Disciplined Wonthaggi sees off Maffra challenge

IT PROVED a rewarding road trip for Wonthaggi, Power seeing off repeated challenges from home side Maffra to record a deceptively comfortable-looking winning margin of 29 points.

A Dylan Alexander goal 13 minutes into the final term cut Wonthaggi’s lead to just 10 points, the Eagles immediately surging into attack again.

However, Power’s backmen were up to the task, the ball soon down the other end where it was marked by Blake Cornelis who made no mistake with his set shot to give Power some breathing space.

Wonthaggi powered on to add a couple more goals, Maffra unable to increase its score for the remainder of the game.

It was an entertaining affair in hot conditions, Maffra starting the game brightly with the first couple of majors but Power’s backline working hard to prevent further damage.

Wonthaggi increasingly took charge as the first term wore on, pulling away to lead by three goals at the first change.

While little separated the sides in a tight second quarter, Wonthaggi delivered the highlight early in the stanza, a delightful passage of play setting up a Cooper McInnes mark and set shot goal.

That opened up a 25-point Power lead at the three-minute mark but the tenacious Eagles were right in the battle for the rest of the term, Wonthaggi adding just a point to its quarter time lead by the major break.

Both sides worked hard for minimal scoreboard reward in the penultimate quarter, managing just a goal each.

The floodgate opened for the remainder of the match, with nine goals booted in the last quarter, Power managing five of those.

Kyle Reid and Jye Gilmour were deservedly recognised as the winning side’s best contributors.

Both had a crucial impact in defence, Gilmour also doing lots of important work on the ball around the ground and kicking a goal.

Reid regularly cleared the footy from Wonthaggi’s defensive arc, delivering well-measured passes.

He wasn’t content to then leave all the work to others, showing a propensity to run on, accept a teammate’s pass and drive Power further away from danger.
Hunter Tiziani continued to show a readiness to get in and win the ball when needed and used the footy effectively, kicking an important second-quarter goal for Wonthaggi when Maffra was threatening.

Jai Williams topped the winner’s goalkicking list with three majors, Jaxon Williams, Cornelis and McIness managing a couple of goals each.

Thomas Scott was named Maffra’s best.

He worked hard in the ruck and impressed around the ground with his mobility and skill.

Luke Dyer finished with four goals for the beaten team, booting a couple in the last term and helping set up another to have the Eagles in contention, while Noah Christy might easily have been acknowledged as Maffra’s best.

Christy was excellent all over the ground, winning the footy and using it with purpose and kicking a third-term goal from out wide to keep the Eagles close to the visitors on the scoreboard.

Wonthaggi earned a well-deserved Easter break, Power sure to be full of confidence when they host Drouin in Round 3 on Saturday, April 26, the Hawks having to regroup after a couple of solid defeats to start the season.