Dominant Poldas pound South

LEOPOLD has produced one of the most dominant halves of the GFL season to obliterate South Barwon by 80 points at Leopold Community Bank Oval.

After leading by 14 points at half-time, the Lions slammed on 12 goals to one from that point on to claim an impressive 19.14 (128) to 6.12 (48) victory to keep alive its slim hopes of snatching the double-chance.

“The scoreboard pressure was the difference from the first-half to the second-half,” coach Garry Hocking told Geelong Broadcasters post-game.

“And also some of the little fundamental stuff down back. We had 2v1 a couple of times, and we just didn’t kill the ball.

“There was a long shot on goal that went over the back, which should never happen.

“We had three backs there, and they must have been tourists just looking at the game think, ‘what’s going on here?’.

“We got that right, and then the game bust open in the end. We were able to make the ground big, and we were able to shift the ball.”

Hocking also hailed Leopold’s ability to pressure South Barwon into turning the ball over.

“When we did lose the ball, we got it back pretty quickly.

“We’ve spoken about (Spanish soccer team) Barcelona. If you look at Barcelona, they’re probably the best team in the world.

“What they do, once they lose the ball, they take about six or seven seconds to get the ball back off the opposition, and we were trying to do that today.

“We just wanted to have that turnover mentality.”

Versatile big Rob Maibaum kicked a season-high five goals for Leopold. Marcus Thompson was among four players who contributed two goals in another performance likely to garner Mathieson Medal votes for the Lions’ skipper.

South Barwon’s loss was its biggest of the season.

“That’s as good a whack as we’ve copped in the last five years, I reckon,” coach Dave Farrell said. “(It was) a really good lesson.

“From our perspective, it’s not about the win-loss ratio now or my record; it’s more about the group growing and learning, and I reckon they did.

“To be honest, I think the neutral observer would sit there and go (that) maybe our boys put the cue in the rack.

“To be in the rooms afterwards or watch them trudge off (the ground), they certainly care.

“They love the club, and they work for each other, but (it was) pretty hard to stay motivated today when they got on top of us like that.”

Andrew Boseley kicked two goals for the Swans, while defender Kelly O’Neil, who kept Lions spearhead Mitch Patten to two goals, was named their best along with fellow defender Andy Higgins and midfielder Doyle Madigan.

Leopold will round its finals preparation with meeting against North Shore, while South Barwon has meetings with Bell Park and Colac to end its season.

 

 

Image: Leopold coach Garry Hocking. (Al Packer)