Tigers test Power’s resolve ahead of finals

WONTHAGGI Power have ticked all the boxes during the home-and-away rounds of the 2023 Gippsland League season.

They’ve made the finals, tick, finished in the top three for the ‘double chance’, tick, and taken out top spot for entry straight through to the second week of the finals, tick.

But it was by no means a sure thing, up against the sixth-placed Morwell side, who had come to play at home on Saturday, despite having no hope of making the finals in the last round of the year.

And right up until three quarter time, when they led by three points, Morwell looked a real chance of scoring one of the upsets of the season, and derailing the Power’s finals’ tilt by denying them top spot on the ladder.

But led from the front by coach Jarryd Blair, who nailed two clutch goals in the last quarter, they surged forward when it mattered most and finished the season in style with a hard-fought four-goal win.

Because Morwell were a very worthy opponent on the day, at full strength, and with a plan to remain patient in the build-up, while denying an expectant Power side access to the ball wherever possible.

It must be said that Wonthaggi were without two of their key forwards, Jack Hutchinson, who will now be cherry-ripe after a week off, and Cooper McInnes, who finished the season with 53 goals and might have challenged Traralgon’s Brett Eddy for the goal-kicking title if he hadn’t missed the last three games of the home and away season. He’ll be back for the Second Semi-Final, at Morwell again on Saturday, September 9 when they’ll also welcome back Jordan Staley.

But the hard news for Wonthaggi Power is that they’ve almost certainly lost their gun intercept defender Kyle Reid who succumbed to a repeat of his right knee injury, deep into the second quarter on Saturday, while trying to intercept a Morwell kick-out after a Power point.

The first quarter was Morwell’s best on Saturday, putting on three goals to one in an impressive opening by the hosts.

They had the first shot on goal within minutes after an fluent build-up by Brandon Mcauliffe, Tyler Brown, Tristen Waack and James Jacobsen with Tyler Hillier finishing off a move untouched by any Power player.

Wonthaggi responded with their first goal via Aiden Lindsay, Josh Bates, and Troy Harley, getting the ball to a leading Jakeb Thomas soon after.

However, it was to be no walk in the park as the Power’s defence held up, strengthened by the return of Shannon Bray, but Morwell gave as good as it got, carefully moving the ball around the flanks by skillfully switching it as required and finding spare targets.

Their captain Aidan Quigley looked dangerous on the lead with two first quarter goals and they looked on for a good one.

Power coach Blair had started well, in and under, and with creative handball and by providing a hit-up option. Isaac Chugg was constantly on the move and Toma Huther was on top of big Dan Musil in the ruck, but the Tiger men were getting their fair share at the stoppages.

Blair put his finger on the opposition’s patient build-up and urged his own players to increase the pressure while making use of the overlap with an initial handball.

They were able to steady with excellent, full-press defence in the second and third quarters and to come from behind to win in the last quarter with a willingness to work, controlled movement of the ball and forward pressure that was rewarded with goals to Blair, Dawson (after a key tackle near goal) and others.

In the absence of McInnes and Hutchinson, Noah Anderson provide an important target, finishing with two.

It was well done by the Power, especially in the absence of several players but the day will be remembered more for the tragic injury to Kyle Reid than the heroics of a come-from-behind-win.

Power shock at Kyle Reid injury

WONTHAGGI Power’s chances of winning its first premiership in the Gippsland League were dealt a serious blow on Saturday when star defender Kyle Reid suffered what looked to be a season-ending right knee injury.

The innocuous incident took place late in the second quarter, when Reid came across the back of Morwell’s Josh Galea while attempting to mark a kick-out, following a Power point.

But Reid came down on a single, extended right leg, which seemed to buckle under him, leaving the key Power player clutching his knee in pain. It was the same knee injury he came back from in spectacular style last year.

It didn’t look good, and he was initially attended to by Galea until Ryan Sparkes and Toma Huther came across, followed by the first-aid staff.
With Mitch Hayes setting up for a shot on goal, the match was temporarily stopped while a stretcher was brought on, but Reid hobbled across to the sidelines, under his own steam, before play resumed.

He came out during the half time break to try and walk on the injured leg but it was no use. It will now be a matter of assessment during the week, but you’d have to say he looks doubtful to return this year.

The expected return of Jordan Staley for the finals and the flexibility offered by Troy Harley and Jakeb Thomas will help cover the loss in defence, but Reid provides that touch of class which every premiership half back line needs, offering proven intercept-marking ability and a safe pair of hands when the pressure’s on in the opposition’s scoring zone.

He can also go forward as the need arises, often catching an unsuspecting opponent.

The Power also have Jack Hutchinson and Cooper McInnes to come back in for their Second Semi-Final in two weeks’ time but Reid would be a huge loss.