Heartwarming, finals-like performance from Parrots

LEONGATHA coach Trent McMicking was bursting with pride in his team’s performance after the Parrots controlled most of the game against a Warragul side overseen by his former long-term Port Melbourne mentor Gary Ayres to win by 20 points.

Usually one to balance his praise with what the players can improve on, McMicking this time told them, “You made my heart warm today boys.”

“We’ve been worried about our defence, we’ve been worried about everything,” he said, also alluding to an unspecified setback on Thursday before declaring, “Today you played like a finals side; you were so connected, we had kids stepping up,” the tackling ferocity of young ruckman Sam Bradley late in the game winning praise.

Debutant Isaak Fox was another young bloke who played his part, receiving a resounding cheer when mentioned by the coach, that following a now traditional drenching from teammates before the club song.

“He’s worked really hard on his game, and one-on-one he’ll be hard to beat,” McMicking said of Fox prior to the match,” explaining the reason for his promotion from the Reserves.

The Parrots showed their versatility with usual forward Paddy Ireland featuring in defence when Cade Maskell was ruled out prior to the game.

“I got told at about 11 o’clock I’d be playing at Centre Half Back,” he said, not having been in that position for about four years.

“It’s a good group down there, so it’s easy to slot in,” Ireland explained, pleased he was able to take a couple of intercept marks and keep his opponent quiet, remarking that not too much adjustment is required to play in the backline.

Leongatha’s coaching staff were delighted with how he filled the role, naming him the side’s best ahead of the ever-reliable Kim Drew and Fraser Phillips another winning plenty of the footy and using it well.

Phillips finished with a couple of goals, one behind Jenson Garnham, that pair the only multiple goal scorers for the winning side.

Veteran Warragul forward Jed Lamb booted three goals, the only Gull to manage more than one, while Xavier Ollson was named the beaten side’s best.

The respect between Ayres and McMicking was on show before the game when the pair were among those interviewed at a past players function.

“It’s good to catch up,” McMicking said, Ayres adding that they used to see each other so often, “It felt like we were married at times,” as he reflected on their close working relationship at Port Melbourne where Ayres was Senior coach and McMicking an Assistant coach in charge of the Development squad.

“Trent’s done a super job with Leongatha,” Ayres said of him leading the Parrots to three Premierships in four years, always keen to keep an eye on the progress of coaches he’s worked with in the past, noting current Wonthaggi Senior coach Tristan Francis is another in that bracket.

Ayres was quick to respond when author and passionate Leongatha clubman Dan Eddy quizzed him on how he planned to get the better of McMicking’s side, the five time Hawthorn Premiership player and twice Norm Smith Medallist quipping, “Maybe I’ll make a comeback.”

“I definitely won’t play against him,” Tarwin Premiership team member McMicking said, admitting he wasn’t a very good footballer.

“We hit it off pretty well straight away,” McMicking said of his time with Ayres at the Borough, acknowledging he learned a lot from the experienced coach and from the professional attitude of the players at Port Melbourne.

Both men look back with pride on the Borough’s memorable 2017 VFL Premiership against a talent-stacked Richmond outfit, many of whom went on to win a Senior Premiership with the Tigers not too far down the track.

Saturday’s win has pushed Leongatha ahead of Warragul on the ladder, the sides sitting third and fourth, separated only by percentage.

The Parrots will be determined to apply pressure to second-placed rival Wonthaggi when they host Power, while Warragul faces a visit from top-of-the-ladder Moe.