DROUIN FALTER AFTER THEIR BLAZING START
A stunning start by Drouin at Wonthaggi on Saturday ended just as quickly as it started.
Within three minutes of the start the Hawks had 3-1 on the board - it was very nearly 4-0 - but couldn’t maintain the dominance.
Wonthaggi went on to win 14-12 to 7-6, the final four goals of the game to Power blowing out the margin.
Centre clearances and run launched Drouin’s great start that saw Jordan Kingi, Darcy Irwin and Liam Axford all goal.
The Hawks did have the advantage of a strong breeze but it didn’t play a part in the brilliant start.
Wonthaggi tightened its work around the fall of the ball, lifted its pressure rate and got numbers into defence to stifle Drouin.
The Hawks didn’t add to their early scores for the rest of the first half.
They did well to contain Power in the second quarter - until the time on period when three quick Wonthaggi goals gave it a 8-6 to 3-1 lead at half time.
Power’s extra physical strength was starting to tell.
Also telling for Drouin was the absence of key players Dan Nicholls and Ben Hughes due to injuries suffered a fortnight ago.
Young defender Liam Anderson also missed with injury.
Drouin certainly didn’t put the cue in the rack and had a real go in the third quarter.
Goals to Keegan Bott, Brad Virgona and Cody Harrison raised hopes but they were followed by a string of behinds that helped Wonthaggi take a 10-9 to 6-5 lead at last break.
Although against the wind the Hawks started the final term promisingly.
A Bott shot at goal hit the post and soon after Jordan Kingi, benefiting from a 50-metre penalty, posted his side’s seventh goal.
But it was to be the Hawks’ last score, Wonthaggi steadying to reassert control and string together four unanswered goals.
Drouin didn’t throw in the towel.
It was simply undermanned against a side that has made a surprising slow start to the season - Saturday was only Power’s second win - but it starting to build.
Strong forward Adam Cook returned after missing much of the season.
He was held to just one goal by Drouin captain David Olsen, who despite conceding size, edged Cook on the day with his ability to reach and spoil and hit the ground running.
Taking one of the oppositions’ bigger forwards might be a role Olsen will have to play for the rest of the season.
Damen Healy, at centre-half back, also conceded height on Saturday but was solid in the air and ground and held composure to be the Hawks’ best player.
Bott, moved forward in Hughes’ absence, certainly looked more comfortable than in a key back role.
He led strongly at the ball and worked well on the ground.
Centre-half forward Irwin also presented well and was involved in many of his team’s constructive attacks.
McCallum took the honours in the ruck and contributed solidly around the ground and on-ballers Jordan Kingi, Liam Axford, Brad Virgona and Luke Duffy had their good patches.
David Miller also did plenty of good work in defence.
Drouin’s playing stocks are being stretched, especially with some of its top level players oput of the side.
Duffy will return to VFL commitments next week, Nicholls (knee) believes he’ll miss only another couple of weeks while Hughes (ribs) might be a bit longer away from a return.
However, getting some positive rewards isn’t out of reach.
The Hawks should give themselves a good chance against Sale, at Sale, on Saturday.