Panthers pounce to vanquish valiant Magpies

WITH a mere 90 seconds left on the clock, Anthony Daraio iced victory for Kilcunda-Bass over close rivals Dalyston in their tightly fought-out round 10 contest.

In a game which ebbed and flowed throughout, goals were at a premium and neither team enjoyed more than a two-goal margin at any stage.

The Panthers have enjoyed a resurgence in 2024, currently sixth on the ladder, with an eye on qualifying for their first West Gippsland finals campaign.

Dalyston, coming off a five-week run of upper-echelon opponents, had plans to disrupt K-B’s ascension and came very close to accomplishing that aim in what turned out to be a low scoring but ultimately absorbing contest.

Commencing in fine conditions, Brad Monson made the most of a well-weighted pass from his coach Mitch Hallahan to put the home team on the board.

Panthers ex-AFL recruit Travis Tuck created the response with a deep entry that Daraio latched onto and sent through on the fly.

A sudden passing rain shower had both teams mishandling the slippery ball and stifling connection further afield. However, the Panthers managed a late goal to Jack Soroczynski giving them an eight-point quarter time edge.

The momentum swung in the second term with Dalyston dominant early with Wallis and Monson both adding goals. The Magpies’ tackling pressure was elite, nullifying K-B’s flow and for a while the visitors struggled to actually possess the ball.

Returned Magpie Kyle Kirk was in everything and having major influence. Under pressure, he snapped truly from 40 metres to cap off a fluent team passage.

The Panthers to their credit stopped the bleeding and a late goal to Tuck crept them back to within a goal. 

The intrigue of the first half continued into the premiership quarter. Both teams were acutely defensively minded in their approach and while the Panthers pushed forward for several good looks their finishing was slightly astray.

Dalyston’s forward 50 pressure caused a turnover with Karamoshos marking the rebound kick and slotting the set shot.

Predictably the Panthers returned fire and important goals to Gunn and McRae saw them greet the last break five points in front.
With everything to play for there was no room for error, and K-B’s reliable Sam Watson nailed a critical early goal, capitalising on a 50-metre penalty.

Time was elapsing and Dalyston pushed Blake Carew forward to be a target, which worked with immediate effect. Blake firstly added to his highlight reel with a long bomb goal from tight on the boundary and then had his team within two points by outpointing his opponent in the goal square.

With only red time to go the result was anybody’s and the crowd was fully involved.

Last roll of the dice and Cam McKenzie sends it deep to the pocket and into the hands of Daraio. And the noted goalkicker boomeranged it through to deliver the eight-point victory that was earned the hard way.