ALEX Rance’s much-anticipated return to State league football went agonisingly close to denting a premiership fancy’s top-two hopes as Southport escaped with a thrilling four-point VFL victory over Essendon at Fankhauser Reserve on Sunday.
The cobbled-together Bombers were the better team for most of the match, but were unable to put the Sharks away and paid the ultimate price when Tom Fields snapped the matchwinning goal at the 31-minute mark of the final quarter.
Essendon had one last chance in the 33rd minute, but fill-in Abraham Ankers, who travels from Alice Springs to play for Wangaratta in the Ovens and Murray league, saw his long shot bounce into the post and Southport held on.
Rance looked every bit the player he was in 200 AFL matches for Richmond, marshalling the backline and compiling 18 disposals and four marks while holding Sharks leading goalkicker Billy Gowers to just seven touches and two goals.
He also provided valuable on-field coaching to teammates including youngster Cody Brand, Lachlan Johnson and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher.
At the other end, 2014 No.1 draft pick Patty McCartin returned to his more familiar full forward role after spending most of this season at centre half-back for Sydney in the VFL.
He looked in ominous touch, taking six strong marks and kicking 3.2, but did miss two final-term set shots that would have put the game out of Southport’s reach.
Aaron Francis also impressed up forward for Essendon in his first game after taking a break for personal reasons, kicking the opening goal of the game and finishing with 15 disposals and seven marks.
Essendon kicked the first three goals of the game, split by a 7½-minute delay as Southport’s Tom Miller was carried off on a stretcher after being knocked out in a head clash with Bomber fill-in Ethan Hunt – the Shark was later taken to hospital for scans on his neck.
The Bombers, who also finished a man down with Gold Coast loan player Tom Hofert going off in the second term with a shoulder injury, led by around two goals for most of the day, answering two Shark comebacks before eventually falling just short.
Dylan Clarke regularly got things started under the pack with 23 handballs among his 31 disposals, while Marty Gleeson had 23.
Most of the Bombers’ fill-in players have plenty of footy experience, but Swans Academy rookie Pierce Roseby was the best of them, producing an outstanding 29 touches and six marks, while Wangaratta Rovers traveller Tyler Cornish had 27.
Yeppoon coach and Myrtleford product Christian Burgess, who played three games for Coburg in 2016, was lively with two goals while Northern Territory legend Cam Ilett was also terrific with 19 touches and a goal.
But Southport isn’t in the upper bracket of the competition for nothing and the Sharks clung on gamely all day, with their primemovers leading the way.
Their fleet of regular goalkickers were well held, with 50th-game forward Mitch Johnson (one), Gowers (two) and Connor Nutting (two early in the last) struggling to find any space.
Co-captain Andrew Boston stepped up to kick two crucial first-half goals and was the Sharks’ best player with 27 disposals and seven marks, Brayden Crossley was excellent in the ruck with 19 touches, five marks and 25 hitouts, Mackenzie Willis (28 possessions) took 15 marks sweeping across half back, Jacob Dawson overcame a slow start to once again lead all comers with 34 disposals and Jesse Joyce impressed with 26.
GWS Giants – with help from crosstown rivals Sydney – kept the pressure on the chasing pack for top-eight spots with a 27-point win over Brisbane at the Metricon Stadium Training Ground.
The Giants, who fielded 13 of their own players and nine Swans, kicked 3.7 to 0.0 in the first quarter and were never seriously threatened by the struggling Lions, finishing with 31 scoring shots to 19.
Jeremy Finlayson answered his omission from the AFL team with a dominant display, pulling in 10 marks and kicking 3.4, while fellow key forward Zach Sproule also took 10 marks and kicked 2.4 of his own – the pair also had 21 and 26 disposals respectively.
The Swans also shone, with Ryan Clarke racking up a game-high 35 disposals and six marks, while Dylan Stephens had 21 and Kaiden Brand and Marc Sheather each grabbed 19 and a goal – the same return as Giants Josh Green and Nick Shipley.
Rhys Mathieson and Brock Smith led the way for the Lions with 27 touches each and Cam Ellis-Yolmen had 24 and 12 marks in his first game back from injury, just ahead of Tom Joyce (24) and Thomas Berry (23).
SUNDAY, JULY 25
Southport 11.9 (75) def Essendon 10.11 (71) (Match Centre)
Greater Western Sydney 11.20 (86) def Brisbane 8.11 (59) (Match Centre)
SATURDAY, JULY 24
Aspley 6.8 (44) lost to Gold Coast 19.8 (122) (Match Centre)
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
Email: brendan.rhodes@afl.com.au
Keep track of your team via our all new VFL Match Centre, which features live scores, team and player stats, match timeline, events summary and even Fantasy points. Check it out here.
