By Tyler Lewis
**PULL QUOTE “We don’t have a lot of height, but if we move the ball as well as we did today with our skills, we certainly could surprise a few sides if we go any further.” Pakenham coach Ash Green on his group’s potential.
Pakenham has put a full stop on Woori Yallock’s spectacular run and as a result has all but cemented a position in the Outer East Premier Division finals series.
The Tigers had been in scintillating touch, winning their last eight games, the most recent being its tremendous nine-point win over Narre Warren.
With its season hanging in the balance, Pakenham played with a divine spread of flare, class and maturity on its way to the 14.9 (93) to 11.6 (72) victory.
That flare and class came on the outside, when the Lions nullified the contested ball, in order to flex their muscles on the spread.
And that maturity, well that came in spades, but none more so then when the young side was faced with a rampaging Tigers outfit storming back into the contest.
The visitors kicked seven straight in the second term to slingshot ahead at the main break.
But the Lions stood tall, kicking seven goals to three in the second half to record the famous victory.
A proud Ash Green was over the moon with his side’s resilience under adversity, while knowing all along the strength his side obtains.
“Consistency has been the main challenge for us this year,” he said.
“But we know our best footy can match it with any side, but it’s just a matter of finding that consistency.
“I thought today was our first four-quarter performance against a quality football team that we knew would come at us hard.”
Despite the heaviness of a finals berth there for the taking, Green believes the young Lions’ dare is a result of that aforementioned pressure being graded as perceived pressure within the four walls of Toomuc Reserve.
“I think it’s just enjoyment, because there’s no expectation from us as coaches or from the club,” he said.
“(I tell them to) just go out there and play your best footy and let’s see where that can take us.
“We know our best is good enough, and today it clicked for longer.
“The guys worked really hard, contested footy was really high, our pressure was high and – ultimately – if you do those two things well it always gives you a chance to win a game of football.”
Lions co-captain Chris Cardona concurred with Green, revealing the belief in Pakenham’s best footy.
“It’s awesome… full credit to the boys for really cracking in for four quarters today which we haven’t done all year,” he said.
“We’ve shown glimpses, but today was the day we did it and we needed to do it, it’s as simple as that.
“It’s very satisfying to win it that way and the half-time reset was something we really needed.
“We were only a few points down and we worked really hard to set things up in the last quarter, when we played some of our best footy for the season.”
The two sides met back in round 8 at Woori Yallock, where the Tigers dealt with the Lions to the tune of 28 points.
And despite the obvious difference that day being the goal kicking – as the Lions kicked 7.16 as opposed to 13.8 – Cardona was more pleased with the stoppage work from the boys in the engine room.
“Our run, spread, and also our stoppage work,” he said of the difference between the two sides.
“I thought our midfielders were on from the start, and all day.
“Our clearance work was great, we were getting out the back, getting out the front, and we nullified their ruckman around the ground.”
That round 8 clash with the Tigers was the second of a disappointing four-game losing streak for the Lions; and while they were undermanned, they were also undersized, particularly in the heat of battle.
Pakenham was far from shying away from that fact 10 weeks ago and have drawn on an old saying about the size of the fight in the dog, rather than the size of the dog in the fight.
“It was courage, simple as that, especially our backs that are generally outsized but always stick to their task,” Cardona said.
Zac Stewart, Stephen Morey, Jordan Stewart, Jake Barclay, James Harrison, Eli Tyrrell were named the best for the Lions.
For the Tigers, Josh Neal, Benjamin Monkhorst, Liam Odea, Marcello Pisano, Alex Marsh, Josh Hawkins were named as their best players.
The win has set up a less stressful final round for Pakenham, which travels up the hill to take on Monbulk.
The Lions sit a game and 7.57 percent clear of the Hawks inside the five with four quarters of football left in the home and away season.
To lose its position inside the finals race, the Lions would need to not only lose to the Hawks, but lose by some margin, as Pakenham’s points for v against is 1268-1134, while Monbulk’s is 1153-1106.
In other results across the competition, an 8.7 (55) to 15.14 (104) loss for Officer at the hands of Monbulk has assured the Roos to be relegated.
The Hawks – who had lost four on the bounce coming in – were made to earn it, with scores locked at 38 apiece at the main break.
Nine goals to two in the second half cemented the Roos a ticket to Division One, who need a win and a chunk of percentage in the final round against Narre Warren to leap Mt Evelyn.
Narre Warren recorded its seventh 100-point obliteration of the season, this one against Upwey Tecoma.
The Tigers evidently received a memo for a 3pm start, as a 9.4 to 0.2 opening stanza went the way of the Pies.
According to Premier Data, nine Magpies recorded 100 or more ranking points in the 27.16 (178) to 8.9 (57) thumping.
Jake Richardson and Will Howe kicked eight apiece, while Kurt Mutimer had a quiet 42 disposals, 10 clearances, 12 inside 50s and three goals.
With Wandin having the bye, Richardson’s eight-goal haul has equalled him with Dogs forward Clinton Johnson on 64 majors.
The Dogs host Olinda Ferny Creek this weekend, while the Pies host Officer.
In the final result of the round, Olinda Ferny Creek has bounced back with a resounding belting of Mt Evelyn, 31.22 (208) to 3.9 (27).
The result is simply a blemish on the competition, as the Bloods have managed to peel off a 55-goal swing in the space of seven days.
THE FINALS RACE
PLACE TEAM W L PTS % FOR AGAINST
5th Pakenham 8 7 40 111.82 1268 1134
6th Monbulk 7 8 36 104.25 1153 1106
