Magpies crank up against gale force winds

AN IMPRESSIVE second quarter against gale force winds proved enough for North Geelong to collect a 10th win this season.

And Magpies coach Darren Ryan had the statistics to back up the statement.

“If you look at the contrast from the first to the second quarter, we actually hit our targets,” Ryan said.

“In the first quarter we recorded 14 marks kicking with the wind and then in the second we finished with 43 against the wind.

“Our key ball winners in (Derek) Fitzsimmons and James Chandler were fantastic.”

Steve Richert was named as his side’s best, kicking two goals in the second term and stepping up to North Geelong’s ruck mantle throughout the day.

“Richert was our best player on the ground, his impact was unreal and his last four to five weeks have exceptional,” Ryan said.

“We’ve dropped Thomas Davis to the reserves and that’s allowed Ringo (Richert) more game time and it’s elevated his confidence knowing that he can compete with most blokes.”

Almost two years after Jamie Pitman kicked his 100th goal in the 2015 season against the Centurions, Pitman lost his battle with the wind, scoring 0.4 from five shots on goal.

“We don’t measure Pitty on his goalkicking, it’s the forward pressure that he puts on and today he played some great football,” Ryan said.

“We need a spread of guys that can apply the pressure in the forward-50 and he and even Mitch Habib were able to do that today.

“We don’t need one guy kicking 80 or 90 goals, we need a spread and they both played cracking games.”