Eagles hold out Darwin
WANDERERS V BUFFALOES BEST 4.2 10.5 12.7 13.9 1.5 3.6 8.7 11.10 GOALS WANDERERS won their first Premier League game in seven weeks when they beat a stopstart Darwin Buffaloes side at TIO Stadium last night.
Inspired by young gun Joel Jeffrey and the return of experienced trio Liam Patrick, Adam Cook and Davin Ferreira, the Eagles led by almost seven goals at half-time before staggering to a 13.9 (87) to 11.10 (76) win over the charging Buffaloes.
Wanderers started in a rush and had the first goal on the board in the first minute when returning spearhead Cook marked and converted from close in.
It was the first sign of a revamped Eagles forward line with Cook back in his former role, rising star Jeffrey and another returning Wanderers goalkicker in Patrick providing plenty of options for their onball brigade.
It was Jeffrey who stepped up in the first half, booting three goals himself and adding a third prong to the Wanderers trident that kicked six goals to two in a return to the glory days when Wanderers played in four successive grand finals.
Gove recruits Mabo Mununggurritj and Winston Yunupingu were prominent in the matching 25 and 26 jumpers and Joel Cubillo added to his family’s football tradition with four quarters of quality possessions.
Wanderers’ second term was their best since the opening round. Davin Ferreira got plenty of the footy, including a candidate for goal of the season when he steered his side’s eighth goal through from the boundary line when forced on to an “impossible’’ angle.
The Buffaloes had one winner in that time, Javadd Anderson kicking three goals from limited opportunities to give his side a slim chance of victory despite a 41-point deficit at the main break.
But that is when the good sides stand up and the 2018 Buffaloes did that, booting five goals to two in a classy display of running football.
Ferreira’s collision with a behind post added to his side’s injury list.
Late goals by the busy Jarrod Stokes and Steven Anderson dragged the margin back to 24 points at the last change.