GOOD, not great.
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Three words summed up yesterday’s much-anticipated contest at the W.J. Findlay Oval and three words described Barry Hall’s first game for Wangaratta Rovers.
He was rusty early but slowly worked his way into the contest to finish with an equal game-high haul of four goals.
But it wasn’t enough for the Hawks as they fell by 19 points to premiership rival Yarrawonga in what was a scrappy affair in front of more than 6000 fans.
Just four goals were kicked in an under-whelming first half and although both Hall and Brendan Fevola ended the game as their team’s major goalkicker — Fevola also booted four — the shootout that many were expecting didn’t eventuate.
It was a game won on effort, some Craig Ednie magic and a last quarter brain fade from Karl Norman.
Norman was yellow-carded at the 10-minute mark of the final term for striking Brandon Symes as the dominant Yarrawonga ruckman helped shepherd Nick Lawless on a blistering run.
The report spelled the end of Norman’s impact on the game and, unfortunately, any serious hope the Hawks had of regaining the lead they had worked so hard to claim late in the third quarter following a brilliant goal from Hall.
“It didn’t help,” Hawks coach Mick Caruso said in the wake of the loss.
“It was just a bit of an undisciplined act which is disappointing.
“It certainly doesn’t help but we had plenty
of opportunities and wasted a few particularly early.”
If Norman’s absence did anything it was that it opened up a game previously starved of free-flowing football.
The two teams had combined for just nine goals between them in the first three quarters.
Eight were kicked in the final term.
While Ednie stole the show with his last-quarter heroics, Symes again showed why he is fast becoming the competition’s dominant big man with a compelling display of athleticism around the ground.
Lawless turned the game with his run and carry throughout and Marcus McMillan made sure Matt Shannon got as much help on Hall as possible in defence.
For the Hawks, Kyle Raven’s efforts were admirable while the Hills — Ross and Andy — willed the Hawks every step of the way.
Small defender Dale Martin had Ednie’s measure for most of the match but when it comes to Ednie, much of the match isn’t enough.
Norman was also one of the Hawks’ best up until his dismissal.
“It played like a final today,” Yarrawonga co-coach Chris Kennedy said.
“She was a tight, contested, scrappy game.
“I’m just rapt for our players because they were challenged again and they keep managing to win.”