A brilliant spectacle of footy full of local Riverina talent saw the GIANTS’ VFL side fall short by 26 points to a spirited Port Melbourne in Albury on Sunday afternoon.
Played as a GIANTS home game in picturesque autumn conditions at Albury Sports Ground, the GIANTS overcame a slow start to enter the main break with scores tied but were outgunned by the Borough in the second half as Port Melbourne registered an impressive 16.14 (110) – 12.12 (84) win.
The GIANTS were brave throughout the contest and threatened a final quarter comeback after cutting a 31-point deficit to just 18 with 10 minutes to play but couldn’t trim it any further as Port Melbourne held on for a gutsy win.
Despite the loss there was a host of strong performances for the GIANTS - and in particular from some local homegrown talent - with Riverina products Nick Madden (17 touches, 31 hit-outs, six tackles, five clearances, a goal) and Nathan Wardius (13 touches, six marks, three goals) two of the standouts in front of adoring friends and family in attendance.
Promising draftee Jack Ough (22 disposals,12 tackles, six marks, five clearances) was another who led the way as he continues to push for an AFL debut, while Josh Fahey (21 touches) and Wade Derksen (20 touches, nine marks) were amongst the leading disposal getters in the tough loss.
Conor Stone (20 touches, seven marks) and James Leake (15 touches, five marks) were other solid contributors as they look to force their way back into the AFL side, while Max Gruzewski (13 touches, nine marks, 2.3) and Josaia Delana (15 touches, a goal) were dangerous targets ahead of the footy alongside Wardius.
Leading the way for the VFL-listed contingent was the ever-reliable Marc Sheather (17 touches) alongside Billy McGee Galimberti (17 touches, seven marks), Louie Montgomery (15 touches, four tackles, a goal), and former Yarrawonga star Perry Lewis-Smith (14 touches, four marks).
Lachlan Keeffe (nine touches, eight hit-outs, 1.1) was also serviceable in his role up forward and as a backup ruck, while Albury product Phoenix Gothard (seven touches, six tackles) had limited opportunities but pressured strongly in his return to his former stomping grounds.
Impressive youngster Ollie Hannaford (10 touches, 1.1) had some eye-catching moments before an ankle injury ruled him out of the second half.
Played in perfect conditions in front of a vocal and enthusiastic Albury crowd, it was the Borough who were the sharper of the sides early on as they jumped out to a three-goal lead at the first break which could have been more if not for the GIANTS’ incredible efficiency going inside 50.
Despite Port Melbourne’s dominance in inside 50’s (18 to five) and clearances (16 to three) in the opening term, the GIANTS were able to stay in the contest early thanks to their lethal conversion which saw Hannaford, Montgomery and Delana all kick majors from just five inside 50s for the term.
After being beaten well and truly around the contest in the first term, the GIANTS were back to their bruising best early in the second as the orange tsunami began to surge with three unanswered goals off the boots of Ough and Riverina locals Madden and Wardius, with Wardius’ classy set shot finish bringing a huge round of applause from a strong contingent of family and friends on the hill at Albury Sports Ground.
The Borough responded however through back-to-back goals within a handful of minutes before veteran Keeffe pegged one back for the GIANTS minutes before half-time as the sides entered the sheds deadlocked at 48 apiece.
The third term saw some brilliant footy played from both sides as they traded blows before a 10-minute barrage from the Borough saw them enter the final quarter with a handy three-goal lead.
After Gruzewski and Wardius both added to their goal tallies early in the third it was looking like the tsunami was ready to roll once again but in fact it was a Borough blizzard which took over Albury Sports Ground as Port Melbourne kicked four goals in less than 10 minutes to take a stranglehold of the contest.
While GIANTS’ VFL skipper Ryan Hebron managed to step up when needed with a crucial, brilliant, long-range goal in red time of the third term, the Borough responded with their sixth major of the term moments later to enter the final term three goals up.
Largely behind their continued clearance dominance – in which they won the count 45 to 22 – the Borough were able to kick the first two goals of the final term to stretch the lead to five goals and despite goals to Wardius and Gruzewski the GIANTS were unable to bridge the gap to fall short for just the second time this season.
The GIANTS – who sit third on the VFL table at 6-2 will look to bounce back when they host the Tigers at ENGIE Stadium in a curtain raiser to the club’s AFL clash with Richmond.
VFL Round 9
Port Melbourne 5.5 7.6 13.10 16.14 (110)
GIANTS 3.0 7.6 10.9 12.12 (84)
Goalkickers
Port Melbourne: Manton 5, Clarke 2, Farrant 2, Watson 2, Hooper, Kuol Mun, Lloyd, Miller, Philp
GIANTS: Wardius 3, Gruzewski 2, Delana, Hannaford, Hebron, Keeffe, Madden, Montgomery, Ough
