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Cannons outclass Jets for first win of season

Written by Jarryd Barca

The Calder Cannons have finally kicked off their season after overcoming the Western Jets by 12 points in Round 3 of the NAB League Boys season.

There were just three points separating the two sides at three-quarter time of the clash at highgate Recreation Reserve, with Calder peppering away at the goals – although inaccurately – to break away 10.14 (74) to 9.8 (62).

Calder was lead by midfielders Harrison Minton-Connell (26 disposals and one goal), Daniel Mott (24 and two) and Flynn Lakey (20 and one), who were well-served by a combative Oscar Sasalu in the ruck.

Sixteen-year-old Jackson Cardillo and key forward Harrison Jones were key targets up forward, while small Ned Gentile was a live-wire and caused headaches for the Jets defence. 

The Cannons got off to an absolute flyer booting the first three goals of the contest within seven minutes courtesy of Mott, Cardillo and Jack Keeping.

Jets forward Aaron Clarke converted his side’s first major just before the 10-minute mark, before an eight-minute dry patch was expelled by a characteristic Sam Ramsay goal on the run – his third in three matches. 

Things were looking rosy for the Cannons who held a 19-point lead going into the second quarter and the momentum continued as Minton-Connell and Gentile handed the side a 32-point lead.

But the Jets lifted and drew the margin back to 15 points at half time after kicking three goals in succession to end the term.

When Cardillo stepped up to the plate to convert the first goal of the second half it seemed the Cannons would once again establish dominance, but an audacious Western side booted the final three goals of the quarter to put the challenge back onto the home side. 

With Calder’s three-point lead under fire, coach Ross Smith ensured a few of the boys were hot under the collar heading into the final term.

And those that were challenged responded.

In the first 16 minutes of the last quarter just three behinds were registered by the Cannons who dominated the territory battle but to no avail, until youngster Campbell Edwardes broke the deadlock with an easy set shot.

Top-ager Tye Browning, whose 17 disposals and seven inside 50s were crucial on the day, kicked his first and only goal of the game two minutes later and from there the Cannons held on for their first victory of the season. 

Calder will look to continue its winning form into this weekend’s clash against the Tasmanian Devils at Penguin Stadium. 

Cannons respond in style

Written by Jarryd Barca 

The Calder Cannons responded to its only loss of the NAB League season in Round 4 with an impressive victory over the Murray Bushrangers on the weekend.

The Round 5 contest at Highgate Recreation Reserve proved to be the girls’ fourth win in five weeks, placing them in third position on the ladder with just four matches remaining.

The usual slow starts that have been incumbent on the girls’ season to date went out the window, recording the only three goals of the first term to establish a decisive deficit. 

It was six goals to five thereafter, the Cannons keeping the Bushrangers at bay and holding onto a 9.7 (61) to 5.4 (34) result.

The resilience shown by the Cannons will please the coaches after the Bushrangers outscored them in the second term and booted the opening two majors in the final quarter to reel in a reachable margin.

But the leaders stood up when it mattered most to ensure all four points remained with the home side. 

“From the coaches box knowing you’ve got the different leaders – Flick (Felicity Theodore), Georgia (Patrikios) and some of the other girls stepping up in that last quarter – all of a sudden we’re back on top and kicking another goal and it comes from unselfish play like Zoe Hardiman giving a flick over the top just to get someone involved,” Under 18 girls forward coach Luke Russell said.

“That’s leadership and that’s what changes a game. You have so much more confidence in the girls to do the right things.” 

The Cannons recorded 40 more disposals for the game and out-tackled their opponents (48-45) at the same time.

Russell said he was proud of the side’s response to its loss against the Chargers the previous week.

“We spoke a lot about widening the ground and really using our runners,” he said.

“The big thing was it’s just a football game, we lost, we’re still getting to play footy and footy is the fun thing, it’s about making training fun and making the atmosphere fun.

“Wanting to improve is a big thing as well, we keep telling the girls to maximise training time to improve and get better each week, have fun doing it but improve.”

The Cannons are enjoying a solid season in the reformed NAB League Girls competition after celebrating a win on just two occasions during 2018. 

