A mighty defensive effort from the Northern Knights saw them hold on for an enthralling 11-point win over the Dandenong Stingrays at Preston City Oval last Saturday, as Adem Saricaoglu and Ben Guthrie report.
Percentage footy was the go as greasy conditions and a muddy centre-wicket area provided for a low-scoring, muddy slog, with only 11 goals scored all up.
The Knights worked hard to stay in front all day, extending their one point lead at quarter time to 14 points at the main break, with Thomas McEwan, Aidan Corr and Jack Langford all scoring crucial goals.
After scoring the only goal of the third quarter, the Stingrays finished the game with all the running and smashed the Knights in the inside 50 count, but they couldn’t make the most of their forward entries and finished short of the mark, 6.10 (46) to 5.5 (35).
A steady breeze caused havoc for them during the third quarter as they tried to capitalise their dominance onto the scoreboard, which proved costly in the end.
Dandenong coach Graeme Yeates was disappointed with his team’s effort in the second quarter, one he counted as a major turning point in the game.
“Our second quarter cost us the game because we became non-competitive, we were reactive all over the ground and we just allowed them to control the game,” Yeates said.
“We became a bit undisciplined and selfish, which hurt us in the end.”
The Knights became stagnant during the third quarter after midfielder Anthony Bonaddio was stretchered off with what looked to be a serious leg injury, which was later confirmed as a minor corked buttock.
They struggled to move the ball through the corridor, which was constantly flooded by Stingrays.
Dandenong regularly had numbers in dangerous positions, which gave them the advantage for forward 50 entries.
Yet, they continually let themselves down as they were inefficient in taking their opportunities.
Northern coach Anthony Allen praised his back line for standing tall during the bombardment in the second half.
“We started to adjust to it a little bit, but Dandenong are good tactically and they’ve been playing good, strong footy,” he said after the game.
“Late in the game we really needed to play one-on-one, but I thought we held up the footy a little bit instead of moving it out.”
Yeates said a lack of scoreboard pressure cost his Stingrays the game.
“I think the inside 50s were 50-30 (in favour of Dandenong) and you can never win a game of footy when you only kick five goals with 50 forward entries,” he said.
“It’s been a problem for us all year.
“We’re just not getting reward, for the amount of times we’re going in there.”
Dale Sutton’s early last quarter goal brought the Stingrays within two points of the lead and provided them with all the momentum, with Nathan Wright and Alex Benbow providing crucial efforts, attacking the footy with ferocity.
But despite all their hard work, the trend of not being able to convert in the fourth quarter was a microcosm of their troubles throughout the whole game.
Northern’s sturdy back line, led by Tom Grimes, refused to give up, and their persistence eventually paid off close to the siren.
A clearing kick out to centre-half back was brilliantly marked by Matthew Atta, who quickly sent the ball to the outer-wing, where Douglas Morris fed the ball to Langford, who finished the classy counter-play with the sealing goal.
Allen said his side’s persistent defensive efforts earned the Knights their third win of the year.
“The tackle and pressure stats were nice and high, we felt we kept up our structures, and it was simply a matter of keep on keeping on,” he said.
“It was pleasing because we were very good in our defensive end, and I think we’re second-last in terms of our defence performance, so today was very good.
“The conditions helped, but I think we were more defensive with our attack on the footy down back.”
The win brought the Knights up to eighth spot on the ladder.
Round seven of the TAC Cup will take place next week, where the Knights take on the Eastern Ranges and Dandenong face the Gippsland Power.
Last Modified on 17/05/2011 17:55