The Calder Cannons returned to form with a 29-point victory over the Dandenong Stingrays in tricky conditions in the TAC Cup at Highgate Reserve on Saturday.
In a very defensive game, the Cannons’ third quarter was the difference between the two sides in the 10.11 (71) to 6.6 (42) win.
Coach Andrew Jago said it was difficult for both teams when kicking into the wind.
PICTURE GALLERY | Calder Cannons v Dandenong Stingrays
“It was a very heavy wind and we won the toss and kicked with it in the first quarter.
“It was a bit of a flukey wind with big gusts that changed the flight of the ball. It made it hard outside the corridor on one side of the ground. It should have been a six-to-seven-goal wind.
“They did a good job in the first quarter defending us. They forced us into tough positions in front of goal and we kicked 1.7 for the quarter, including three posters.”
Jago said his side looked at how the Stingrays had played in the first quarter and used it to help set up their defence.
“In the second term we defended the same way they did and they only kicked two goals, while we still got one.”
The Cannons broke the game open in the third quarter with some positional changes.
“We moved Reilly O’Brien from centre-half-back to centre-half-forward and that helped with getting the ball forward.
“He normally plays at centre-half-forward and ruck, but we played him in defence to show he can play both ends.”
The Cannons continued to control the ball in the last quarter.
“They came home with the breeze,” said Jago. “The two goals they kicked with it came after the 20 minute [mark] of the quarter.”
The Cannons will face the Western Jets at Burbank Oval on Saturday, without their Vic Metro players.
Metro remains in the hunt to win the division 1 championship after a 55-point win over Western Australia.
Cannons Peter Wright, Paul Ahern (with three goals) and Damian Cavka were among the best for Metro.