“(Four and one) is a lot better than being one and four I reckon, there’s not as much pressure on us at the moment, but obviously the main thing is the improvement in the girls, one and four and every girl improving would be just as good as being four and one and the girls are improving,” Russell said.

Captain Georgia Patrikios (one goal) and midfield counterpart Alana Barba (two goals) starred with 24 and 21 possessions respectively, while Georgie Prespakis increased her goals tally to 10 for the season. 

Russell sung the praises of some other key performers. 

“Zoe Hardiman was huge, especially her leadership in the forward half,” he said.

“Tahlia Gillard is a 15-year-old 187cm and just getting better and better, they’re not going to be able to go with her, she should have gotten five more free kicks. Down back ‘Flick’ Theodore with that run, Kiara Delia and Kasey Lennox really set us up. 

“Barba and (Laura) Cocomello around the contest really give us something different and you can see the difference between us and other sides having two people that are really contested. Neve Crowley as a 15-year-old playing centre-half forward every week is getting better and Gloria Elarmaly’s attack on the ball was really impressive.”

The Cannons sit third on the table with a healthy percentage of 205.90 heading into their Round six clash against the fifth-placed Eastern Ranges this Sunday. 

“Mercurial” Kemp praised

 Written by Jarryd Barca

Calder Cannons Under 18 boys assistant coach Chris Nolan named forward-mid Joshua Kemp as one of his stand out performers in the team’s Round 2 loss against the Oakleigh Chargers.

Kemp was a live-wire for the Cannons up forward booting three of the team’s seven goals of the contest, two of which coming in a five-goal second quarter blitz by the home side.

The 19-year-old collected nine disposals for the game and took three marks in an effective performance in tough conditions. 

“I thought Josh Kemp was really dangerous – he looked like the ‘Kempy’ of last year at times today,” Nolan said post-game.

“You really don’t want to give him five yards as an opponent when he’s on because he can be quite mercurial.”

Two quick-succession goals on each side of Kemp’s last quarter snap in the ninth minute saw the Chargers steer clear by 23 points when the final siren sounded at a wet and windy Highgate Recreation Reserve. 

Nolan also sung the praises of midfielders Harrison Minton-Connell and Sam Ramsay, as well as defenders Mason Fletcher and Brodie Newman. 

The Cannons gave up a four-goal head start and were held scoreless at quarter time to trail by 28 points. 

But the table completely flipped, with the Cannons returning serve to hold the fancied Chargers scoreless in a second quarter that saw the home side pile on five unanswered goals. 

“It was the most animated I’ve heard Ross (coach Ross Smith) since he joined the club,” Nolan said of his quarter-time address.

Calder was also held goalless in the first half of its Round 1 match against the Sandringham Dragons, while they gave up a five-goal head start to the Eastern Ranges in a practice match a week earlier. 

“It was three weeks in a row we haven’t got out of the blocks so he had every right to give the boys a rocket, he challenged a few of them and a couple of the challenged actually stood up,” Nolan said. 

“The effort after quarter time was pretty good, not good enough at the end of the day but a big improvement on last week.”

The one-goal lead at half time was short lived and despite the brave effort, the Cannons recorded their second loss in as many weeks to start the NAB League season. 

But it’s not all doom and gloom according to Nolan who, proud of the boys’ fightback, noticed their “desire for the contest” was a lot stronger than Round 1. 

“I thought we hunted the ball a lot better,” he said.

“We found ways to stay involved, and guys that weren’t getting clean disposals found ways to get involved.

“In the end we gave up 28 points, nosed in front, five minutes to go we have the ball at the top of the forward 50 and if you penetrate deep there you just don’t know what happens. 

“Instead we gave the whole length of the field and they scored, it just comes down to moments sometimes. You can get so close, but they kicked another one and it gets out to three (goals) and a bit instead of one.”

The question back to the group post-game was whether they need to revamp their pre-game preparations, after again being slow out of the blocks.

“We don’t want to be where we were today at quarter time next week,” Nolan said.

“We’ve got to, for confidence sake and reward for effort, get out of the blocks and hopefully really work towards a win next week against the Jets.”


Chargers hold off brave Cannons

Calder Cannons vs Oakleigh Chargers – Round 2

Written by Jarryd Barca

The Oakleigh Chargers overcame a half time deficit to record a 23-point win against the Calder Cannons under inclement skies on Sunday.

