RED CLIFFS 9.12 (66)
ROBINVALE EUSTON 6.9 (45)
GOALS: Red Cliffs: J. Reed 3, A. Brizzi, B. Riordan, L. Marciano, J. Jackson, L. Heath, J. Parker. Robinvale Euston: J. Neyland 2, J. Zappia, J. Mezzatesta, R. Liparota, R. Middlebrook.
BEST: Red Cliffs: P. Tuifao, B. Riordan, J. Parker, L. Marciano, J. Reed, J. Marciano. Robinvale Euston: R. Middlebrook, T. Kimberly, J. Zappia, L. Polata, J. Neyland, J. Marriott.THREE THINGS WE LEARNT
YELLOW FEVER: The only dampeners on Red Cliffs’ stirring victory came via the reports of returning Jonty Marciano (for striking James Zappia in the first quarter) and former Eagle John Jackson (for striking Andrew Richardson in the second quarter). Both players were yellow carded, with Marciano throwing his card away in disgust and almost packing his bags to go home. Fortunately, he didn’t, and the Jonty of old was back in the second half.
SPIRIT OF ’91: It was a huge day of premiership reunions for the home side, with the 1981 Reserves, 1991 Seniors and 2001 under-17s celebrating their milestones. Two of the 1991 alumni, David O’Connor and Joe Zappia, were on Eagles’ Reserves coaching duties, overseeing a come-from-behind 10-point win over the more fancied Tigers that made their brethren proud. (Oh, and “yours truly” played a little part in the lead-up to the match-sealing goal!)
TROUBLE KEEPING SCORE: Electronic scoreboards are a wonderful aesthetic – until they break down. In the third quarter, while the Tigers celebrated hitting the lead, the physical scoreboard wasn’t paying attention, with a malfunctioning timer freezing the score as it was at half-time throughout! (Well, it was still half right …)By Louie Bulzomi (pic by line)
YOUNG Red Cliffs playing coach Vas Tuifao was grimacing in pain after copping a heavy bump late in the final quarter. But you could’ve been very much mistaken for thinking his facial expression was a massive smile from ear to ear.
Well, unlike Formula 1 commentating legend Murray Walker, you wouldn’t have been very much mistaken, because Tuifao was indeed all smiles as his Tigers broke a 651-day winning drought, inflicting a 42-point defeat on a disappointing Robinvale Euston at John James Oval.
Tuifao could not hide the elation of how much the win meant to him post-game.
“It’s one thing feeling them as a player, but as a coach those losses from the first four weeks I took them a lot harder, and they take their toll – especially when also trying to be in-form as a player,” Tuifao said.
“From a coach’s perspective, the pressure (to win) is unreal. I reckon my sleep’s changed because I’m obviously thinking about the game more.
“But now we’ve got one under our belt, I feel like crying!”
The Eagles looked slick early after a five-goal blitz, engineered from the run and carry of James Zappia, Ryan Middlebrook and Timothy Kimberly.
But after scuffles between John Jackson, Andrew Richardson, Jonty Marciano and Travis Bussell (among a few others), the Tigers went into the first change with more momentum.
One problem, however: the scoreboard didn’t reflect that.
Some uplifting words from the coaching staff (and even perennial Tiger stalwart “Yo-Yo” Joe Pileggi) eventually helped that momentum carry to the scoreboard from that point on.
“Credit to the boys, because we’re a side where when that usually happens our heads are down and we fall away from our structures,” Tuifao said.
“But coming off the back of two good weeks on the track when we didn’t play, we kept telling each other, ‘We’re gonna win’.”
Youngster Jack Parker and veteran Beau Riordan brought their own footys to every corner of the turf, while former Victorian and Hobart Hurricanes cricketer Jake Reed slotted three as he contended with a rotation of Jakob Garreffa, Colby Mannix and Justin Neyland.
At the other end, Ricardo Liparota’s physicality helped him to a goal early before his radar went off and his colours were lowered by Jarrod McGlashan, while Tuifao’s brother Peter played his best game for the season – orchestrating the defence and intercepting at will.
“There’s no-one more honest than Peter.” Tuifao said.
“Even though I’m the coach, he’ll still grill me and hold me as accountable as anyone else.
“And I love that, because I need that other voice to help me take it on board.
“He tells me, ‘You worry about the midfield, and leave the backline to us’, and to me that’s trust.”
Speaking of brothers, the Marcianos were influential in the second half, with Jonty’s return to footy after a month away for personal reasons warming the hearts of the yellow-and-black faithful.
Robinvale Euston have plenty of soul searching to do heading into their bye, while Red Cliffs aim to back up against Mildura at Quandong Park on Saturday.
