Mines Rovers surge in last quarter to tame Tigers
Mines Rovers are in the box seat for a top-two finish for the first time in six years after a last-quarter blitz underpinned a 19-point victory, 14.5 (89) to 11.4 (70), against their traditional rivals Boulder on Saturday in the Goldfields Football League.
After trailing at half-time and three-quarter-time, the Diorites broke the shackles with a dynamic burst in the run home that yielded eight goals, including seven unanswered in the space of 13 minutes.
The surge was finally broken with a goal to Boulder’s Michael Williams at the 17-minute mark, but it was too late as the Tigers were dealt a seventh defeat.
It was a significant blow for Tigers coach Simon Edwards’ top-two aspirations as his side fell three games and percentage off the pace.
There were no such concerns for Mines Rovers, who have not finished higher than third since the club’s premiership year of 2018 but are entrenched in second position with just four rounds of qualifiers remaining.
Big forward Jordan Strahan, reacquired by the Diorites before the June 30 clearance deadline from the South West, led the way with five goals from Delson Trott and Bevan Bennell, who each kicked three.
Mines Rovers coach Marc Johnstone said the strong finish was a great sign after being forced to play catch-up for a big portion of the game.
“I thought we were outplayed for three quarters, when Boulder had a really good game plan of chipping the ball around, generally making us work really hard by slowing things up and clogging-up our forward line,” Johnstone said.
“That forced me to make some moves that fortunately worked in the last quarter (and) Rory Gurr going into the ruck was a big reason we were able to get back into the game (because) his clearance work was good and allowed us to use Jake Toa as a ruck-rover.
“We got some bigger bodies in there (at the centre clearances) and once we started winning those, it opened the door for those one-on-one kicks to Jordan Strahan whose pretty hard to beat but they (Boulder’s defenders) had earlier clogged him up for the most part.
“Between him and Bevan (Bennell), we looked pretty dangerous in the last quarter, once we built some momentum and got our tails up for what was probably our best (quarter) of the season.”
The blue-and-whites chase a 10th win of the season this Saturday against last-placed Kambalda.
“Win that one (against Kambalda) and we can’t get caught (for second position),” Johnstone said.
“We haven’t been there for a very long time — 2018 was the last time we finished top-two.
“Boulder, to be fair, were missing some key personnel without (Jake) Nuich, (Andy) Higgins and (Brett) Blair, but their forward line was really good and probably the first time our backs were beaten for three quarters.”
Shyrone Graham shone in attack for Boulder with five goals and Michael Williams kicked three.
Edwards tipped his hat to the hard work of opposition prime movers Gurr and Toa in the last term.
“They had some big bodies in there which meant they did very well at the stoppages and we probably spent a fair few petrol tickets in the first three quarters to be on top,” he said.
“Unfortunately we dropped away, but the first three quarters I was really happy because it was some of the best footy we’ve played all year — not just on the scoreboard but also the method as well .
“I was really happy with that aspect and we certainly have plenty to build on.”
Alongside Nuich, Higgins and Blair, the Tigers’ absences last Saturday included Jebb Swallow and Cam Grover.
“It’s hard to replace that five, that’s for sure,” Edwards said.
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