Lyrebirds power home with strong second half
Buln Buln overcame Poowong in their round 11 game at Poowong on Saturday. The Magpies went down to the visitors by 26 points.
The Magpies fought hard early on in the game, but the Lyrebirds stepped up in the second half and ultimately took home the chocolates.
Buln Buln raced out of the blocks from the first bounce and kicked five goals three. But the Magpies were well within reach of the lead. They put three majors and two behinds on the scoreboard in the first term, a score great enough to maintain parity or even lead against most sides. Buln Buln however, had other ideas.
Poowong stepped up in the second term and added 22 points to their side of the scoreboard. Their efforts were relatively inaccurate, however, with four missed opportunities in their three goal and four behind effort.
Buln Buln punched back hard, deperate to maintain their lead. The Lyrebirds finished the quarter with 51 points on their side of the scoreboard -- three goals more than they finished on at the end of the first term.
Despite the solid efforts of the Magpies, they still trailed the Lyrebirds by nine points at the main break.
A combination of an energised Buln Buln defence and a tired Poowong resulted in the Magpies adding just one goal three in the third term. The Lyrebirds made sure their lead stayed intact, adding four majors and three behinds to the scoreboard to bring their total tally to 12.6-78 before the final term
Poowong went into the fourth quarter with 7.9-51 on the scoreboard. If they were to make it their day, they had a fair amount of catching up to do. The Magpies'kept a solid work rate throughout the quarter, but it was their inaccuracy in front of goal that hurt their final tally. They had seven opportunites in that final term -- none of them resulting in a goal.
But while Poowong's forward line was struggling, their back line was more than doing their bit in their comeback efforts, keeping the Lyrebirds to just a single goal for the whole quarter. The third term efforts of Buln Buln were enough to bring them acros the line in front of Poowong and they finished the day with 26-point victory over the home side. 7.1658 to 13.6-84 was the final score.
Sam Langford's efforts for Buln Buln were enough for him to be named best on ground for the side. He was backed up by the efforts of Matthew Gray, Hayden Baker, Brandon Allen, Jack Symes and Charlie Park.
Best on ground for the hosts went to Lachlan Green. Thomas Wyatt, James Doria, Matthew Cozzio, Alexander Doria and Joshua Chiavaroli also made important contributions.
Poowong drop a place on the ladder after the loss. They replaced Neerim Neerim South in fourth place. Neerim Neerim South jump up to third after a big win over Lang Lang. Buln Buln jump up to fifth on the ladder, replacing Nyora after their loss to Longwarry on the weekend.
The Magpies are set to take on the Crows at Longwarry in their round 12 clash. Buln Buln will enjoy a home game against bottom side Nilma Darnum.
Catani beats Yarragon Catani blew Yarragon away to win by 61 points in their round 11 clash at Yarragon on Saturday.
Catani won by 100 points last time the two sides met back in round two.
Saturday's margin could have been greater but for poor accuracy on the part of the Blues.
The first term saw the Catani put two goals six on the scoreboard, the Blues' forwards hurt by uncooperative wind gusts from their end. The Panthers started the game by putting one major and a behind on the scoreboard.
The gulf between the sides widened even further in the second term. The Panthers added two goals two -- not enough to account for Catani's four majors and two behinds. By the main break, the visitors led by 24 points.
But it was in the third term where the Blues really turned on the afterburners and rocketed away. A stellar effort from Catani saw them put six additional majors on the scoreboards and four more behinds, bringing their total tally to 12.12-84. Yarragon managed just three behinds in response.
The scoring efforts evened out in the final term. Catani had put in what they needed to win but capped off the day with an extra two goals three. The Panthers saved some face with a two goal, three behind effort and finished the day 6.8-39. Catani's final scoreline was 14.1599.
Key midfielder Paul Pattison was his side's best man on the day. Liam Adams, Matt Barrand, Wade Hayson, Nathan Visser and Tom McLean were also influential.
For the home side it was Jake Cropley who was best on ground. Devin Pollock, Lachlan Shaw, Chase Blackwood, Jesse Hayhow and Donovan Pell also received honourable mentions.
Catani remain at number seven on the ladder after this result. Yarragon stay at eighth.
Yarragon take on top side Ellinbank in round 12 at home while the Blues will travel to face Lang Lang.