By JARROD POTTER
VAFA DIVISION 2 – ROUND 7
PREMIERSHIP quarter; premiership standard result.
Turning around a lacklustre first half, St John’s kicked away against Old Eltham to make sure its unbeaten seven-match start to VAFA Division 2 remained intact.
Missed opportunities and lacklustre first-half pressure had St John’s only 11 points ahead and well down on their usual output. Nothing seemed to click for the usually impressive outfit – whether in front of goals, gut-running clearances or the general intensity they’ve set down as a benchmark.
That was not good enough for the hosts and the JOCs wanted to flip that around after half time.
“We’ve been up and about for six weeks, and human nature at times is to do enough to just do enough,” St John’s coach Ben McGee said. “At half time we spoke about the fact that if you have to admire a team at the moment, who would you admire more – us or them.
“The simple answer was you’d admire them more because they’re working harder with the fundamentals of the game.”
From the break onwards there was no doubting who earnt the admiration. St John’s fleet-footed midfielders – Manny Jakwot, captain Glenn Costas, Corey Ely and Corey Ladson – blanketed the visitors’ centre-men.
That defensive and central pressure resulted in countless opportunities up forward as Aaron Thornton (six goals) and Rohan Scott (five goals) filled their boots. Night and day was the difference between the two halves as 11 second half goals in the bag and renewed efforts across the board gave St John’s another emphatic triumph – this time 17.20 (122) to 6.8 (44).
The rearranged midfield – altered because of departing gun Carson Strobel over the off-season – has benefited the side in a roundabout way according to the coach as the next rung has stepped into the void.
“Losing (Carson) Strobel, has had the same effect as Adelaide losing (Patrick) Dangerfield and other blokes have had to step up a bit,” McGee said. “Guys who were crying out for an opportunity – Costas, Ely and Ladson.
“They’re all 5’10 but they move so well and have got defensive elements to their games and really choke sides when we don’t have the ball.”
The internal battle to retain spots is another pleasing aspect for McGee as the squad continues to improve every week and make selection a difficult, but pleasing problem.
Blokes became a bit more desperate in their own personal efforts – we’re in a situation now that it’s hard to keep your spot,“ McGee said. “Unless you’re one of the elite players with a lot of credit in the bank, then it’s tough to stay in the side.
“If you look at the other great sides in the area – Noble Park, Narre Warren and the like – the reason they’re great over eras is that it’s hard to keep your spot and that’s what has started to happen here too.“
The unbeaten JOCs now had a one-game gap atop Division 2 and head up to Bulleen-Templestowe on Saturday before hosting West Brunswick in a massive one-versus-two clash on 4 June.
St John’s held its White Ribbon Luncheon on Saturday and through the one-off white jumpers the club wore and the luncheon itself, the statement sent was clear: violence towards women will be condemned and brought to attention quickly in its community and surrounds.
“We had a great turn out for our White Ribbon lunch – sponsored by Partners in Training – that was really good in regards to how that went,” McGee said. “We had 70 people there and sent a really strong message to our kids and the community about violence and eliminating it.”
In VAFA Division 4, Masala was put to the sword by Point Cook in a 144-point lashing. The Tigers proved competitive through the first term on the unfamiliar deck out west – booting two goals and holding the opposition to four of their own – but from there the match blew open.
Slamming on 22 goals to three after the first break, the Tigers were forced to watch on in horror as the Bulldogs ripped shreds out of the VAFA newcomers 26.22 (178) to 5.2 (32). Matthew Sexton (two goals) was the only multiple goal kicker while Nick Cunningham, Ben Nugent and Stephen Daw were best afield. Masala will host Box Hill North this weekend at WJ Turner Reserve.
