Stars steal Cobras' bite

by Nicholas Duck
Garfield enhanced their claims as serious finals contenders on Saturday after knocking off Cora Lynn by 14 points for their fifth win of the season.
The Stars' elite pressure that has held them in such good stead over the past five weeks again came to the fore as Garfield put on a defensive masterclass on their home deck, constricting the Cobras and ultimately squeezing the life out of them 9.10 (64) to 7.8 (50).
Though they were certainly challenged, Garfield were able to break clear courtesy of kicking five goals to two after half time.
It's the green and gold's fourth straight win and their first over Cora Lynn since joining the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition.
Ironically, the Stars' last win over the Cobras came in the EDFNL back in 2013 and also featured coach Eddie Morris, back when he was only 17.
The result also sees them tie their win total from last year by round eight.
The win came at a cost, however, as emerging superstar ruck Ding Dieng copped a serious blow to the face, dislodging several teeth and sending him to hospital before half time.
Standing up in his absence was Matt Rennie, who played his heart out in the ruck and up forward to kick two goals and be the Stars' best.
Garfield built their win largely off their defensive pressure, keeping Cora Lynn honest with their ball movement and ensuring they didn't have any easy looks inside 50.
The Cobras managed just two goalkickers for the day with Nathan Gardiner kicking their first three in the opening quarter and co-captain Jaxon Briggs booting the four thereafter.
Outside of those two the Cobras looked toothless up forward, struggling to deal with the congestion inside their attack.
While Rennie was the winners' top performer, the Stars enjoyed strong performances from Josh Evans and Tom Kelly, the former of which helped quell Jimmy Munro's run and carry after quarter time and the latter racking up touches across half back and the wing.
Noah Rogers was effective distributing from defence while Harrison Cant played well on Gardiner, bouncing back after a less than ideal first quarter.
Cooper Alger rounded out the Stars' best, again shining through the middle and putting the finishing touches on the day with a late goal.
Cora Lynn were served well by midfield duo Koby Grass and Jimmy Munro, the latter of which had the ball on a string even with Evans' attention.
Briggs was of course inspirational in his efforts up forward to try and will his side over the line as Jett Edwards, Chase Blackwood and Christopher Inverno gave their all.
The game began exactly as Cora Lynn would have liked when Gardiner marked and goaled twice within a couple of minutes, putting them well on track early.
Rennie answered for the home side, first snapping and rolling one home before later making the most of a holding free.
The Stars took the lead early in the second after Will Cole loaded up from 50 metres on the run and recruit Will Papley dodged and weaved before nailing one from a similar distance.
Two majors to Briggs before half time ensured the visitors would head into the sheds in front – albeit only just.
With Ding out of commission before the main break a rejig was required in the middle from Stars coach Eddie Morris.
It paid off too, the Stars locking the ball in their half for much of the third term.
Will Pickering clunked two important marks inside 50 and made the most of them, the first an especially impressive flying grab.
A further goal to James Freeman, who curled one through with a snapping set shot, had Garfield up by 10 at the final change of ends and looking the goods.
That belief was only reinforced minutes into the last via Freeman again, who joined in the tackling party to win a holding the ball free kick close to goal.
While Briggs had the instant reply to keep things interesting, when the ball landed in Cooper Alger's lap on the run, it was just about curtains.
Try as they might – and Briggs did try by marking and running in his fourth – the bridge was too far to close, the siren sounding on another hard-fought Garfield victory.
Speaking post-game Morris was happy with his side's ability to respond when challenged.
"It was a different type of game for us in that we had to come from behind. At half time the boys were disappointed we weren't winning and I just had to say 'come on guys, we need challenges like this.'
"We locked them down really well in the last quarter ... they just keep growing in confidence each week and its really pleasing."
Now 5-2 with their only two losses being against the league's top two teams, Garfield will head to Phillip Island this week as they try to get another monkey off the back.