The overcast conditions – which turned the Round 2 contest at times into a regressive slog – meant champagne football was a far cry to what was required on the day. 

Joshua Kemp looked a match winner up forward kicking three of the team’s seven goals in the 10.9 (69) to 7.4 (46) result at Highgate Recreation Reserve.

Harrison Minton-Connell’s 22 touches was the most for the Cannons on the day, with captain Brodie Newman again impressing for the second successive week in defence. 

The home team will again be left lamenting a slow start after being held scoreless at quarter time.

The Chargers looked a superior outfit and it was their clinical ball use going forward that saw them make the most of their opportunities to head into quarter time with a 28-point buffer.  

But the tide suddenly turned.

Nineteen-year-old Tye Browning converted his set shot in the nine-minute mark to put through the Cannons’ first major, before Kemp asserted himself on the contest to convert two more goals in a three-and-a-half minute span. 

The momentum had shifted the Cannons’ way and the match took an unexpected but deserved turn, Ned Gentile and Sam Ramsay adding themselves to the goal-kickers list and handing their side a one-goal half time advantage.

There was a noticeable increase in intensity in the third quarter as the first half rain soaked the oval, with the four points truly up for grabs.

Finlay Macrae’s goal for the Chargers was cancelled out just seconds later by Cannons forward Jake Sutton, who was awarded a down-the-field free kick from close range. 

Chargers ball-winner Noah Anderson stepped up to the plate and converted from a free kick to wrestle back his side’s two-point lead, before a 12-minute dry patch to end the term meant the scores remained 40-42 heading into the last quarter.

Kemp converted the Cannons’ only goal and scoring shot of a final term that could have gone either way, with his nine-minute snap on the counter-attack sandwiched by two Chargers goals before and after. 

The result puts the Cannons on the bottom of the ladder after two matches, with their chance of kick-starting their season coming this Saturday at Highgate Recreation Reserve against the Western Jets.

Goal kickers: J. Kemp 3, S. Ramsay, N. Gentile, T. Browning, J. Sutton

Best players: H. Minton-Connell, B. Newman, J. Kemp, S. Ramsay, J. Sutton, D. Mott

Stats leaders: H. Minton-Connell (22 disposals), C. Brown (five marks), D. Mott (four tackles), M. Fletcher (five rebound 50s)J

Cannons fall short in late comeback

Calder Cannons vs Oakleigh Chargers – Round 4

Written by Jarryd Barca

The Calder Cannons Under 18 girls lost their first match of the season in their Round 4 clash against the Oakleigh Chargers at Highgate Recreation Reserve.

Another slow start by Calder saw them chasing the Oakleigh tails for the majority of the contest after conceding the opening four goals of the game.

There was no doubting the girls’ effort after successfully outscoring the away team in the second half, but it wasn’t enough as the Chargers held on for a tough 7.2 (44) to 5.4 (34) result. 

Tahlia Gillard was solid up forward booting two majors for the Cannons, while Emelia Yassir, Alana Barba, Kasey Lennox, Mali McLeod and Terira Fry were also named in the best players. 

Gloria Elarmaly can also hold her head high after laying seven tackles in the contest – the equal-most in the game with Chargers’ Nicola Xenos. The 18-year-old half-forward is fifth in the NAB League for total tackles this season. 

The Cannons were held scoreless in the first term and it was the third time this season they have trailed their opponents at quarter time. 

Two more goals to the Chargers in the second quarter before the home side’s first major meant the Cannons had to fight hard to wrestle back the momentum, trailing at the main break by 18 points.

The side re-grouped and came out to play in the third quarter with the Chargers unable to re-stamp their first-half authority. 

The Cannons’ two goals were cancelled by a double from Oakleigh, setting up an exciting fourth term.

A grandstand finish was on the cards in the final stanza with the Cannons firing off four scoring shots to one. 

But the two goals two behinds outcome wasn’t enough as the Chargers hung on for dear life in a hard-fought 10-point contest. 

The result sees the Cannons girls drop to third on the ladder, who’ll look to bounce back this Saturday when they host the Murray Bushrangers at Highgate Recreation Reserve. 

