By Jonty Ralphsmith
Leo Barry you star!
Hampton Park young gun Jack Wilson might be hearing that phrase ad nauseam for the next week after taking a match-saving mark for his team deep in red time in the Redbacks defensive 50.
Like the 2005 premiership player, Wilson came in from the side and clunked a contested mark cleanly in the middle of the pack in the final minute of the game.
It capped an outstanding performance for the 18-year-old Dandenong Stingray whose work rate and ability to provide an outlet from defence all day was a key part of the victory.
“His ability to be able to connect between the arcs – he’s a ball-winner but teaching him to defend the ground and become a two-way player has been really important for us,” said Hampton Park coach Hayden Stanton.
“Being a young player and having the ability to cover the ground, as well as what he has from his couple of years at Stingrays, made a significant difference for us playing on that wing.
“I was pretty happy he pulled in the mark because it felt like we were trying to lose at that stage!”
Dylan Morris, Kyle Hendy and Tanner Stanton were other important ingredients of the 7.10 52 to 7.8 50 victory.
Doveton hadn’t led at all but threatened to pull off a Collingwood style-heist late when Jake Ingaliso finally brought the margin within a kick after the Doves had been pressing all quarter.
Deekon Stapleton had a chance to put his side in front but the ball was touched by the Hampton Park man on the mark as he ran in for his set shot.
Aaron Johns was the player who led the fight back after Shannon Henwood turbocharged the belief with an early skipper’s goal in the last quarter, having been moved forward.
On the whole Doveton will rue a series of missed chances as well as some uncomposed inside 50 kicks late.
Key forward James Gascard missed a relatively straight forward set shot while opportunistic small forward Cardamone dribbled a tight bender into the post.
In between that there were some up and under kicks coming in that Hampton Park was able to pick off with its extra numbers behind the footy.
The Doves had the slight upper hand in the midfield battle as the Redbacks were unable to take advantage on Andy Parker’s ascendancy in the ruck but Hayden Stanton’s men were ultimately the slicker and quicker side.
It felt like they should have put the game to bed by three quarter time but they will be happy to have escaped with the four points after making a habit of losing those sort of games last year.
“I think we controlled most of the game today but we weren’t efficient with our ball centre-forward and they ran hard back,” Stanton said.
“We weren’t able to maximise our potential and we missed some easy shots but the last quarter was disappointing.
“We had a plan about how to counteract their ability but we probably ran out of gas a bit so we’re proud of the effort but we need to tidy up our conversion because it would have put pressure on the opposition to chase the game harder.
After missing last week with a minor niggle, Makaio Haywood came back in and was a class above on the footy.
The Redbacks lost Liam Myatt early to a knee injury with the severity not yet known. The club was two men down on the bench by halftime.
Skye, meanwhile, got an important win over East Malvern 8.10 58 to 5.9 39.
In a low-scoring affair, a four goal second stanza at Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve for the hosts opened up a 15-point halftime lead which the Bombers held on to.
Jarrod Sullivan scored his three goals in that quarter as Skye finally was able to put its ascendancy on the scoreboard having dominated territory but played conservative footy.
Recruit Jesse Stone, former captain James Bateman and Jack Henderson each played well behind the ball, setting up the play and rebounding strongly.
Keysborough is still without a win this season after being comfortably accounted for by Murrumbeena.
The Burra put just one goal on the board in the first three quarters, trailing by 67 points at the final break before a six-goal-to-three last quarter added some respectability to the scoreline.
Veteran defender Anthony Brannan again spent time forward and kicked two goals.
Results R4: Caulfield 14.9 93 v Black Rock 7.5 47, Hampton Park 7.10 52 v Doveton 7.8 50, Murrumbeena 15.7 97 v Keysborough 7.11 53, Skye 8.10 58 v East Malvern 5.9 39, Highett 3.6 24 v East Brighton 17.15 117.
Ladder: East Brighton 16, Caulfield 12, Hampton Park 12, Skye 12, Highett 12, Murrumbeena 12, Doveton 4, East Malvern 0, Keysborough 0, Black Rock 0.
Fixture R5: East Malvern v Caulfield, East Brighton v Skye, Keysborough v Black Rock, Murrumbeena v Hampton Park, Highett v Doveton.
