Sea Eagles off to a flyer

INVERLOCH KONGWAK welcomed fellow 2022 top four finisher Nar Nar Goon down to the Inverloch Recreation Reserve as the home side kick started a new era, under playing coach Tom Hams. 

The Hams era started well initially for the Sea Eagles, winning the opening clearance with ease but unfortunately couldn’t find any clean disposals inside 50 and the Goon soaked up the early pressure well. 

The visitors then marched the ball down the other end and found repeat entries, putting the first two scores on the board with a behind and then a beautifully executed goal of the boot of Luke Bettio from 45 metres out. 

The Goon then began to set up quite well behind the ball, but IK young prodigy Taite Cumming continued to provide a contest for his side, even against two, or even three opponents in the air on multiple occasions. 

The Sea Eagles eventually found some ferociousness at the contest and co-captain Toby Mahoney drilled through their first after catching his Goon opponent holding the ball. 

It was then Hams, in his head coaching debut for the club, finding the middle of the big sticks to ignite the bumper crowd at the Nest. 

However, the jubilation and raucous cheers for Hams’ goal were nothing compared to that after Mahoney’s second, a sensational snap finish after the ball got over the back thanks to another IK centre break. 

This time courtesy of the Toussaint brothers Marcus and Oscar. 

The first term ended with the scores locked at 19 apiece, with control of play being spread evenly as well. 

The second quarter began and the hosts lifted the pressure gauge with even more ferocious attack at the coal face, including some terrific tackling, one exponent of which was Clint McCaughan, who slammed home a major from outside the arc after a holding the ball whistle went his way. 

The Sea Eagles now had the lead back and looked determined to keep it that way with Cumming presenting out of full forward again and again, this time bobbing up to take a diving mark and flicking the handball receive to star recruit Tate Short who slotted his first for the club on the run. 

The Sea Eagles recruits began to show the gold white and blue faithful what their made of, this time Will Hams taking the intercept mark and hitting Mahoney lace out, the captain made no mistake kicking truly from about 30 out. 

All of a sudden, IK had kicked six unanswered goals in 20 minutes of play, dodging strong winds and on and off rain along the way. 

The sun came back out to end the first half and it was the host’s tackling pressure that was the catalyst, helping them open up a 42-point lead going into the main break. 

Those that made the trip down to Inverloch on Saturday really got to experience a rollercoaster of conditions and in the second half they started to deteriorate, leading to an eight minute stalemate as the two sides slogged it out trying to mount efficient drives downfield. 

The drought was then broken by young recruit Liam O’Neill, much to his teammate’s delight, getting the scoring back underway. 

The Goon finally replied thanks to sheer persistence inside 50, but it was still tough to pull off any sort of effective disposals as both teams reverted to the hack it forward and hope strategy. 

The lead then kept seesawing between 39 and 45 points as they went goal for goal and the weather went wet to dry. 

Eventually the visitors were able to scrap it out a touch better than their hosts and ended up winning the quarter, finishing with three in a row to cut the lead to 32 points going into the final break. 

As the siren went and they turned for home, play remained quite even across the board, The Goon broke first blood for the term but it came some 13 minutes in, which ultimately was a win for their opponents. 

They were able to make it two goals to one and once again win the period, but it was too little too late, the damage had been done, the Sea Eagles coasting home to a comfortable win in tough conditions after another scrappy quarter. 

The Hams era’s first chapter, a 27-point win at home on Easter Saturday, the next will come Saturday week in Cowes in a blockbuster against Phillip Island. 
As for Nar Nar Goon, they’ll too take to the road to face Koo Wee Rup.