Goal kickers: T. Gillard 2, A. Magri, F. Theodore, G. Elarmaly

Best players: E. Yassir, A. Barba, K. Lennox, M. McLeod, T. Gillard, T. Fry 

Stats leaders: E. Yassir (14 disposals), G. Patrikios (three marks, four inside 50s), G. Elarmaly (seven tackles), M. McLeod (three rebound 50s)

J

Girls raring for “biggest challenge” yet

Written by Jarryd Barca

The Calder Cannons Under 18 Girls are eager to take the field this Sunday ahead of what will be their biggest challenge of the season so far, according to head coach Paul Tilley.

Calder is one of three undefeated teams in 2019 and is looking to stretch its winning run to four weeks when it hosts the Oakleigh Charges at Highgate Recreation Reserve. 

“Oakleigh will be our biggest challenge so far this year,” Tilley said.

“They move the ball pretty well, they have a pretty good game plan, they switch the ball, they run the ball. 

“They have a couple of good solid players who move surprisingly quick and kick some really good goals so it’ll be interesting to see how we actually stack up against them, it’ll be a good challenge. 

“They drew with Northern and Northern I thought were probably, and I still think they will be, finals contenders easily.” 

The girls only won two matches last year in Tilley’s first season at the helm, who believes going back to the basics is the catalyst for the side’s rise in fortunes. 

The Cannons averaged 24.2 points per game last season compared to this year’s 49.3, albeit just the three matches have been played. 

“The first couple of games that we played (last year) we got beaten rather comprehensively and so we actually looked at it and thought ‘you know what? We’re probably not as good as we thought’,” Tilley explained. 

“We just went back and started teaching a little bit more about the game itself and we started really concentrating on skills. So much so that I think we played Geelong who were eventual premiers and we only got beaten by a few goals against them and it was only one quarter that let us down. 

“If we had have played them earlier they probably would have beaten us comprehensively, and we won the last two games, so we’ve taken that same philosophy into this year, teach the girls about the game. 

“A lot of girls who come to us, they’re the best from where they come from, but they all tend to play on the ball for their local clubs.

“When they come here they don’t know how to play back, they might not know how to play forward, so it was a bit of an eye opener for me teaching the young girls how to play football.” 

Asked whether the internal mood amongst the players has changed since last season after winning three from three, Tilley said the confidence levels in his players are always soaring. 

“I think what they’re seeing is what we’ve asked them to do is working so that does give them a little bit more confidence to try stuff out during the game,” he said.

“We ask them to do certain things and they are trying it because they know it can work and so I expect that that will continue to increase as well.” 

The Cannons couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year and sit rather comfortably in second position on the ladder, but it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, trailing their opponents multiple times in the first three weeks. 

“We actually need to make the most of our opportunities, we probably have the ball inside 50 just as much as the opposition but we just don’t put it through the goals,” Tilley said.

“I think last week against Sandringham, and nothing against Sandringham – they’re a young side and all that – but we were off the boil in the first half and I can’t really put my finger on it, but you just know when a side isn’t there collectively, and basically after half time it clicked.

“Maybe it was because the girls had to wake up early to go to Sandringham! I don’t know, but it’s not that Sandringham played more exceptional football but we played quite poorly. 

“After half time we started sticking to the game plan and we started doing what we know we can do and eventually we ran over the top of them.”

Tilley expects to see much of the same from his side on Sunday, urging the players for a better start to the contest. 

“If you look at the first game, we weren’t leading at quarter time but I think we were something like one goal seven before we started putting goals through,” he said.

“We really need to make the most of our goal kicking. Some of the girls who I think are rushing probably have a little bit more time to take those shots, some of the choices that they actually make could probably be a little bit better as well.”

Be there at Highgate Recreation Reserve from 1:45pm to help steer the girls to their fourth consecutive victory of the season. J

‘Team first’ mentality steering girls forward

Written by Jarryd Barca

The Calder Cannons Under 18 Girls have won three matches in as many weeks to kick-off their 2019 NAB League campaign in superb fashion.

The first-round 27-point win over the Western Jets was backed up by an eye-capturing 58-point win over the GWV Rebels at MARS Stadium in Round 2 – where rising star Georgie Prespakis booted seven goals.

But the come-from-behind win against the Sandringham Dragons on Saturday means the Cannons remain one of three undefeated teams in the early stages of the year, sitting just behind the top-of-the-table Geelong Falcons on percentage.

