VFL Match Report – Round 6 vs. GWS Giants
Port Melbourne have suffered their third defeat in a row and subsequently fallen to a 1-4 win/loss record in season 2021 after going down to the GWS Giants at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday.
Making their second and final interstate pilgrimage for the year, the Borough were hoping that they would learn enough lessons from a devastating Round 1 loss to Aspley to pull off a much-needed victory.
If getting their season back on track wasn’t enough of a motivating force, it was a special milestone day for a trio of Port Melbourne stars, as Gary Ayres celebrated a record-breaking 250 games at the helm of the Club; and 2017 Premiership players Anthony Anastasio (100 VFL games) and Harvey Hooper (50 games) also registered career landmarks.
With all this taken into consideration, it seemed early on as if the Borough had seriously come to play.
A withering burst of four goals inside the first 20 minutes featured some devastating football that had the Giants on the back foot.
Despite GWS pegging back the sizeable early lead, a mark and goal to young key forward Jeremy O’Sullivan eventually allowed the Borough to enjoy an 11-point advantage at the first change.
Vice-captain Eli Templeton was particularly damaging, and continued on his hot recent form with a staggering 18 disposals and a goal in the first quarter.
The second term started in similar fashion to the first, as Port put together some impressive passages of play but this time around failed to capitalise as they would have liked – and perhaps deserved – on the scoreboard.
The Giants were similarly slick in their ball movement going back the other way, however a major reason for their productivity was a smooth and functioning forward line with a dangerous level of potency that the Borough’s young defence struggled to contain.
That trend continued after the major interval, and when the margin ballooned out to a game-high 25 points early in the third quarter, Borough fans might have been forgiven for thinking this game was slipping away.
Port did generate a lift on either side of three quarter time though, but sudden inaccuracy in front of goal didn’t allow them to draw any closer than 16 points as numerous opportunities went begging.
Two goals to Campbell Walker managed to twice draw the Borough back to within 10 points during the crucial final term, but as much as they were pressing to pull off a memorable victory, time would ultimately expire as they fell 9 points short.
Despite being badly beaten in the ruck – reflected by a 63-to-14 hit out count – Port’s midfield brigade of Templeton (40 possessions and two goals), Harvey Hooper (30 disposals), Corey Wagner (29) and skipper Tom O’Sullivan (28) did try hard all day to minimise the damage.
Walker, Templeton and the Borough’s leading goal kicker Matt Signorello were the side’s multiple goal kickers with two apiece.
Despite the result, both sides were kind enough to line up a ‘guard of honour’ as Ayres exited the field for game 250, whilst travelling Borough supporters also produced a commemorative banner that was displayed over the fence at the Blacktown oval (pictured, below).
Although disappointed to not take home a win for himself, Anastasio and Hooper to mark the occasion, Ayres would once again have utilised the flight home on Saturday night to look ahead optimistically at the coming weeks.
Whilst the signs are there within games of Port’s capabilities, Ayres would be hoping the side’s consistency of output continues to improve as the youngsters gel and key players are welcomed back from injury concerns.
The next step in the 2021 journey sees the side travel out to Box Hill City Oval this Saturday to clash with an in-form Hawks outfit.
The two clubs have formed a terrific recent rivalry, and another chapter will be written when all the action gets underway at 2:00pm. It will be the second of a Double Header at Box Hill for the Borough, with the VFLW side also in action at the City Oval from 11:00am against Hawthorn.
Any ticketing arrangements applicable for Port Melbourne Members will be confirmed and communicated later in the week.
GWS Giants3.3-218.5-5310.7-6711.9-75 defeated
Port Melbourne 5.2-326.4-407.9-519.12-66
Goal Kickers: M. Signorello 2, C. Walker 2, E. Templeton 2, I. Conway, T. O’Sullivan, J. O’Sullivan.
Best Players: E. Templeton, C. Wagner, H. Hooper, M. Signorello, E. Phillips, T. O’Sullivan.
Article: Sam Wharton.
Images: Jason Falzon.
