The Calder Cannons have all but secured a top four spot in the TAC Cup with a 38-point win over top side Oakleigh on Saturday at Highgate Recreation Reserve.
Both teams entered the match undermanned, with players out through injury and school football, but it didn’t dampen the contest between the top two sides.
Nothing separated the teams in the first quarter and a half, as they both struggled to find targets in the forward 50, but the Cannons kicked the last three goals of the first half to put some distance between them Chargers.
In the second half, the Cannons took control of the game to win 12.13 (85) to 6.11 (47).
PICTURE GALLERY | Calder Cannons v Oakleigh Chargers
Cannons coach Andrew Jago said the defence set the tone for the match.
“They [the defence] set up a lot of our attack with the rebounding of the ball forward,” Jago said in the rooms after the game.
“We did the votes and there would be three or four defenders in them.”
He said at half-time the focus was on disposal into the forward 50.
Pete Wright and Hisham Kerbatieh kicked three goals each.
“We needed them to try and use the middle of the ground, instead of kicking to the boundary which they were,” Jago said.
“Jayden Foster and Wright got on top in the second half, big players don’t shrink as the game goes on.”
The biggest concern for the Cannons out of the game was injuries to Mark Kovacevic, Kerbatieh and Reilly O’Brien.
O’Brien hurt his ankle in the first quarter and didn’t return to the field after half-time, Kerbatieh hurt his hamstring in the last quarter, while Kovacevic suffered concussion.
Vic Metro representative Matt Goodyear was a late withdrawal through injury.
The injuries to O’Brien and Kovacevic meant the Cannons had to get creative in the ruck position.
“Wright had the flu and we ummed and arred if we played him at all,” Jago said. “Normally Wright, O’Brien and Kovacevic rotate through there, so we had to try other options.
“It’s a huge advantage to be that flexible. Foster was competitive and we gave Tyson Young a run in the ruck too.”
The Cannons weren’t the only one to suffer injuries with Chargers Darcy Moore hurting his hamstring in the second quarter.
“He is an exceptional player and his injury balanced out the rotations a bit,” Jago said.
“We thought he would play in defence [he was named in the forward line] and take Wright.
“He took Sam Good to start with which was a little bit of a surprise.”
This week the Cannons face the Murray Bushrangers in Wangaratta.
