General News
5 June, 2019
Power delivers knockout blow
KOLORA Noorat senior football coach Ben Walsh knows he has some selection headaches ahead of him after his side dismantled East Warrnambool last Saturday.
KOLORA Noorat senior football coach Ben Walsh knows he has some selection headaches ahead of him after his side dismantled East Warrnambool last Saturday.
The Power recorded its eighth win on the trot with a 30.11 (191) to 5.7 (37) annihilation of the lowly Bombers, but did so missing close to a third of their best 22.
Walsh said the club would face some tough decisions regarding personnel for its upcoming games against Allansford and Russells Creek.
The likes of Mark Clissold, Jason Moloney, Jake Richardson, Scott Judd and Luke McConnell all missed the clash with the Bombers but are expected to return in the coming fortnight.
Their absence allowed the Power to blood more youth, with Ed Lee and Toby Taylor both given the chance to make their senior debuts.
They joined a promising group of the Power’s younger players which includes Henry Kenna, Joel Dillon, Charlie Scanlon and Ned Payne in the top grade, with Walsh pleased how the contingent performed.
“We had some new guys come into the side for the first time so it was good to give them an opportunity,” Walsh said.
“They adapted really well which was good and there were a couple of others that have played a few games in a row now too and it’s been good to give them all a chance.
“But we’ve got six to seven guys to come back in over the next week or two so we’ll have a few headaches, but that’s a good thing I guess.”
The match with the Bombers was a one-sided affair from the opening bounce, with the Power slamming home 11 goals to one in a devastating first term.
East was able to stem the flow of scoring in the second quarter but could not bridge the margin, as Power entered the main break 66 points ahead.
Once again the visitors continued to dominate proceedings after half-time and added a further nine goals to the Bombers one in the third stanza.
The Power closed with a six goal final term, whilst holding the Bombers to a solitary behind, as Kolora Noorat ran out 154 point victors.
Walsh was pleased with how his side played and said “we wanted to bring intensity for four quarters after we’d had a few lapses the past few weeks”.
“We were able to start really well and then we just continued that on for the rest of the day,”
“We were pretty happy with how we played and pretty happy with the day overall.”
While Walsh indicated he was pleased with what was a strong team performance, he said there were several of his charges who performed particularly well.
Ben Fraser, Ben Reid and Nick Hoare were influential up forward, with the trio combining for 21 of the Power’s 30 goals, while Nick Bourke produced another strong game on the wing.
Lee and Kenna also finished in the best players, with the pair acquitting themselves well despite their youth and inexperience at senior level.
“Ben Fraser kicked nine and Ben Reid kicked seven so they were the standouts up forward,” Walsh said.
“Nick Bourke has been in great form, he played on the wing and across half back and he was excellent.
“We also had Ed and Henry in the best players, they both played well across the wing and half forward and Nick Hoare kicked five in the first half before he got injured.
“They were probably our better players.”
The Power has already turned its attention to their forthcoming clash with Allansford at Noorat this Saturday, with Walsh and his players looking forward to the challenge the fifth placed Cats will present.
“They’re one of those sides that have really improved over the past two years and they look to be in good form, so we’re looking forward to having a crack at them,” Walsh said.