Hay Lions' massive 124-point win over Moulamein

BY HAY LIONS FOOTBALL & NETBALL CLUB

Round six of the Golden Rivers AFL senior competition saw Hay Lions hitting the highway to take on the Moulamein Swans for the second time this season.

Moulamein are yet to hit their straps with only one win on the board to the Lions' five straight, so stakes were high for the home side.

On the back of first quarter territory dominance, contest and pressure, Hay put themselves in the box seat after kicking 10 goals to two. The midfield got on their bikes and spun the wheels to present the forwards with plenty of ball and opportunity.

Like all good modern forward lines, the threat was spread with five individual goal scorers keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

With the blooding of Juniors continuing, Josh Gardner and Hilton Hargreaves made their senior debuts. Hargreaves, up and about early, found a pocket of space in front of goal to kick the Lions' third, the beneficiary of slick hands from Jack Cattanach out of stoppage.

In a dream first game, Hargreaves kicked his second shortly after, resultant of smart crumbing from a deep inside 50 kick running into an open goal.

In the first quarter most of the play was in the Lions' half, with turnovers making the Swans pay where it hurt. Hay presented an almost insurmountable challenge to head into the first break 51 points ahead.

The second quarter presented multiple goal opportunities to the Swans with all the early play in their fifty zone. The Lions had to fight against the flow to create their own scoring possibilities.

The Swans were unable to take advantage of a hefty free kick count and ruck dominance; their inaccuracy in front of goal with a return of one goal six behinds ensured they presented little scoreboard pressure.

A patch of turnovers from the Lions kicking to contest making it 50/50 play instead of taking the safe option, made it harder to accrue goals than had been the pattern in the opener.

First genuine look at goals in the second quarter for Hay went to Declan Watson, who slotted his third goal for the game, on his way to kicking a bag. Always dangerous, Watson, along with excitement machine Jack Headon, attracted heavy defensive coverage but still found ways to add seven between them by the halftime break.

The midfield continued to bring the heat and the hands out of clearance. Jack Cattanach opened the scoring in the third, the result of superb roving from stoppage to slot on the run, 30 metres out.

While this was another two-goal quarter for the Swans, the Lions blew them out of the water with a six-goal haul to take a 92-point lead into the final break. Joel Crocker played more of a forward mid role from his usual backline position, and kicked two goals, relishing the opportunities the positional change gave him.

The fourth quarter was all Lions way, with their work rate first class, dominating field position with another clinical and uncompromising passage of offensive and defensive football. Moulamein's goal opportunities dwindled, with inside 50 entries cut off by starving the forwards of the ball. In contrast, the Lions added another five to their total.

By the end of the game, Hay had restricted the Swans to just two behinds for the quarter.

Hay Lions delivered a statement 124-point win over Moulamein, to keep their undefeated record intact.

The Lions forwards were super dangerous and efficient with a return of 25 goals from 39 scoring shots - impressive stats. The midfield dominated all areas, and the backs continued to hold down the fort keeping the scoreline safe.

Resting the mids in a forward rotation was highly influential on the game, with the mids directly involved in scoring goals or providing a vital link in the attacking chain.

Three goals on debut for Hilton Hargreaves showed he had the positional smarts to capitalise on opportunities presented.

Playing Justin Ellis as a high forward and ruck rotation has opened up other options in the Lions attack that will continue to present more headaches for any opposition.

Final score - Hay Lions 25: 14 164 defeated Moulamein Swans 5:10 40

Coaches top six: Jack Cattanach, Dylan Collis, Jacob Watson, Declan Watson, Jack Headon and Ferg Cattanach

Goals: Declan Watson 7, Jack Headon 4, Joel Crocker 4, Jack Cattanach 3, Hilton Hargreaves 3, Jacob Watson 2, Riley Bradshaw and Ferg Cattanach.