NFNL Media’s Doug Long took a closer look at Watsonia’s win over Epping last weekend.
Watsonia and Epping clashed in Round 3 action of Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 football on ANZAC Day at Binnak Park, with the Saints pulling away late for an emphatic 38-point triumph.
After the seniors and reserves players from both teams lined up to commemorate ANZAC Day, the contest began under sunny skies and with no wind advantage at either end.
Scoring was tough going early on for both teams. They were often transitioning the ball smoothly through the midfield, but the defences were holding up well and there was regularly pressure on the last kick inside fifty.
The Saints managed to hit the scoreboard in the middle stages of the term courtesy of Bailey White and Luke Stone, with Stone slotting a great goal from a set shot 40 metres out and near the boundary.
Soon after Blue Daniel Rakhlin goaled from near the goalpost after a strong contested mark. This trend, Watsonia dominating early before Epping hitting back late, would continue for three quarters.
Jai Bartzis was having a good afternoon for the home team and swooped on an errant handpass for an easy goal to open scoring in the second term. After both teams missed opportunities to kick it through the big sticks, the locals were treated to the play of the day when Toby Berardi effected a brilliant smother, gather the loose ball and ran into an open goal.
This blew the lead out to a then game-high margin of 18-points. But the Blues slammed on two late goals to Rakhlin and Sukri Arifoski to reduce the half time deficit to a mere 7-points.
Epping fans may have expected their team to surge to the lead in the second half, but it was all the Saints for the majority of the third term. Luke Stone took a specie in the square to get his side on the scoreboard in the first two minutes.
Goals to White, Bradley Moorey and Cameron Cloke, who played his 300th game of local footy, blew the lead out to 35-points. But again, the Blues fought back with another goal to Rakhlin.
In the shadows of three-quarter time, Todd Hughes took a strong mark for the visitors and slotted a goal from 40 metres out on an angle. The late goal gave his team some much needed belief going into the last break with the deficit cut to 24 points.
At the huddle, Epping coach Brad Hollow urged his players to take the game on and to use overlap run.
Everything was going to plan early on for the Blues as the dominated the early proceedings in the final quarter. Joshua Bawden had competed manfully in the ruck and drifted forward to take a contested mark, converting the shot for the all-important first goal of the term.
But they squandered a few opportunities to reduce the margin to single figures. With Watsonia leading by 16 points and no play in the forward half, a break came their way and they were good enough to capitalise.
A downfield free gave Cloke a challenging shot at goal in a similar spot to Hughes in the previous quarter. Cloke’s kick was perfect and it began a flurry of majors for the home team.
Cloke soon had another, then Seb Tarczon slotted a set shot. Bailey White was best on the day for the Saints and he kicked his third to slam the door shut, pushing the margin out to 40 points.
Despite the game being gone, Epping kept battling hard and scored a late goal via Jake Folan.
The local crowd cheered loudly as the busy Charlie Smythe kicked goalward from heavy traffic at centre-half-forward. The ball bounced in the goal square and, although players for both sides were in attendance, it bounced through for the final goal of the afternoon.
It was the second upset win in a row for Watsonia and propelled them into fourth spot on the table.
“We continue to grow”, said a happy Watsonia coach Anthony McGregor after the game.
McGregor praised the work of Bailey White and Jai Bartzis.He also gave a tick to Nathan Hallyburton in the middle and the job Toby Herbert did on Rakhlin, who could’ve kicked many more on a lesser opponent.
The mood wasn’t as buoyant in the opposing corner. “Momentum swings are a big thing in football”, said Epping coach Brad Hollow.
Hollow rued some poor decision making and noted that the pressure of the Saints often forced them into error. He gave a tick to captain Leigh Judd who got plenty of it, showed strength and used the ball well. He also had praise for midfielders Brent Macaffer and Corey Middleton, with compliments to Joshua Bawden. Kieren Jaksic battled hard on Cloke. Given that his opponent booted nine goals the previous week, he can be satisfied with his effort on the day.
The loss dropped the Blues to eighth spot on the ladder, but just a game outside the top five.
