, I couldn’t be prouder of the boys in their loss to Port Melbourne on the weekend. Going in with a half dozen changes to the team from the previous week, we were faced with a big challenge of playing the second placed Port Melbourne on their home deck.
Prior to the game I had asked the boys to implement a couple of game strategies that were not only physically exhausting but would also take all 23 contributors to ensure they played their role, and play their role they did. 8 points up at the 26:30 minute mark of the last quarter I thought we were about to pull off a very well deserved win, however it wasn’t to be, the quarter went an incredible 35 minutes and saw Port Melbourne (with the help of a couple of dubious decisions) finish the stronger team. I was very impressed to see the boys come together and play a simply fantastic game of team football, they fought for every ball and put enormous pressure on Port forcing them to continually turn the footy over. Talking to their coach after the game he said no team had been able to choke them like we had, a credit to their commitment to the game plan. Losing listed St Kilda Forward Paul Cahill with a corked thigh certainly didn’t help the cause, and then further to that James Siakavellis and Andrew Fleming also succumb to injuries prior to the finish.
On a day where it was hard to single out individual players Brett Dore was superb up forward, working tirelessly and continually providing a strong target he finished with 4 majors to go with 15 possessions, 6 tackles and 9 marks in a best on ground display. Robbie Cathcart was back to his best with 28 disposals and 14 marks, along with defenders Mick Meehan (15 possessions, 6 tackles) and Jesse Plostins (13 posessions, 7 marks, 5 of which were contested) holding the backline together and both beating quality opponents. Plostins had the big ask of playing on one of the biggest players and most dominant VFL forwards of recent times Adrian Bonnadio, and he didn’t disappoint, he was a clear winner on the day. Maddison Andrews (22 possessions and 5 tackles) and Warrick Andreoli (20 possessions and 3 tackles) were also fine contributors.
After taking a big step forward it is now important that we break the trend of previous games where we have followed up with lesser performances and put together another solid game against Werribee at home. If we turn up and show the same level of belief and commitment, as I have said all along we will more than hold out own against anyone they throw up against us. Go Zebs.
Last Modified on 25/07/2011 13:43