Men’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – Inner West Magpies v St George Dragons
Written by Lucas Holmes
The Inner West Magpies had the bye in round 8, in round 7 they defeated East Coast by 86 points. St George defeated North Shore by 7 points in round 8.
First quarter
The Magpies showed their intent to utilise the centre corridor in the opening seconds.
Brandon Lagana’s pass on a 45-degree angle opened the far side of the ground. Kyle Veerhuis’ running shot on goal was touched through by Dominic Michalak for a minor score.
The Dragons went forward and had a behind of their own as Dominic Soffe pushed his shot across the face of the goal, but from the resulting kick out the Dragons took the lead.
St George intercepted the kick out on the far half-forward flank. A quick handball from Matt Saunders gave Ben Jones enough time to snap across his body from a distance. After 3 minutes of elapsed time, the Dragons had the first goal of the match.
From a boundary throw-in on the centre wing, St George had their second goal three minutes later.
Saunders attempted to find the division’s leading goal kicker in Noah Casalini but the kick went over his head and into the forward pocket. Soffe laid a tackle in the congestion, collected the football and finished with class across his body as the Dragons opened an early 15-point advantage.
Inner West struggled to get their hands on the football following that early chance. However, it was a counterattack that led to their first goal.
From a kick out, the target was Luke Jamieson on the centre wing. Jamieson bought the ball to the ground and followed up with a kick, the ball was on the attacking side of the centre square.
Daniel O’Connell drew in the last St George defender which allowed Ben Zoppo to dribble the ball home from full forward.
It was an entertaining end to the first term with a total of ten goals kicked (including a well-worked team goal from St George).
Quarter time Inner West Magpies 4.1.25 St George Dragons 6.4.40.
Second quarter
It was the Dragons who went forward early as the second term commenced.
After a minor score, Casalini snapped across his body from the right forward pocket with three minutes of elapsed time.
But the Magpies hit straight back through Zoppo. After he took a contested mark on the boundary line, Zoppo somehow converted the check side kick deep in the forward pocket. His fourth goal in a little over a quarter.
Soffe replied with his third from a set shot after 11 minutes as the momentum continued to shift.
Zoppo added his fifth from a set shot before Casalini (his third) and Lagana went goal for goal. Neither side could kick away.
A late Kirian Ayres goal from a downfield free kick saw the Dragons take a four-goal lead into the main break.
Half time Inner West Magpies 7.1.43 St George Dragons 10.7.67.
Third quarter
It was a physical start to the third term; Jamieson was starting to impact the contest more (particularly around the ground) after Dragons ruck Nelson Carey was solid in the first half.
Inner West had the first goal of the third term after four minutes of elapsed time.
From a boundary thrown in between the centre wing and half-forward flank, Lagana read the tap from Kyle Veerhuis and got a quick kick to Robinson who protected the drop of the football.
Robinson converted the set shot from the right forward pocket as the Magpies got off to the ideal start.
It was a Magpies turnover that led to the Dragons’ eleventh goal.
Timothy Tegg was extremely disciplined and spoilt the ball on the mark. As St George had done so far, they swept the ball away on their half-back flank and quickly turned defence into attack.
Saunders initially gave a wide handball to Ayres inside the forward 50. Ayres found Bridgland who evaded a defender with a sidestep that gave Saunders more space to convert off a step from 25 metres out just off centre.
Inner West answered back immediately with a long set shot to their coach Ben Klemke.
The Magpies couldn’t convert some late chances and were 17 points behind at the last change.
Three quarter time Inner West Magpies 9.5.59 St George Dragons 11.10.76.
Fourth quarter
Inner West had found it difficult to get within three goals of the Dragons since the first quarter, but it didn’t take long for the margin to get into single digits.
After he backed into the marking contest and took a strong mark, Zoppo converted the set shot from the preferred pocket for a right-footer.
Robinson kicked his second from the half-forward flank and within five minutes the margin was down to 5 points in favour of St George.
Tiziani kicked his first from 52 metres out to put the Magpies in front for the first time since the opening term.
Tiziani’s second came less than a minute later as the Dragons had seemed to have stalled.
That was until Casalini added his fourth from a stoppage inside the forward 50. The margin back to a single point.
A minor score to Soffe and scores were level after 17 minutes of elapsed time.
However, as it had been all afternoon, it didn’t take the opposition (the Magpies in this instance) to hit back.
Robinson added his third from a set shot before the impressive Kel Evans kicked the sealer to cement a remarkable fourth-quarter performance.
Full time Inner West Magpies 15.7.97 St George Dragons 12.12.84.
Brandon Lagana was phenomenal for the home side. Luke Jamieson worked his way into the game nicely, whilst Ben Zoppo particularly in the first half kept his side within striking distance.
Matt Saunders was one of the best players on the entire ground with his impact in contested situations. Timothy Tegg’s speed off half-back was the catalyst for numerous St George attacks. Whilst Timothy Coenen played an important lockdown role on Ben Zoppo in the second half.
Inner West Magpies 15.7.97
Goal kickers: B. Zoppo 6, J. Robinson 3, L. Tiziani 2, K. Evans, L. Jamieson, B. Klemke, B. Lagana
Best: B. Lagana, K. Evans, B. Klemke, B. Zoppo, J. Robinson, L. Jamieson
St George Dragons 12.12.84
Goal kickers: N. Casalini 4, D. Soffe, 3, K. Ayres, M. Bridgland, B. Jones, E. Maher
Best: M. Saunders, T. Coenen, B. Hodgson, B. Jones, M. Kannan, T. Tegg
