DARIUS DOUBLE SEALS NORTH WIN
NORTH Geelong is starti starting to see reward for effort, effor according
to co coach James Coutts, aft after a clinical second half propel propelled the Warriors to a 3-1 win o over the Whittlesea Ranges on Saturday.
Two superb goals to Da Darius Madison and a fortunate s strike from Julien Cassano were the second-half dividends for North, who absorbed a slo slow first half to jump out of the blocks in the second and d dominate proceedings.
The first half was sluggi sluggish and time on the ball was a rarity for the Warriors, with th the Ranges controlling the pla play within their forward half.
“I think off the ball in th the first half their movement caused us problems,” Cout Coutts said. “We’ve spoken about the discipline in our shape and we deviated away from our ga game plan slightly, which we tweaked at halftime.”
Despite Whittlesea’s do dominance of possession, they t too could not break the defens defensive lines of their opposition an and no decisive chances were c created from either side.
As soon as the second half begun, there was a change in energy in the match.
Passes were delivered quicker, players seemed more attentive and North sensed they had the momentum.
Cassano struck first blood for the home side in the 47th minute after an attempted cross to Madison found its way in the back of the net from the sharpest of angles. It was a nice individual achievement for a player who hasn’t been able to solidify his starting spot but seems to be growing in confidence each outing.
“Jules (Cassano) has been excellent the last couple of weeks. His application and effort in everything he does has been great, he really ticks in there,” Coutts said.
Then came the Darius Madison show.
His first was a pearler, a first-class finish from someone who hasn’t been able to put it all together but is starting to deliver on his potential.
Madison wheeled on to his trusty left boot on a counter break and hammered it home with some power.
The Warriors then conceded a goal from a penalty and were in danger of giving up a deserved victory.
But on cue Madison stepped up, faking a strike on his right foot inside the box and finishing effortlessly on his left to seal the win.
Coutts could not speak higher of Madison’s increased effort and work rate over the last few weeks.
“The last two weeks I’ve asked him (Madison) to penetrate in behind more than what I saw on video and I think he’s getting the rewards now,” he said.
“He’s not fighting defenders all the time, he’s not starting arguments that distract him, he’s getting on with it and he’s working and working.”
“He needs to be at the highest level in terms of his work rate and when he does that he’s unstoppable — his finishing quality showed that.”