Drouin challenge powerful Parrots
Drouin fought back superbly from being shell-shocked early on but couldn’t sustain its effort late in the game against defending premier Leongatha on Saturday.
Three Leongatha goals in the first six minutes of the last quarter put the game out of Drouin’s reach. Final scores were 18-12 to 13-7. Despite the 35-point margin there was a lot Drouin can take out of the game and a lot its supporters can take heart in, the Hawks not just matching, but outplaying Leongatha, for substantial periods.
The absence of Eddie Morris (leg injury) from late in the third quarter didn’t help the Hawks’ cause when the game was in the balance.
It had looked set to be a one-sided affair when reigning premier Leongatha slammed on six quick goals in the first quarter to Drouin’s one but by the end of the term the Hawks had drawn within 10 points, 7-1 to 5-3.
Four of the Parrots goals had come from tall key forward James Lloyd, in only his third game with the club.
But he wasn’t to add to that tally as Drouin settled and stopped Leongatha’s quick, free-flowing, running style by terrier-like tackling, relentless second, third and even fourth efforts at contests and working hard to match up man-to-man when Leongatha had possession.
The Hawks got the last three goals of the opening quarter from Clayton Kingi with a good 40metre goal on the run after intercepting a Leongatha pass, Cambell Jolly and Liam Anderson.
Liam Axford and Eddie Morris had got the earlier goals.
Drouin got the first of the second quarter from a fine snap by Jolly to get within three points.
The Hawks, with Bob McCallum well on top in the ruck and busy around the ground, on-ballers Axford, Morris, Jordan and Clayton Kingi and Jeb McLeod winning at ground level, David Olsen leading a tightened and more attacking defence and Anderson and Jolly busy in attack had the better of general play for the term.
Leongatha came back to lead by 17 points at half time, due largely to two trademark goals in quick succession by Chris Dunne through his great anticipation.
The third quarter was tough relentless football that raised the excitement levels among the crowd as Drouin maintained its tremendous pressure across the ground.
Tom Barr, who was to play a great uplifting term, made a terrific spoil, followed up to win the ball then slipped out a handball to Eddie Morris for a goal after three minutes.
A strong mark and good conversion from 40 metres by Austen Haymes drew the Hawks to within six points.
It was Dunne again, on his way to eight goals for the game, and Cade Maskell that goaled to steady the ship for Leongatha.
But Drouin closed out with the final two goals of the quarter to go to the last change only 12 points in arrears.
McCallum, resting forward, got the first of those goals when he marked on a lead at the end of a chain that started with a Josh Seri hit out from a centre ball-up and involved McLeod, Morris and Jye Mitchell all running hard and moving the ball quickly.
Barr followed up soon after when he gathered the ball brilliantly, evaded would-be tacklers and kicked a great running goal.
Leongatha was quick to take advantage of Morris sitting on the bench and McCallum starting the last quarter in the forward line.
And it was Dunne’s class that set the Parrots on their way.
He made two goals out of nothing within two minutes and a third to Leongatha in just six minutes by Jack Hume opened a match-winning lead.
Hume, a bottom age Under 18 player, made a great senior debut with three goals and looks destined for bigger things.
Anderson and Barr grabbed back a couple of goals for Drouin before the siren sounded.
Among the positives the Hawks can take out of the game are the ways the less experienced players are gaining in confidence and are more prepared to back themselves.
McCallum was outstanding again and McLeod, who hasn’t put in a poor game since joining the club this year, Barr, Jolly, Clayton Kingi and Holmes were also named Drouin’s best.
But a number of others deserve honourable mentions including the consistent Axford, Anderson, Morris (until injured), Sam Piner for his perseverance and holding Lloyd goalless for the last three quarters, Olsen and Michael Laszczyk.