The four players with AFL experience proved crucial in the O and M’s win.
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Michael Newton was the equal leading goalkicker with three, Chris Hyde racked up 24 possessions, Ben Speight showed his class while Mark Whiley staged a ding-dong battle with GV captain Jason Cole.
“Mark was under the pump early playing on Cole,” co-coach Darrell Spencer said.
“Cole was certainly winning some ball around the stoppages, but Mark’s a pro and he really upped the ante from there.
“Those two boys had a great contest and I think Mark might have got the upper hand.”
The former GWS and Carlton player was the game’s leading possession-winner with 30.
The O and M had 12 marks inside 50 to the GV’s eight, with ex-high-flying Melbourne forward Newton grabbing four.
“Michael was a big part of us winning the game,” Spencer said.
“He kicked some clutch goals at a time when we weren’t kicking goals, he was able to put them through and I think that had a fair bearing.”
Interestingly, Newton ruled himself out immediately after Wangaratta’s loss to Albury with a calf complaint.
Hyde, a 93-gamer with Richmond, had also originally ruled himself out, while Speight, who played at North Melbourne, kicked two goals.
“He did steal a goal off me late, which he celebrated and gave a couple of finger points,” Newton laughed.