Loy Yang B Gippsland Power recorded its fifth straight TAC Cup victory for the season, defeating the gutsy Western Jets by 24 points on Saturday.
In cold, wet conditions at Oakleigh the Power overcame the hard working Jets at the Oakleigh ground.
The Power performed superbly, with 57 forward fifties to the Jets’ 33 and despite the Jets being renowned for their tackling, the Power dominated this key stat as well.
The obvious flaw in the boys’ performance was their finishing up forward.
They had nineteen more scoring shots than the Jets but won the game by one goal eighteen behinds.
The Power’s work rate was outstanding, especially considering the pressure applied by the Jets; however, they need to avoid wasteful finishing if they are to realise their extraordinary potential.
The game opened with two quick goals by the Jets.
Stunned by the Jets’ early dominance, the Power upped their work rate with Will Hams and Josh Scott setting up Tim Membrey for the side’s first goal.
Not to be outdone, the Jets exploited some slack manning up on the rebound and regained the initiative.
In response the Power worked hard but inaccurate kicking cost them.
By the first break the Jets led by three points and made it clear they would take advantage of any laziness or inaccuracy.
The Power stepped up to the challenge in the second term.
They shut down the Jets’ scoring opportunities but could not kick goals going forward. The Power missed five consecutive set shots well within range, and went to the long break three points up.
In the second term, good ball use by Jake Thomas and amazing skills from Anthony Tipungwuti allowed Membrey to kick the first goal of the quarter but the Jets replied quickly.
Another good piece of defensive work for Matt Northe saw him intercept the ball and Membrey kicked his third from the resulting play.
The Jets scored the final goal of the term with another piece of rebound play but the Power went into the last term with a seventeen-point lead.
In the opening minutes of the last quarter, the Jets capitalised on some sloppy play by the Power scoring two easy goals to get within six points.
A long kick into attack by Simon Deery allowed Membrey to snap a crucial major.
Great pressure football by Hams and Shannen Lange gave Membrey his fifth and it appeared the Power had finally shaken off the Jets.
Yet the Jets kicked another good goal to put themselves within reach, but the Power upped the ante and Lange, Deery and Ben Kearns combined to allow Membrey the final goal of the match.
In the closing minutes the Power wasted several chances to extend their lead but they had shut the Jets’ avenues into attack down.
The final score was Loy Yang B Gippsland Power 9. 21 (75) defeated the Western Jets 8.3 (51) points.
Goal kickers for the Gippsland Power were Tim Membrey 6, Tom Muir 2 and Simon Deery 1.
The Power now takes on the Eastern Ranges at Morwell next Saturday.