Pressure the key for Hawks against Dogs

DEFENSIVE pressure will be a key focus for Eaglehawk against Gisborne in their blockbuster BFNL showdown tomorrow.

The Hawks will venture to Gardiner Reserve for their round 11 clash with plenty of momentum off the back of a convincing 15-point victory over South Bendigo at Canterbury Park.

They were superbly led again by in-form ruckman Brayden Frost, Joel Budarick, Tyh Evans and Billy Evans.

It was their second win this season over the Bloods, who went into the match following a second win over Gisborne.

The Hawks will be hoping that trend of repeat wins doesn’t continue, having lost their earlier season contest to Gisborne at Canterbury Park by 11 points.

Joint coach Clayton Holmes said the Hawks were rapt to have emerged from an obvious danger game against the Bloods, particularly with some key personnel missing.

 

“They (the Bloods) have knocked off a few big scalps, like Gisborne, and their form going in was pretty good,” said Holmes, who was one of the players sidelined with a knee complaint.

“Our big focus going into it was our pressure. We thought our last couple of weeks leading into it, it probably wasn’t at the standard we wanted it to be.

“To the boys’ credit, they responded and delivered some high pressure, which probably took one of their weapons – their disposal game – away from them for portions.

“Additionally, our ability to answer whenever we were challenged and to keep that margin all game were good.”

The Hawks were strong early, leading by 17 points at quarter-time, before pushing the margin out to 31 at half-time.

The Bloods booted five goals to two in the final term, but it was to no avail, with the Hawks’ earlier good work having them comfortably placed going into the final stanza.

While the Bloods’ 13 goals were shared among just four players, led by Brock Harvey with five, Kaiden Antonowicz (four) and Steven Stroobants (three), the Hawks found multiple avenues, with 11 players contributing to their tally of 14.

For Holmes and co-coach Travis Matheson, it was further evidence of the widespread contributions that have been pivotal to their success this season.

“That’s something we knew we would need going into the game, so we changed a few things with how we structured up,” Holmes said.

“We knew we needed to find other avenues to goal, especially with Jack O’Shannessy out.”

It is hoped O’Shannessy (ankle), the league’s leading goalkicker going into the round, will return for the clash against the Bulldogs.

The Hawks will be eager to make amends for their earlier season loss to Gisborne, a contest they led by two points at three-quarter-time, before the Bulldogs gained a slight, but crucial ascendancy in the final term.

“Last time we competed pretty well with them, but they seemed to have the answer to us at the end of the game,” Holmes said.

“It was a tight contest. They obviously have some massive quality players like (Braidon) Blake and (Brad) Bernacki, and (Pat) McKenna up forward.

“They are a quality outfit all over – even across the field.

“They’ve obviously lost Flynn Lakey, but have added a couple of youngsters, who are just as handy.

“Obviously our pressure will be important and hopefully we can get a couple of boys back to structure a bit more how we want to.

“From there it’s about getting opportunities inside 50s, with our midfielders going to work.

“Having played them earlier in the season, we know we can compete with them.

“Hopefully, we put our best foot forward, bring the pressure and get some reward for opportunity.”

It will be an important win in the context of both teams’ seasons, with the winner claiming outright second spot on the ladder, four points clear of the other.

South Bendigo will enter its clash against Castlemaine at Harry Trott Oval, two wins behind both the Hawks and Bulldogs.

In last weekend’s other games, Gisborne rebounded from a loss to South Bendigo to defeat Strathfieldsaye by 60 points; top-of-the-ladder Sandhurst retained the Ron Best Memorial Shield with a 76-point win over Golden Square; and Castlemaine survived an early scare at Camp Reserve in a 35-point win over Kangaroo Flat.

The Magpies’ third win of the season put them within four points of fifth-placed Strathfieldsaye ahead of respective clashes against South Bendigo and Golden Square this weekend.

Sandhurst’s win over Golden Square was headlined by a five-goal haul from Cobi Maxted and four from the boot of best afield Lachie Hood.

Round 10 recap:

Eaglehawk 14.16 (100) defeated South Bendigo 13.7 (85); Castlemaine 12.14 (86) defeated Kangaroo Flat 6.15 (51); Sandhurst 20.11 (131) def Golden Square 7.13 (55); Strathfieldsaye 7.10 (52) lost to Gisborne 16.16 (112)

Round 11:

South Bendigo v Castlemaine; Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst;

Gisborne v Eaglehawk;

Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye.