Mildura
1.5 1.5 2.9 2.11 (23)
Robinvale Euston
2.4 7.5 8.9 13.13 (91)
GOALS: MILDURA: Jack Howarth, Dylan Murphy 1. ROBINVALE EUSTON: Isaiah Johnson 5, Jackson Nolan, Braidyn Turner, 2, Hayden Egerton, Ethan Gill, Ricardo Liparota, Joseph Mezzatesta, 1.
BEST: MILDURA: Mitch Rogerson, Brodie Jones, Samuel Gorman, Daniel Shaw, Dylan Murphy, Zac Nelson. ROBINVALE EUSTON: Hayden Egerton, Joseph Madio, Braidyn Turner, Jayden Nolan, Colby Mannix, Ethan Gill.
ROBINVALE Euston’s percentage-boosting 68-point victory against Mildura at Brian Weightman Oval has gone a long way to sealing a final spot, as other results fell their way.
While the ‘Artic’ rain burst during the second quarter reminded me more of the conditions often encountered at VFL Park, Waverley, it brought out the best in the Eagles outfit.
Kicking against the breeze, Robinvale Euston started the better and had the game on their terms, scoring the opening two goals. To Mildura’s credit, they were able to wrest back control and, for the more significant part of the opening term, dominated general play, field position and inside 50s. Unfortunately, as has been the case this season, they could not capitalise on the scoreboard, kicking an inaccurate one goal five behinds for the quarter to trail by five points at the first break.
Mildura coach Ilario Cavallo was frustrated with his team’s inability to hurt the opposition on the scoreboard.
“We didn’t execute going forward, and we spoke about that,” Cavallo said. “I reckon in the first, and the third quarter we probably had ten more inside 50s from what we were tracking, and it was just our execution going forward that let us down.”
Those that ventured out to the huddles at quarter time quickly recognised that the grandstand was the best place to view the game as an imminent rain cell approached. When the rain arrived at the eight-minute mark of the second quarter, with no further goals added, it appeared that the game was set for a hard-fought slog.
Robinvale had wasted the breeze advantage in the dry conditions early in the quarter by being confined to the dead wing. One couldn’t help but think they may have missed an opportunity to gain a valuable scoreboard lead.
Few would have predicted how the game would transform in the slippery conditions. In 13 minutes of football, the Eagles kicked five unanswered goals.
A bevy of in and under players like Hayden Egerton and Joseph Madio thrived around the contest, and then the Eagles outplayed the Demons on the spread.
Braidyn Turner worked hard as a mobile forward target. Isaiah Johnson was unbeatable one-on-one, kicking three goals for the term and significantly, the visitors had stretched the margin to six goals at the long break.
Stand in coach in the absence of Andrew Richardson, Ethan Gill believed the wet conditions suited his team.
“It made us do the basic things right, simplified the game, and it probably played to our favour a bit,” Gill said.
He was pleased that his team were prepared to work hard for each other.
“We want to spread and work hard both ways, especially against the top teams,” he said.
Cavallo also noted the effect of the rain.
“When the going got tough, we kind of went out of the game, and once it started raining, we didn’t want the ball,” Cavallo said. “We spoke about that, we took that on the chin, and then I thought we did a lot better after half-time.”
The third quarter was played in surprisingly benign conditions. With the rain passed and the breeze abating, save for a heavy but sticky ball, there were few excuses for the players. The improved conditions, however, did not boost scoring. This quarter was predominantly played between the arcs, and neither team were able to optimise their forward entries. As a result, the two teams squared the quarter, kicking one goal four behinds each.
As in the second quarter, a brief shower in the final term seemed to ignite the Eagles again. They again scored five unanswered goals for the quarter. Out-numbering Mildura when the ball was in dispute and more prepared to run to position when in possession, they closed out the game with authority befitting a team seemingly destined for finals action.
