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Drought for Black Swans continues

by Brendan Leicester

WESTERN Australia’s poor recent record against Victoria was extended at Medibank Oval today, as the VFL asserted its authority as the best league outside of the AFL, defeating the Black Swans by 55-points.

The signs were ominous from the outset for WA, as midfielder Jarrod McCorkell rammed home Victoria’s first goal within 30-seconds of the opening centre bounce. 

It didn’t get any better, as the visitors piled on 10 of the next 11 goals to have the game stitched up by halftime, and eventually coming home in a canter - 20.11 (131) to 11.10 (76).

Claremont midfielder Luke Blackwell was one of few that gave a good account for WA, winning the Simpson Medal as the Black Swans best player, finishing with 37 possessions, including 20 kicks and five inside 50s.

The ruck duel between arguably two of the best hit-out specialists in the competition was exciting, with Subiaco ruckman Michael Rix and Orren Stephenson locked in a fierce contest all afternoon.

Tigers forward duo Chad Jones (four goals) and Ian Richardson (three goals) put most of the score on the board with eight of WA’s 11 goals coming off a Claremont player’s boot.

Hard-running wingman Shaun Hildebrandt, emerging young talent Aaron Sweet and Ross Young were the other ball winners for WA, in a less than impressive team performance.

The wider parameters of Leederville Oval were expected to suit the Black Swans, but it was just the opposite as the Vics smashed their opposition in the midfield, as Ed Curnow (38) Brett Johnson (33), Myles Sewell (31) and Stephen Clifton (30) dismantled WA’s defences.

Leading VFL goalkicker and now Frank Johnson medallist Matthew Little was the recipient of that midfield dominance, booting seven goals straight, while Western Bulldogs rookie Pat Rose added to the onslaught with three.

With the game in the bag, the Vics switched off in the final quarter, and allowed WA to finish strongly with five goals to two, despite outplaying and outscoring them in the previous three.

However, no one told Ryan Brabazon, who with just 10-minutes left in the match, lined up Adam Iacobucci with an illegal bump that left him with a possible broken jaw, and Brabazon with a possible suspension.

GOALS:

Victoria: Little 7, Rose 3, Davies 2, Breust 2, McCorkell 1, Stockdale, Marigliani, Stephenson, Pinwill, Pederson

WA: Jones 4, Richardson, Brabazon 1, Hildebrandt, Salecic, Krakouer

BEST:

Victoria: Little, Curnow, Johnson, Sewell, Marigliani
WA: Blackwell, Rix, Hildebrandt, Jones, Sweet

INJURIES: VIC: Iacobucci (jaw) Marigliani (ribs)

REPORTS: WA: Brabazon, reported in 4th quarter for high front-on contact to Iacobucci