Burra flies home

By Brad Kingsbury
KEYSBOROUGH converted an almost certain Berwick win into despair for the Wickers, with a one-sided final quarter that saw the visitors turn a 23-point deficit into a stunning 22-point victory at the Edwin Flack Reserve on Saturday.
Berwick now sits near the bottom of the Casey Cardinia league ladder on no wins and four losses after the first four rounds, while the Burra is flying and remains undefeated in 2008.
Berwick hit the ground running and bolted to a 31-point lead in the opening term with spearhead George Gorozidis on target and plenty of supply from running team mates led by Shaun Barnes and debutant Shannon Rusca from Darwin.
Keysborough lifted its work rate after quarter time but still trailed by 27 points at half time and 23 points at the final change, with the home side in a winning position.
Burra coach Greg Siwes threw his gun young, tall Tyson King to full forward and instructed his side to get it to him as quickly as possible one-out.
The move worked with King creating a great target and the momentum of the contest suddenly changing.
Dean Gentle, Darcy McDonald and Kris Fowler worked hardto drive the ball forward and the Wicker players began to wilt under siege.
The visitors piled on seven unanswered goals to overtake the Wickers and then secure an important away win on the big finals venue.
Siwes said that he believed his side could win the game at three-quarter time despite trailing all day, and was particularly happy that the recent addition of pace to the side had played a major part in the result.
“We played a good second half and the boys stood up. The extra pace that we had (in the side) was probably the key and I was pretty happy with that,” he said.
“We needed everyone to stand up in the last quarter and they did.
“The game opened up a bit in the end and I think we were just that bit fitter.”
Keysborough did not escape unscathed however with Clinton King injuring his calf and young rover Danny Morland re-injuring an ankle.
Rusca had a great game and Gorozidis finished with seven goals in an outstanding performance for the Wickers, but Burns said a lack of accountability and the inability to run a game out were costing his side success.
“For some reason we get out to a good lead and then we just don’t know how to finish a side off,” the exasperated mentor said.
“We’ve got a good side but our midfielders suddenly become unaccountable and then the problems start.
“Our decision making was also a problem again but we had our opportunities in the third quarter and didn’t take them and just gave them a chance to get back.”
In other round four games, Narre Warren defeated Hampton Park by 87 points, Beaconsfield downed ROC by 80, Pakenham overcame Cranbourne by 27 and Devon Meadows won the Ron Mantel shield with a 42-point result over neighbours Tooradin.