Stars succumb to Giant surge

by Nicholas Duck

A late, great surge from Korumburra Bena secured them a famous 10-point win and snuffed out Garfield's finals hopes on Saturday.

Needing a win to keep their chances alive the Stars were in front for most of the day, only for the Giants to come home with a wet sail, booting five goals to one in the last and leaving the home side stunned.
The 11.9 (75) to 13.7 (85) defeat leaves the Stars stuck a game and percentage outside the top six with a tough run home against Koo wee up and Phillip Island.
Compounding the loss was a late shoulder injury to backman Joel Batson, who had only just recently worked his way back from an extended lay-off.
While Garfield looked far from their worst, a combination of ill-discipline and plenty of determination from the Giants kept the visitors in the contest.
The Stars gave away a host of 50-metre penalties across the day, with several of them resulting in scores against them.
Despite that they maintained ascendancy on the scoreboard and when they went into the last 14 up, looked set to hold on for a gritty win.
Korumburra Bena, who have been one of the competition's big improvers this year, had other ideas.
The Giants went to work, erasing the deficit and putting the Stars on the back foot despite Matt Rennie booting his fifth goal of the game.
Garfield went into an all-out attack mode when they went behind but were made to pay for going all in, the Giants finding space out the back to cash in and hit the jackpot for their fifth win of the year.
Rennis was eventually named best on for Garfield in one of his best games for the club as a forward, the versatile swingman in rare form aerially and dispatching just about everyone the visitors sent to him.
Cooper Alger continued his fine form in the midfield, racking up plenty of disposals as Cooper Reilly fought hard in the ruck when Ding Dieng was a late out.
Tom Kelly was solid off half back, as midfielder Angus Emery and defender Harry Cant could all hold their heads high despite the defeat.
For the Giants Aaron Turton led the way, putting every bit of his experience to use when the game was there to be won.
Big man Jack Spencer stood tall in the ruck, having made the position his own this year following a year in the reserves last season.
Ryan Gillis was dangerous as ever up forward with returning Guy Dickson the same down back, while coach Josh Hopkins and Nicholas Besley were just as impressive.
Garfield began the day well enough, thanks largely to Rennie's exploits inside 50. The Stars tall had three on the board before quarter time, clunking marks like there was no tomorrow.
The result was his team taking the early advantage, despite some poor decisions to give away goals.
That lead was largely held throughout the middle two terms – every time Garfield threatened to pull clear, Korumburra Bena reeled them back and every time the Giants crept closer, the Stars kept them at bay.
Heading into the last Garfield would have remained confident of victory until the Giants threw one last flurry at them.
A couple of goals, including one after a delay as Batson walked from the ground clutching his shoulder, put the Giants within three points.
A Matt Rennie major restored a buffer briefly, though Korumburra Bena weren't looking to be denied.
It seemed at times the footy gods were on their side, like when Angus Emery looked set to run into an open goal only for the bounce to cruel him, Stephen Milne-style.
Eventually Korumburra Bena hit the front via a questionable free kick and the Stars, now needing to score if they wanted to win, got caught pressing too high, allowing Tom Crocker out the back to seal a hard-fought victory.
The Giants have now won five of their past eight and have been in all of those games except one. It's a fair turnaround for a club that hasn't been able to generate momentum for years.
The Garfield rooms were certainly quiet after the game now that their season is all but over.
Coach Eddie Morris, back on deck following ACL surgery, said it was a disappointing day.
"We started really well, really good ball movement but we just did some really dumb things that gave away goals," he said.
"Korumburra have improved, no doubt about it but we had the momentum for most of the day and we just didn't capitalise.
"We probably rolled the dice too much late and didn't execute that side of the game... it was just one of those games that got away from us."
Garfield travels to play Koo wee rup this Saturday.