INEXPERIENCED HAWKS FALL TO WONTHAGGI

Drouin’s early season struggles continued on Saturday, beaten at home by 90 points by Wonthaggi Power.

Power notched its first win after tough opening games against Traralgon and Leongatha by kicking 19-12 to 5-6.

The margin blew out late in the game, Wonthaggi kicking the last seven goals against the tired and under-manned Hawks.

Drouin’s thin ranks of experience were dealt further blows with the absences of David Olsen (unavailable), Darcy Irwin (injured) and Jordan Kingi (playing with Casey).

It was left almost single-handedly to coach and ruckman Bob McCallum to lead the way.

He did that superbly dominating the ruck and working tirelessly around the ground but the support was lacking.

One bright spot was the first appearance of recruit Michael Theodoridis.

Short of match-fitness after an injury affected pre-season and missing the first two rounds Theodoridis spent most of the game deep in the forward line but was generally starved of constructive opportunities.

He will impact as the season progresses.

Drouin’s problems were exposed early.

Wonthaggi had two goals on the board within 90 seconds.

It was 4-4 to 0-3 at quarter time, Drouin’s first goal coming two minutes into the second quarter when Damien Allison converted from a free kick for a ruck infringement.

That proved to be the only one for the half, Wonthaggi stretching its lead to 10-8 to 1-4 at the long break.

The Hawks’ defence was unable to cope with Power’s quicker movement of the ball into attack and helped out its opponents by often squandering possession when they did have it.

James McKellar was the only backman that maintained poise under the pressure.

Drouin rallied a bit in the third quarter.

Campbell Jolly, Theodoridis and Luke Ferguson goaled for the Hawks, Wonthaggi’s only one for the term scored at the 28-minute mark.

But it was all Power in the last quarter when it rammed through another eight goals to the sole major for Drouin by Brenton Lockhart after a mark over a pack.

The Hawks don’t give up but they’ve got a lot of work to do.

McCallum was a shining light, as he usually is, and on-ballers Liam Axford and Tom Barr battled hard but were out-gunned by Wonthaggi’s greater depth of rotations around the stoppages.

McKellar, Liam Anderson and Sam Piner also battled hard against the onslaught.

But quicker and more positive disposal of the ball is needed to help turn things around for Drouin.