Eagles KO Keysborough

By Brad Kingsbury
CRANBOURNE blitzed 2008 Casey Cardinia League grand finalists Keysborough in the second half of Saturday’s big clash at Casey Fields, cruising to a solid 33-point victory and moving to second place on the ladder.
The Eagles persisted after a bright start by the Burra, booting nine goals to three in the second half, but breaking the visitors’ back with withering eight-goal third term.
While William Gayfer kept a close watch on Cranbourne spearhead Marc Holt, it was left to the Eagles support players, led by Brad Coller and Ray George, to create attacking moves and both rose to the occasion superbly after the long break.
The home side worked its way on top at the stoppages with Stuart Morrish and makeshift ruckman Andre Young competing well and giving Callum Lester, Jarrod Murphy and Luke Martin first use of the ball.
The Burra was shattered at three-quarter time, both physically and mentally, with first-half stars Clinton King and Warrick Hanks off the ground injured and recruits including David Roberts, Ryan Goodes, Andrew Ferguson and Davor Rajic feeling the effects of playing on the wide expanses of the Casey Fields arena.
The game petered out in the final term, mainly due to Cranbourne’s inaccuracy, but the result left the two camps looking at vastly different scenarios for 2009.
Keysborough coach Greg Siwes was thrilled with the job Gayfer did to keep Holt to only one goal, booted very late in the game, but had no answers to the Eagles’ more mobile forwards in George, Coller and Curtis Barker who finished with three goals apiece.
Regular forward Matthew Freeman spent most of the game in an on-ball role and the Burra struggled for consistency in attack with key goalkicker Tyson King well marked by Eagle stopper Daniel Watson.
Koop was pragmatic after the game, given it was only his team’s second hitout for the season, however he acknowledged that there were some good signs, especially in the areas of player accountability and pressure.
In other Casey Cardinia League results, Doveton defeated traditional foes Hampton Park by 68 points, Pakenham downed Beaconsfield by 45 points and Berwick continued its good early season form with a 24-point win over ROC.