General News
31 August, 2023
Achille's heel exposed: the contest is on
By CHRIS EARL THE prowler colossus that has been Marong for almost two seasons of Loddon Valley football is fallable. The Panthers liable to fall apart when real pressure is applied by opponents. Spectators saw that early in the season Inglewood put...
By CHRIS EARL
THE prowler colossus that has been Marong for almost two seasons of Loddon Valley football is fallable.
The Panthers liable to fall apart when real pressure is applied by opponents.
Spectators saw that early in the season Inglewood put a torch on what is Marong’s Achille’s heel.
And on Saturday, Pyramid Hill at near full strength showed Marong’s name on the premiership for 2023 is far from a foregone conclusion.
As they did against Inglewood, Saturday’s second semi-final at Serpentine saw the Panthers respond with fiery antics when Pyramid Hill increased the blowtorch intensity during a blistering second term.
The blowout 100-plus margins accumulated by Marong in the second half of the season would not be repeated.
Whether from not having played for a fortnight or off-field dramas for Marong during the week with Heathcote league effectively blocking its move or the furore over the club starring in promotional videos for an international online gambling giant, Pyramid Hill was playing the harder and better football.
Brodie Carroll was leading a style of play that saw every Bulldogs sticking to a game plan.
Zac Dingwell was valiant in the ruck, covering the absence of Sidebottom who had been a leading player in the qualifying victory a week earlier. The dual between Sidebottom and Marong’s talls waiting for another day.
Panther Tibbett was dominant and proved the difference around the ground. Robins and youngster Jonty Davis also starred for four quarters.
Leading goalkicker Grenfell was held to four goals and a few more behinds, Pyramid’s Dylan Morison constantly spoiling Grenfell and Gavin James starring in the defender support role.
While Carroll. and Jesse Sheahan were among the goal kickers for Pyramid Hill in the opening term, Matthew Riordan was equally as dangerous at the other end for Marong as the lead changed hands several times. A goal to Riordan seconds before the final only created a false impression when it came to scoreboard closeness.
Scott Mann had Pyramid Hill with early momentum in the second, scoring a goal. Offline attempts by Sheahan and Micevski proved temporary setbacks for the Bulldogs.
Undisciplined play from Marong’s Matthew Devanny saw him firstly lose the kick and then have a 50-metre penalty paid against them that allowed Bryden Morison to kick what would be Pyramid Hill’s second goal of the quarter. Marong was not liking the Bulldogs’ tackling pressure.
It took a Michael Bradbury snap at goal for the Panthers to settle their ship five minutes later. Grenfell then moved up the field and roosted a goal from 40 metres out,
Tackles and smothers were abundant in the back half of the term from both sides.
Carroll, Collis and Micevski had worked to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance and the trio picked up the theme in the third quarter. A Carroll snap would cut Marong’s lead to just five points and then temporarily hit the lead when a Collis punt wobbled through.
Marong went to the final break with a Grenfell kick, first signalled a touched behind, becoming a goal just before the siren.
The Panthers were initially rattled as the last quarter started - players telling the coach’s box they were unsure where they were to be.
Again it was Brodie Carroll, this time the recipient of two 50-metre penalties after taking the mark, who opened the scoring.
But Marong rose, particularly across the midfield, Tibbett was back in charge as the Panthers put on five goals for the term.
Winning by just 24 points shows the Panthers may not be the flag shoe-in everyone predicted throughout the two months of utter domination.