BAD START FOR TAYLOR
Wanderers ruin party as ex-AFL star’s debut for Districts ends in loss
WANDERERS gatecrashed the Harry Taylor show at Fred’s Pass on Saturday, running the former Cats’ Districts side ragged with a 61-point win.
The Eagles were too quick, hunted in numbers and displayed exquisite foot skills in an 18.9 (117) to 7.14 (56) win that would have made the rest of the competition take notice.
The defensive line of Mitchell Taylor, Daniel Weetra, Lloyd Johnston and Brodie Newman was the springboard that set up several Wanderers goals and kept big-marking Districts forward Taylor and Jake McQueen quiet for most of the day.
The Eagles built on a twogoal lead at the first lemon break before exploding in the second and third terms with five and seven-goal bursts.
Coach Aaron Motlop pointed to his side’s defensive work as the main factor in the win.
“We didn’t allow Districts to have time with the footy, something we spoke about before the game in having that constant pressure around the ball,’’ he said.
“That helped our backline out a lot, even though the players back there form a very good unit for the footy club.
“I’m super stoked, the guys to their credit played some fantastic footy today.’’
WANDERERS gatecrashed the Harry Taylor show at Fred’s Pass on Saturday, running the former Cats’ Districts side ragged with a 61-point win.
The Eagles were too quick, hunted in numbers and displayed exquisite foot skills in an 18.9 (117) to 7.14 (56) win that would have made the rest of the competition take notice.
The defensive line of Mitchell Taylor, Daniel Weetra, Lloyd Johnston and Brodie Newman was the springboard that set up several Wanderers goals and kept big-marking Districts forward Taylor and Jake McQueen quiet for most of the day.
The Eagles built on a two-goal lead at the first lemon break before exploding in the second and third terms with five and seven-goal bursts.
Both quarters represented the best of Wanderers. The pacy breakaway, precise foot passing to teammates and the ability to hunt down opponents when they had the ball.
Wanderers had big Ed Simpson as a marking option up forward and he did not let the side down with all three majors in the first term and five for the match.
That was without key forward Darren Shillabeer (unavailable) and prolific ball winner Beau O’Connell (general soreness).
It was a crucial win for the Eagles who grabbed a temporary hold on third spot with the win and winnable games against the Tiwi Bombers, Darwin Buffaloes and Districts again in round 8 in the next three weeks.
Coach Aaron Motlop pointed to his side’s defensive work as the main factor in the win.
“We didn’t allow Districts to have time with the footy, something we spoke about before the game in having that constant pressure around the ball,’’ he said.
“That helped our backline out a lot, even though the players back there form a very good unit for the footy club.
“I’m super stoked, the guys to their credit played some fantastic footy today.’’
Districts were often caught out by the number of Wanderers players around the ball and their defensive work on Taylor and McQueen when they did get the ball forward.
Taylor was often bustled off the ball by close checking opponents Weetra and Newman, but the 280game Geelong star showed enough to suggest he will be a major weapon for Districts as his match appearances start to mount up.
WANDERERS 3.4 8.4 15.7 18.9 (117)
S’DISTRICTS 1.5 2.10 3.10 7.14 (56)
GOALS — Wand: E Simpson 5 D Thompson 3 K Fejo 2 D Clee 2 L Patrick 2 J Motlop M Totham J Priest M Motlop. Dist: J Ross 2 L Williams J Sexton H Taylor J McQueen D Staunton.
BEST — Wand: M Taylor D Weetra D Thompson J Priest L Johnston. Dist: J Ross M Bowden C McAdam J Sexton.