Charging Crocs put Saints to sword
A SCINTILLATING second half from Southern Districts yesterday set up a 69-point win over St Mary’s, who had remarkably led at halftime.
Saints went into the main break one point ahead, having kept the Crocs goalless in the first quarter, but were blown away after the main break, eventually going down 17.3 (115) to 6.10 (46).
Brent Renouf’s side had no answer to the reigning premier’s slick ball movement, which proved the catalyst behind an eight-goal-to-one third term.
Charlie McAdam led the Crocs’ charge across half back, as Leroy Jetta came to life, kicking three goals in nine minutes.
Michael Mummery was also impressive, booting two slick majors, with Clinton Gallio another standout.
Districts coach Shannon Rusca said Saints forced his side into errors in the first half, but with patience and control, goals came.
“We had a lot of inside 50s in the first half, but we were hitting points, unfortunately,” Rusca said.
“I just told them to keep attacking the goal-face and keep honouring the hits up forward, and the game will open up, and eventually we got the score on the board.
“(Saints’) pressure was fantastic in the first half and we fumbled a lot.
“We started to play into their hands by kicking down the line and not looking lateral, and that’s a credit to them.
“We had to lower our vision and start hitting targets, which is what we did.”
Renouf said St Mary’s firsthalf intensity was great, but he was disappointed it couldn’t be maintained.
“Playing a lot of young guys, you learn pretty quickly that against senior footy players, you have to play for four quarters,” Renouf said.
“To do it for a half, although it is positive, we lowered our colours in the second half.
“I trust that we have done enough work in the pre-season. We are fit enough.
“We just got led to the ball in that second half and Districts got a roll on.
“They had clean passages of play and some clean ball movement and just cut us up.
“We will go back, have a look at that type of stuff, and go from there.”