By Lachlan Onions
Naracoorte 22.20 (152) d Penola 6.4 (40)
Naracoorte exorcised its demons with a strong win over Penola in Round 11 of Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara football.
Penola went into the game confident it could claim a result after the Eagles won their only game of the season in the reverse fixture between these two sides.
However, with a string of key players out and the Demons in red-hot form, the Eagles were always up against it.
Naracoorte asserted its dominance from the first bounce and it did not take long for the visitors to make an impact on the scoreboard.
After five minutes, Rory Taggert kicked the Demons’ first goal of the game from a set-shot.
The floodgates quickly opened and after 13 minutes, Naracoorte had scored 27 points unanswered.
Penola looked for stability, but the game threatened to turn ugly as Matt Wilson capitalised on a turnover to make it 33-0 after 15 minutes.
The Eagles turned to Brad Bryant, who broke Penola’s deadlock with a strong kick from a set-shot.
However, just as Penola looked like it had found a way back into the contest, Matt Wilson responded immediately with a goal to keep momentum with his side.
After a first quarter which was one-way traffic, Penola trailed by 34 points at the start of the second term.
Naracoorte refused to take its foot off the gas as Sam Wilson snapped a goal in the first minute of the second quarter to give his side a 48-8 lead.
Penola coach Brad Maney, said with a large chunk of leaders out, his side was unable to stop momentum when it was created.
The Demons continued to dominate the play, as the Eagles struggled to match the intensity of Naracoorte.
Drew Clayfield eventually kicked the second goal for Penola with an impressive piece of skill.
However, the goal only momentarily paused Naracoorte’s momentum as it added another two majors to go into the main break with a resounding 62-point lead.
The Eagles were held goalless in the third quarter and the Demons extended their lead out to 95 points.
Penola’s best quarter came in the final term when it kicked four goals.
Scott Merrett kicked two majors while Maney kicked his first goal of the season.
Corey Brand marked his A Grade debut with a goal in the fourth quarter.
“Corey Brand was a late call-up for his debut and he was fantastic,” Maney said.
“He had a really good day on the wing and ran hard.
“He is a player that wasn’t necessarily on my radar at the start of the year but after consistent performances in the reserves, he picked himself.”
Naracoorte’s 112-point win moves it to third on the ladder.
“Their (Naracoorte) midfield were on top throughout the entire game,” Maney said.
“They are a really powerful running side and they just overpowered us with their running power and their ability to get out of the contest.”
He said the Demons were much stronger structurally than they were in Round 2.
Brayden Smith’s strong debut year in A Grade continued as he impressed once again.
“He played his best A Grade game to date,” Maney said.
“He was fantastic.”
