Football
29 July, 2024
Bombers double chance still alive
Noradjuha Quantong's dream of finishing second and getting a double chance in the finals is still alive following a 28-point win over the Swifts at Quantong Recreation Reserve in round 15 of the Horsham District Football Netball League.
The Swifts were two games clear of the Bombers heading into the match, with both teams eyeing second spot and a double chance in finals; a tough encounter was expected, and it didn't disappoint.
With the aid of a breeze, the Bombers kicked five goals straight to lead by 16 points at quarter-time. The Swifts came back hard in the second quarter, kicking three goals to one to trail by one point at half-time.
The Bombers kicked away in the third to lead by 21 points at three-quarter time. They held the Baggies to one goal in the last, kicking two themselves, to run out 12.9.81 to 7.11.53 winners.
Brock Orval kicked three goals in his return, with Damian Cameron outstanding across the ground. Dawson Cross, Jack Vague, James Hallett, Dyson Paris, and Nigel Kelly were amongst their best, the latter doing a sensational job on league-leading goalkicker Paul Summers, who kicked three goals.
Noah Stirling, Ryan Folkes, Jesse Galea-Portelli, Brett Hargreaves, Chevy Elliott and Jack Cann were among the best for the Baggies.
Bombers coach Damian Cameron played his first full game in nearly two months, and whilst they are still missing Dylan Shelley, Alex Ross and Wade Francis from their best team, he is pleased they were able to win.
"The losses at the start of the year took us by surprise, and we started to play good footy during the middle of the year. A couple of weeks back, we had a disappointing loss against Harrow Balmoral, but to come out and respond the way we did was pleasing," Cameron said.
"We put emphasis on taking a result from the opposition and not seeing what happens."
It was Noradjuha Quantong's sponsors day which made the win more special for the club.
"We wanted to win in front of the sponsors, and it was really pleasing to do that," Cameron said.
"Everyone played well and did their job. It was a team effort.
"We have had a tough year injury-wise, and unfortunately, Brock Orval suffered an ankle injury, so he may miss the next few weeks but will be ready for finals."
Cameron was best on the ground, playing centre-half forward and securing goal assists and then moving down back when the Swifts had the wind and were able to chop off their forward entry.
Kees turn the screws on the Tigers.
Kalkee produced a shock 37-point win over Pimpinio with a fantastic defensive effort at Kalkee Recreation Reserve.
The Tigers got the early lead, with a six-point lead at quarter-time. The Kees started to get on top in the second quarter, kicking three goals to two to take a one-point lead into half-time.
The Tigers were held scoreless in the third as the Kees piled on five goals to lead by 30 points at the last break.
Pimpinio had seven shots on goal in the last quarter, resulting in one goal, with Kalkee converting their shots to run out 13.6.84 to 6.11.47 winners.
The Kees stopped Pimpinio's run throughout the match and sustained it, with co-coach Steve Schultz emphasising that it was their plan.
"The first time we played them, they ripped us apart, ran all day, and really showed us up," Schultz said.
"We put some more time into those guys that were influential in that and had a defensive effort, and our boys did a good disciplined job."
Ben Lawson was sensational up front, kicking seven goals, five of which came in the first half, while Matthew Magee intercepted nearly everything in defence.
Schultz said everyone played well.
"It was a real team effort with everyone doing their job," Schultz said.
Kalkee entered the game without its best midfielders, Matt Nield and Patrick Mills. The latter had suffered a broken hand the week before.
Schultz was pleased with the players' performance, highlighting Deacan Campbell and Luke Byrne in the middle.
"In the last quarter, we threw Ben down back as a loose man, and he marked everything down there," Schultz said.
"Andrew Devereaux played forward and gave us a different element, and Deacon Campbell moved on the ball and did a good job after playing deep forward all season.
"Luke Byrne also did well in the middle with a bigger body, so it helped out a few of the smaller players."
Brock Hamerston kicked three goals for the Tigers, with Jason Westley, Matthew Rosier, Dylan Thomas, Tyler Filcock and Dylan Bates among their best players.
Demons win five in a row.
At Dock Lake Recreation Reserve, Laharum defeated Taylors Lake by 61 points to win their fifth consecutive match.
In a physical, hot, contested game, not reflected on the scoreboard, the Demons kicked five goals to nil in the first quarter to lead by 31 points.
In the second quarter, the Lakers ramped up their defence, restricting Laharum's run, limiting them to one goal to trail by 33 points at half-time.
They came out in the third the way they did in the second with strong defence, but Laharum started to penetrate it during the quarter to extend their margin to 48 at three-quarter time.
The Demons forced their way through in the last, adding another four goals to run out 13.15.93 to 4.8.32 winners.
Without Pat Lattanzio, Jackson Price, and Campbell Mason, to name a few, Demons co-coach Shannon Argall was happy with the performance.
"To be 10-4 now speaks volumes, especially since we missed about five players on the weekend," Argall said.
"We have some good depth at the moment, and everyone is playing their role and stepping up when needed.
"Robbie Miller and Daniel Easson again were excellent through the middle with Jarrod Kemp excellent on the outside. Hamish Roberts returned down back and was solid with his ball use and defensive nous."
"We had an even spread of contributors, with Angus Atchison and Sean Wouters also playing well."
Harrow Balmoral maintain dominance.
Eight goals to Jai Thompson and six to Cody Deutscher have led Harrow Balmoral to a 180-point win over Natimuk at Balmoral Reserve.
The Southern Roos came out firing in the first quarter, kicking seven goals to two to lead by 33 points at quarter-time.
A blistering ten-goal-to-nil second quarter saw them extend that margin to 96 points at half-time.
They didn't let up, kicking another eight goals to one in the third quarter to lead by a massive 143 points at the last break.
Another seven goals in the last saw them run out 32.19.211 to 5.1.31 winners.
William Plush, Peter Staude, Michael Close and Will Burbury were among the best for the Southern Roos.
Zachary Smith kicked two goals for Natimuk, with Matthew Lee, Liam Klowss, Archie Sudholz and Kaiden Sudholz among their best players.
Southern Roos coach Jai Thompson said he and Cody Deutscher swapping between forward and midfield worked out well.
"Cody has good height and is a hard matchup for defenders, and he was really good. He and I swapped a bit and worked in tandem, and it clicked well," Thompson said.
"Will Plush and Will Burbury were excellent, and our young guys in the wing and half-back were getting plenty of run-and-carry.
"We are moving the footy well, and our ball use has been excellent. We have been talking about consistency in our game, and we haven't played a bad quarter in a while, which is good to see."
"We are meeting our goals and improving, so we will keep raising that bar as we head into finals. Things are really starting to click now."