WHEN Wentworth coach Wade Hancock started recounting the biblical story of Nehemiah leading his people to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, there was some puzzlement around the changeroom as to the relevance of the story to the upcoming football match.
As the story goes, Nehemiah was able to re-secure the city of Jerusalem, but could not have done so without the help of all the city’s people playing their part.
Wentworth would require a similar commitment to the greater cause to secure victory. Therefore, Hancock challenged each player to build their wall, help their teammate build theirs and mutually work as a team to attain the common goal, victory, and a direct berth into the grand final.
Bereft of recent form and confidence, Wentworth entered this qualifying final as underdogs.
The biblical analogy would count for little if their early season form and belief could not be recaptured. But as it turned out, Hancock’s pre-match address proved remarkably prophetic.
From the outset, the Roos were proactive and were able to exert sustained pressure around the contest and with their outside run.
Collectively, Wentworth was able to outnumber the Swallows around the ball and was able to use the ball better on the spread.
Under constant pressure, Irymple were not as clean as they usually are and struggled with their ball use efficiency, particularly when going forward or when having shots on goal.
Since the season’s midway point, Hancock has been vigilant about maintaining the hunger among the playing group.
The recent run of indifferent form suggested that, in some parts, Hancock’s group could not meet this challenge. Additionally, mounting losses had exposed some frailties in confidence and belief.
These fears were quickly allayed in the first quarter when the Roos kicked five goals to one. It was as if the eventuality of playing a final gave the group the necessary impetus to get back to playing as they had during their eleven-game undefeated run.
“Actions follow your beliefs” was a phrase coined by Hancock before the game.
For Wentworth to start as they did, suggests their inner belief had been restored pregame and may have been on the back of some shrewd tactical and positional changes. Wentworth shored up their physicality around the contest.
Bigger-bodied Jackson Ferguson and Andrew Wall were utilised as midfielders, and with ruckman Nick Jensen returning, Wentworth enjoyed some clearance dominance which proved telling throughout the match.
After trailing by 23 points at quarter time, Irymple continually challenged and even reduced the margin to less than 10 points during the third quarter. With periods of dominance and a depleted Wentworth list, many anticipated Irymple may enforce a tight finish.
However, Wentworth was able to keep their opponent at arm’s length, proved too resilient and ultimately built their win on the back of a gritty, whole team effort.
Irymple will need to quickly lick their wounds, and one suspects they will be eager to atone for this uncharacteristic performance in this Saturday’s preliminary final.
Wentworth has shown their best footy stacks up against any opposition all year. With confidence and form recaptured and on the back of a week off to freshen up, they go into the grand final as the logical favourites regardless of who they may encounter.
