VFL wrap: Frankston’s plan to make finals
Posted by Brent DiamondJun 19. 2012 2:38 pm
FRANKSTON has proved that it has much more worth than a bottom side this year and is building towards competing in September once again. It won’t happen this year, but it will happen and it may happen sooner than what we all think.
The Dolphins have been super competitive in most games this season so much so that it scored a draw against last year’s grand finalist Williamstown at home on the weekend. Perhaps it should have won given that it led by 37-points at the last change.
Williamstown’s pulsating last term with the breeze at its back helped it surge home with Justin Sherman snaring the equaliser late.
“It was one of those things where it was probably always going to be tight but a couple of critical mistakes let us down and proved real costly,” Goosey said.
“We’ve got a good young group, what we need to do now is start topping them up now with a bit of experience. We’ve laid the foundations and we’ve got the wheels in motion of being a good side.”
Imposing forward Khan Haretuku kicked three goals for the Dolphins and appears almost certain to be drafted into the AFL next season, along with key midfielders Leigh Osborne and Kyle Martin, who again were frenetic in the clinches yesterday.
Goosey was adamant that all three should be drafted next season.
Goosey said there has already been several clubs show interest in the trio. The Dolphins have produced Michael Hibberd and Mark Baguley on Essendon’s list over the past two seasons.
The game was a real talking point on the other end of the spectrum for Williamstown. For as good as it has been in getting themselves out of unhealthy situations on the field – with last gasp wins such as the come-from-behind classic against Werribee – the young Seagulls have struggled to kick into gear this season and certainly their depth has been severely questioned.
Of course recruiting Jamie McNamara and Michael Stockdale during the pre-season has helped stablise the team and helped it remain competitive but their premiership window for the first time in a long time appears over. It is not playing like a top four team, nor does it deserve one. And for the first time in a long time, there are at least six teams better than it on the ladder. Port, Casey, Sandringham, Werribee, Geelong and Box Hill should finish higher than Williamstown at the end of the season.
Williamstown, who has been a gutsy perennial finallist for the past decade, appears to be finally on the rebuilding block. But not unlike the renovations at Burbank Oval, the Seagulls need a facelift and will come back better from it. The coach Peter German is doing everything in his power for it to remain a super power. But for as good as the coach is, the quality of the list compounded by a younger Western Bulldogs contingent, means that he is batting out of his weight division in this one.
It is much the same story at North Ballarat, a former powerhouse who is coached by one of the best, Gerard FitzGerald. Despite an encouraging win over the Northern Blues by 26-points at Eureka Stadium on Sunday, the Roosters are unfortunately ‘yesterday’s heros’.
It is still a game and a large percentage out of the top eight (probably two games worth). There was some encouraging signs from North Ballarat, although it was about to be over-runned by the new bottom team in the competition early in the last.
The Blues fall to the bottom of the ladder after another disastrous lapse in the final term.
The Blues snatched the lead early in the final term before relinquising six unanswered goals to the Roosters, who celebrated Myles Sewell’s 100th match.
Carlton midfielder Ed Curnow was among the best for the Blues with 32 touches, while Liam Anthony, Cruize Garlett and Cam Richardson were the best for the Roosters.
Blues VFL coach Robert Hyde said he was frustrated by the lapses of his team that have cost them several matches this season. It has won just the one game for the year.
Other winners in round 12 were Port Melbourne by 46-points over the Coburg Tigers, Bendigo by 32-points over Box Hill and Werribee Tigers smashed Sandringham by 79-points.
Hero of the week: David Hille (Bendigo) – Dominated the match and appeared to be a gentle giant against Luke Lowden and Sam Grimley in the ruck on Saturday in the win over Box Hill.
Villain of the week: Luke McGuane (Coburg Tigers) – Made undisciplined errors at a critical time against Port Melbourne and it made him pay.
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