Parke’s 300th match inspires Eagles

Inspired by veteran Neale Parke’s 300th match, a fast start by Ellinbank helped it to a comfortable win over Warragul Industrials, 11-7 (73) to 5-11 (41).

Having led his team through the banner, Parke recorded the first kick of the match in an important first centre clearance for the home side, much to the delight of the Ellinbank crowd.

It set the Eagles up for a barnstorming start, kicking the first five goals of the match which would ultimately prove the difference as conditions steadily worsened throughout the afternoon.

The early five goal lead ensured the Eagles could scrape to the end as conditions began to dictate kick the ball long and try and gain territory tactics.

It was the Industrials to go forward first, but the kick found short of the Corey Nickels lead and he was penalised for a throw as he attempted to move the ball on under pressure.

A strong mark in the pocket saw Dusties the first in the scoreboard, albeit registering a behind.

From that point the Eagles went on a run of five consecutive goals that would ultimately set up the result.

Shaun Phelan and Tim Mashado handled to set up Ellinbank’s first goal from a free kick from the marking contest.

The Eagles were quickly on the board again following a centre break, with Matthew Barrand converting from a mark on the lead.

The Industrials went forward looking for a response, but Will Jolley’s kick missed the leading target. Shane Brewster and Dylan Holland loaded up again, but Ellinbank cleared from a free kick and switched to find Barrand on the lead, only for his shot to miss.

High contact to Lachlan Cove saw the Eagles add their third.

The Industrials got another roll on, but could only add behinds to show for their efforts.

Tye Holland set up Brewster at half forward, but his left footer from the flank missed to the near side, while Mathew Willis failed to make the Eagles pay from a 50metre penalty.

The Eagles went long to find Keegan Bott running back towards goal. He marked and converted to increase the lead.

Bott was in the action again soon after, winning a 50-metre penalty to put through the Eagles’ fifth.

Josh Seri made a good gather in traffic, but his shot missed and the Industrials just could not buy a goal.

The Industrials finally finished with some reward to end the first term. Russell Ware set up Tye Holland, who snapped truly.

A long goal to Tom Johnson pushed the margin back out to five goals, but Dusties were able to respond through a Brewster tackle on an ambitious Ellinbank defender.

A Ware tap from a boundary throw in set up Tye Holland as Dusties pulled one back and really threatened to take it up to the Eagles.

A long goal further reduced the gap as the Dusties threatened to take it up to the Eagles.

But from there the match really tightened up as conditions deteriorated.

Wragg set up Barrand for a snap to see the Eagles hold a 14-point advantage at half time.

The second half became a real slog as the rain began to set in.

Forward attacks began to be missed as the ball became more difficult to handle. Cooper Minichiello and Jolley set up Nickels on the lead, but he was not able to hold onto the mark.

Long kicking down the line became the order of the day as Ashley Wallace found Toby Wallace, who kicked long from the wing but the resultant shot missed.

A checkside from the pocket also missed before Ben Wragg kicked a long goal to regain the ascendency for Ellinbank.

Jolley and Josh O’Brien set up a long goal to keep some narrow hope alive for the Industrials.

A left foot snap from Jackson Parker centred the ball to James Scammell, to give the Eagles a comfortable lead heading into three-quarter-time.

Given the conditions, the 21point margin was always going to difficult to peg back.

The task became tougher when Mark Vassett found Toby Wallace in space, who in turn went long to Bott who marked and goaled.

Both sides found opportunities to attack, but more often than not a turnover would result as the contests came down to a real arm wrestle.

A goal from out wide from Jackson Parker capped a good win for the home side, who join Neerim-Neerim South as undefeated teams after round four.