Keysborough storms through for win

By Mark Gullick
KEYSBOROUGH remains undefeated following a hard-fought 15-point win over Hampton Park at Rowley Allen Reserve.
A strong wind blowing across the ground wrought havoc on the players and threw out the team’s pre-match strategies.
“It was a really strange game of footy,” Keysborough coach Brad Canavan said. “First half it looked like a soccer game.”
At half-time, the scoreboard was in Hampton Park’s favour, 1.6 to 1.3.
There were few highlights in the opening hour of play as the half-back lines of each team were rarely penetrated, and the rare shots on goal were wayward.
“Both sides had their chances to kick a couple of goals, but we both squandered them,” Canavan said. “From 20 or 30 out, we were both missing.
“I gave the boys a bit of a rev-up at half-time, the first rev-up I’ve given them since I’ve been at Keysy. I put it on a few blokes to step up in the second half because we only had 20 men. We lost Luke McGuinness and Tim Bacic to injury.”
Canavan also made a few changes during the long break.
Corey Wilkinson went forward and played a defensive role on Ryan Simpson, Matthew Freeman went to the backline and Waata Wells went to full-forward.
His players responded with four goals in the third term to put Keysborough ahead by one-point heading into the final stanza.
“I thought we had the momentum and the wind was slightly pushing our way,” Canavan said.
Keysborough kicked the first few goals of the final term, but Hampton Park answered with goals of their own.
Davor Rajic was moved forward and kicked two goals, which edged Keysborough towards its victory.
Keysborough’s best players were David Prib, John McMurray, Karl Schoenmaekers, William Gayfer, Damien Wilsnach and Matthew Freeman.