By DAVID NAGEL
THE Tooradin-Dalmore Football Netball Club may not have got the four points it was looking for in its South East Football Netball League clash against ROC on Sunday- but it had already come out a winner.
Tooradin was chosen by AFL Victoria Country to host the WorkSafe Game of the Month, an event which allows WorkSafe to develop better relationships with local businesses and people, which, in turn, provides them an avenue to communicate their important message of workplace safety.
Guest speaker at the event was Hawthorn legend Peter Knights, who spoke at the pre-match function about his coaches at the Hawks, John Kennedy, Alan Jeans and David Parkin, and how they instilled a culture at the club that still burns brightly today.
Tooradin Football Club president Derek Genoni said the day was a huge success.
“It was just a fantastic day, and to share it with ROC, the other club in the South East to still have a true country feel to it, made it even more special,” Genoni said.
“We had a good turn out from both clubs and AFL Vic Country and Worksafe did a fantastic job. We had face-painting and badge-making for the kids, so they had a ball, and the gate and bar was up which was fantastic for the club.
“And Peter Knights, he spoke superbly about the culture of the Hawthorn Football Club. It was a great day all round.”
Maybe off-field … but on-field it was ROC who broke its season-duck with a 35-point victory, while its netballers also got the job done.
“We laid 98 tackles, and had 62 measurable one percenters, which is a season-high by a mile,” Kangaroos coach Brad Jones explained.
“Our pressure has been non-existent so far this season, but every time they got it we had them under the pump, and we didn’t allow them to run.”
Hard-nut Sean Roach led the way in the pressure stakes for the Kangas, who had skipper James Canty and Chris Potalej controlling the midfield. Nathan Brewster continued his great form, racking up a ton of possessions in his role as a sweeper across half back.
The Kangaroos commitment to the cause was exemplified by Jesse Longmuir, a 17-year-old who had an impressive nine tackles for the afternoon.
Tooradin, still winless after four games of footy, has a tough road ahead, with games against Berwick, Beaconsfield and Pakenham, before its season opens up with a visit to Hampton Park.
One thing the Seagulls will need to work on over interleague weekend is how to kick a winning score, with Sunday’s six-goal effort a continuation of a low-scoring start to the season.
Adam Splatt and Kyle Van Der Pluym slotted two each for the Seagulls, with Splatt joined by Jesse Hand and Brad Lenders as the home-side’s best players. ROC’s Tom Marks was awarded the Worksafe Medal for best on ground, while Kangaroos netballer Mel Overdyk won the netball award.
