Sport / Football
Injury blow to gallant NOBs’ finals hopes
Brunswick NOBs 5.9 (39) lost to Parkside 9.13 (67) at Pitcher Park
Tim Purdey
Brunswick were gallant in defeat against one of the competition leaders in Parkside on a sodden and slippery surface at Pitcher Park on Saturday, falling short by 28 points in a bruising affair; but their day was marred when star midfielder Gabe Banova suffered a broken leg late in the final quarter.
In the first term it was heavy going, quite literally, as both teams attacked the contest hard, but found it difficult to move the ball and hit targets, with the Devils kicking the opener after five minutes from a holding-the-ball free.
A quarter of an hour later, Tom Wilson responded for the NOBs after winning a reciprocal free kick, aided by a 50-metre penalty, before the home side slotted their second from an angle to give them a handy eight-point lead at the first break.
A goal to Parkside from a defensive error early in the second quarter would prove to be important as goals became very hard to come by for the remainder of the term, before Joe Gale took a big contested mark and converted late on to make it a 10-point game at half-time.
Brunswick started the third term brightly and created a set shot opportunity from directly in front, but – as both sides experienced on the day – this was the most treacherous place from which to kick and the chance was missed.
The Devils then took the ball down the other end and slotted one from the firmer turf near the boundary to extend the margin to 15 points.
An arm wrestle ensued until a Liam Allman mark and goal at the 17-minute mark again made it a two kick game, but – as they tended to do all day – Parkside had the answer when required and re-established a three goal lead at the final change.
The first goal of the last quarter was critical, and it went to the Devils in the opening minute.
Soon after, Gale again marked strongly and kicked truly to keep Brunswick’s hopes alive, but another miss by the visitors would prove to be costly as the Devils transitioned the ball for a major that extended the margin to 25 points.
After Banova’s unfortunate injury, Parkside kicked another couple, before Darcy Heenan deservedly hit the scoreboard to reduce to margin to 28 points.
Best for the NOBs was Banova, who is also likely leading the club best and fairest, and he will be sorely missed by his team.
In defence, Tahj Haddock was superb, while Lewis McKenzie, Angus Ross and Ben Wilson were all very good on the day. Playing his best game for the club was Josh Quattrone who battled hard in the ruck and around the ground.
Brunswick will need to regroup quickly as they play the struggling Monash Blues at Gillon Oval this Saturday and look to bring home the four points denied them in Round 2 when the game was unfortunately abandoned.
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