Never say die attitude gets over Leongatha
Drouin pulled off by far the biggest upset of the Gippsland League season downing premiership contender Leongatha on Saturday.
The Hawks thoroughly deserved their nail-biting 9-13 to 10-9 victory at Leongatha, a point readily conceded by the Parrots’ players and supporters.
A turn up looked possible when Drouin took a handy 7-4 to 4-6 lead into the dressing rooms at half time.
The Hawks had wrested control with a six goals to two second quarter.
But just as important was the first quarter when they stayed within eight points of Leongatha that had first use of a strong breeze, probably worth about four goals, blowing almost directly to the southern end goals.
Leongatha didn’t share league ladder leadership for no reason - it is a good side that had won 11 games in succession – and Drouin knew there’d be a fightback, especially with the wind at the Parrots’ back in the third term.
And they did, kicking 4-5 while holding the Hawks’ scoreless for the quarter to forge 13 points ahead at the last change.
It certainly wasn’t an insurmountable lead given the wind advantage Drouin would have.
The question was whether the Hawks could finish off the job given they had fallen away when in positions to challenge some other top sides over the past month.
They answered in the best possible manner although there were no easy concessions from the Parrots.
A miss from Michael Laszczyk from 25 metres, then goals from Jordan Kingi and Laszczyk, making amends, had Drouin within one point nine minutes into the quarter.
At the 15-minute mark the Hawks had evened the scoreboard before Leongatha got a goal up from a good snap by Josh Hopkins for what was his side’s sole goal for the quarter.
There were a couple of more behinds for Drouin in the desperate battle before Jeb McLeod’s skill won a one-on-one contest in Drouin’s forward pocket, dodged his opponent and snapped a great goal. Drouin by two points! Three minutes to go! Then Liam Anderson had his Leo Barry moment taking a great pack mark 25-metres from Leongatha’s goal to thwart the Parrots’ last desperate attempt to snatch victory in the final seconds.
The Hawks won because they took on a huge challenge head-on.
The players’ commitment to harass, run, the “one per centers” and their support for each other was terrific all game.
Even the third quarter when Leongatha grabbed back the lead Drouin never took a backward step.
The midfield group was on top throughout, the back lines in which coach Jordan Kingi has shown great faith stood tall and the forwards rarely allowed Leongatha to mount running passages from defence to set up attacks.
Young defenders Brendan Dower, Anderson, Joe Collins, James McKellar and Clayton Kingi were terrific alongside older heads Wayne Morris and David Miller.
Ruckman Bob McCallum and rover Eddie Morris were in everything and the depth of midfield and on-ball players being developed came through with Liam Axford who was a strong contender for best on ground, McLeod, Tom Barr, Laszczyk, Rhys Salter and Jordan Kingi, now hitting good form after an interrupted season, carrying too much weight for the opposition.
Drouin also fought through with more than its share of wounded warriors in the last quarter.
McKellar, crunched as he stood his ground under a marking contest in the third quarter; McLeod, not 100 per cent to start, Laszczyk and Nathan Guy (shoulder) all shrugged off their pain to make some really important contributions when it counted.
Josh Seri also did his bit when asked to give McCallum some ruck relief and in his forward role.
David Olsen, used forward in the past three weeks rather than his trademark role in defence, was also important especially in helping build the defensive mindset among his co-forwards.
Drouin’s goals were shared around.
Salter, Laszczyk and Jordan Kingi each kicked two, Axford, Eddie Morris, McLeod and McCallum one apiece.
There was some irony noted by Drouin supporters, when Chris Dunne kicked Leongatha’s fifth goal early in the third quarter, that all of the Parrots goals to that stage had come from former Hawks – Dunne had four of them and Pat McGrath the other.
Leongatha went into the game without a couple of good players, midfielder Tom Marriott and backman Col Sanbrook, but need to be able to cope with things like that if it is to successfully defend the premiership won last year.