Men’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – East Coast Eagles v Manly Warringah Wolves

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Written by Lachlan Scott

Wolves make a statement

It was a tough first day at the office for East Coast who battled courageously in terrible conditions but couldn’t hold back Manly. In a comprehensive win, the Wolves dominated through pressure on the ball when they didn’t have it, and precision kicking when they did.

Both sides would be impressed to see the level of effort displayed throughout the match, with Eagles fans able to take solace in countless valiant defensive efforts and strong marks from a backline that spent most of the day under siege.

The Manly forward line was able to take advantage of accurate midfield passing to give both their talls and smalls ample opportunities at goal.

Injuries to Hadden (Ankle) and Marsh but both confirmed by coaches as good to play Round 2.

First Quarter

After exchanging shots early Manly opened the flood gates with a classy snap from Damien Haynes and never looked back.  The Eagles held on through good transition through the midfield but came up against some terrific Wolves pressure throughout. Capitilising on this, Manly forced multiple turnovers in their forward 50, resulting in a pair of goals to Behagg. The first coming from a powerful over the top mark in the goal square and the second in the forward pocket coming from a free kick.

Both sides battled against the wind which hampered not just players but the official’s ball ups and throw ins. The Wolves hampered themselves with a lopsided free kick count stifling otherwise very slick ball movement heading into quarter time.

Quarter time East Coast Eagles 0.1.1 – Manly Warringah Wolves 3.1.19

Second Quarter                   

The heavens opened in the second half, but no one told Manly. They ramped their defensive pressure up a notch, working tirelessly to trap the ball in their forward 50 and stifle the Eagle’s transition. Gabila kicked off proceedings with a tight kick around the corner from a holding the ball call.

The Wolves conducted some picture-perfect switches and transitions, with McCacffrey’s pinpoint field kicking finding openings everywhere. Pressure and precision paid off with Stubbs nailing a one handed pick up on the run. He threw it on to the boot and slammed it home for his first. Manly were quick out of the centre and persisted in holding it in their forward 50 with multiple behinds and turn overs on the way out. A stupefying check side goal Byron Laws continued the run for Manly, with speedy transition leading to one on ones up front.

Wright went down from a hard but legal shirtfront and stayed down behind play before getting some treatment. East Coast continued to battle hard throughout with Edwards’ ball skills and toughness at the contest standing out alongside some strong defensive marks by Newnham.

A free kick to Gabila lead to a goal just before half time with the Eagles struggled going inside 50 with a pair of behinds, including a Coxsall poster at the death.

Half time East Coast Eagles 0.3.3 – Manly Warringah Wolves 7.6.48

Third Quarter

Wind and rain stopped in the third, but the floodgates opened for both sides.

The Eagles showed much more life throughout, forcing turnovers with strong defensive marking and pressure on the ball. However, it wasn’t enough to stop Gabila running through a ball up directly in front of goal to kick off proceedings once again.

Ryan Stubbs and Byron Laws formed a ferocious duo up forward for Manly, with Stubbs flying for everything and Laws crumbing and scoring from a marking contest directly in front of goal.

Against the flow of play, Jesse Eldred got East Coast fans on their feet with a massive, long bomb from just inside the arc. McCaffrey immediately struck back for the wolves, showcasing his confident and accurate kicking to get his first.

The Wolves midfield settled into a rhythm in the third with Wright exemplifying their pressure with a massive tackle just outside their forward 50, setting up a Le Juene shot at goal. Youlten was also great on the wing, marking, sharking, and gaining metres with some spectacularly exact kicking to keep the forward line fed. Haynes took on a coordinating role from the back half directing traffic and finding avenues forward.

The Eagles’ showed desperation and grit throughout, demonstrated by a colossal backline effort, diving for a certain Gabila goal, and touching it on the line. Another powerful mark from Behagg lead to his third goal, the kick never in doubt.

Down the other end Nathan Coxall showed some gut running to leave his opponent, drift forward and snap a terrific long-range goal to give Eagles fans something more to cheer about.

Three Quarter time East Coast Eagles 2.3.15 – Manly Warringah Wolves 11.11.77

Fourth Quarter

The final term opened with a bang with a Lachlan Cameron soccer off the ground surprising everyone except him. Manly trapped the ball in their forward half and reaped the reward with a textbook big man mark and goal to Jasper Crouch. In a flash of absolute brilliance Thomas Trevaskis kicked a grubber through the big sticks whilst horizontal just to show us he could.

The Eagles turned the tide from that point, battling the ball back through the midfield and showing their ability to adapt around their opponents. They trapped the ball in their forward 50 with repeat entries, eventuating in a clean mark and goal to Nathan Coxall.

With the clock winding down, the game opened up and Manly were able to get an overlap moving forward resulting in an unselfish hand off from Behagg to Lawford who smashed it through to join the list of goal kickers. An unfortunate kick out gifted Behagg his fourth for the day, most on ground. Manly wrapped things up with another out the back goal, this time to a slick Trevaskis pick up as he steamed through the goal square.

Full time East Coast Eagles 3.6.24 – Manly Warringah Wolves 17.14.116

Final Scores:

East Coast Eagles 3.6.24

Goal Kickers: N. Coxall 2, Jesse Eldred.

Best: Harrison Elbourne, Nathan Coxall, Cameron Edwards, Marshall Poynter, Daniel Saywell, Nick Johns

Manly Warringah Wolves 17.14.116                                  

Goal Kickers: L. Behagg 4, K. Gabila 3, B. Laws 2, T. Trevaskis 2, L. Cameron, J. Crouch, D. Haynes, B. Lawford, T. McCaffrey, R. Stubbs.

Best: Lachlan Behagg, Willem Smit, Thomas Trevaskis, Damien Haynes, Aiden Adams, Lachlan Cameron