Tigers top Panthers

Lang Lang v Yarragon

Lang Lang made light work of Yarragon at home, defeating the Panthers 25.15 (165) to 5.7. (37).

Yarragon were able to keep the Tigers under wraps in the first quarter, the deficit just 19 points, but Lang Lang opened the floodgates in the second term.

They were able to get one on one contests down the field, with the shorter Yarragon backline unable to contend with tall man Daniel Lewis up forward. The midfield were able to get on top and find the footy at the source, ensuring clean ball went inside the Tiger 50.

By halftime, the Tigers had piled on 13 goals, nine alone in the second term to effectively end the game by the main break.

Yarragon came out of the rooms in the third quarter with some fight however, were able to kick three goals to Lang Lang’s five, but that was where their good fortunes ended.

The Tigers stamped their authority on the contest in the final term as the Panthers were unable to keep up, running over the top of them to record a percentage boosting 128point win.

Lang Lang coach Josh Collie said the win was a pleasing one for the side who have shown great improvement from 2019.

“We really came to play from the first bounce. Our midfield outworked them around the footy and around the ground.

“The forwards worked really well together and were able to get a lot of one on one contest and create a lot of space,” he said.

Collie also praised the work of the Lang Lang backline, who did have some tricky assignments early in the match.

“The backs defended their one on ones really well and we actually got a lot of drive off half back which made a massive difference going forward,” he said.

For Lang Lang, Daniel Lewis was the standout up forward, booting 10 goals in the match to be the main problem for the Panthers, while coach Josh Collie also hit the scoreboard with a bag of five majors. Nick Prowd (three goals) Brad Harding (two goals) and Brett Kirkham (two goals) were the other multiple goal kickers in the win.

Tyler Guan was best on ground, his relentless attack on the footy winning most contests, and he was supported by Brad Harding, Joseph Dalgleish, Mitch Tribuzi, Daniel Lewis and Lachy Barwick who rounded out the better players in a big day for Lang Lang.

For Yarragon, who showed a lot of promise last week against Poowong, they will look to learn from the loss and get ready to go again next weekend.

Tom Dovaston booted a couple for the Panthers, with Sam Van Der Zalm, Devon Pollock, and Mathew Adair the other goal kickers.

Van Der Zalm was best on ground in the loss, with Declan O’Donnell, Thomas Follett, Devin Pollock, Steven Dillon and Harrison Perry never giving up despite the lopsided score line to be named in the best for Yarragon.

Lang Lang will take on Neerim Neerim South in an interesting contest on Saturday, while Yarragon will face another test against one of the premier sides of the competition in Ellinbank away from home.