Girls manager Russell Humphrey puts the strong start down to an even contribution from the whole team. 

“Everyone is working really well together, all of the girls are really buying in and understanding their roles and because of that the results are looking after itself,” he said.

Sandringham kicked the only goal of the first half in tough conditions on the weekend, before the Cannons put through four majors – three of which coming in the final stanza. 

“In the first half on the weekend we went away from that ‘playing as a team’ style but the second half we were sharing it better and the players were definitely doing better things,” Humphrey said. 

“I’ve just been really impressed with the whole team effort. Everyone is doing something on every game day and contributing to the results that we’re seeing. 

“In particular, we’ve seen very consistent performances over the weeks from Emelia Yassir, Krstel Petrevski, Georgie Prespakis and Laura Cocomello.”

Head coach Paul Tilley said while he’s impressed with the fast start in 2019, it doesn’t surprise him. 

Calder won just two games in 2018 in Tilley’s first season at the helm. 

“About three games into last season we probably weren’t where we wanted to be, so we took everything back to basics,” Tilley told nableague.com.au.  

“We worked hard on teaching the players the basics in terms of skills and knowledge of the game, and I think that was reflected in the last few games of 2018.

“This season has just been a carry-on from that.

“We were lacklustre early (against Sandringham), but the girls realised that if they wanted to win the game, they had to start doing what they knew and sticking to the game plan – which they did.

“We had players like our captain Georgia Patrikios, Georgie Prespakis and Gloria Elarmaly who took the game into their hands and that’s where it started. Krstel Petrevski was a great performer again for us and then you had girls like Laura Cocomello, Felicity Theodore and Emelia Yassir, but the game was won across the board with all of them putting in an even performance.”

The girls will look to make it four wins on the trot when they host the seventh-placed Oakleigh Chargers at Highgate Recreation Reserve this Sunday. 

Despite winning just one match from three attempts, the Chargers have recorded the fourth highest points as a total aggregate in the competition. 

“We’re really looking forward to another challenge, they’re a quality side and we know we have to start a lot better than our last game against Sandringham. We can’t start slowly,” Humphrey said.J

Tough start for Cannons

U18 Boys Match Report – Round 1

Written by Jarryd Barca

The Calder Cannons Under 18 Boys went down to a strong Sandringham Dragons side in Round 1 of the NAB League season. 

The Dragons looked a superior outfit from the get-go at RSEA Park, booting the first nine and final 10 goals of the game and flexing their muscles to record a 19.13 (127) to 1.12 (18) victory. 

Cannons gun Sam Ramsay showed his class in the defeat, converting the first and only goal for the away side in the third term among his 19 disposals. 

The hard-running wingman also laid four tackles in the side’s lowly tackle count of 27 for the match. 

Key defender Brodie Newman showed resilience in defence and displayed the very attributes that made him this season’s captain, topping the team for disposals (24), marks (nine) and rebound 50s (six). 

Tye Browning and Daniel Mott can also both hold their heads high collecting 19 disposals each and showing glimpses of footy that will excite Cannons fans over the course of the season, while the left-footed Curtis Brown showed plenty of promise across half-back. 

Cannons midfield coach Brett Gourley said it’s important for the players to remain positive despite the heavy loss. 

“Obviously (it’s) a really disappointing result but we have to take it with a grain of salt,” he said post game.

“It’s Round 1, we know that Sandy is going to be a really good team this year so although it’s disappointing there are going to be some positives for us to take out of the game.”

Sandringham collected 57 more disposals and 18 more inside 50s than Calder in the commanding result, but spirits never wavered.  

“During the game you’ve got to continue to reinforce what we’re all about as a team, as a club and as individuals as well, we’ve got to make sure that we keep them positive otherwise these results keep happening,” Gourley said.  

“I think it’s important to focus on what we’re about as a team, the things that we’ve been talking about as a group and focussed on over the course of the pre-season, not so much the result.

“We know that this competition is not necessarily all about the results so what we want to do is try and focus on the things that we know are going to hold us in good stead come next week.” 

Trailing by 33 points at quarter time, the Cannons defence tightened up in the second term to allow the Dragons just three majors. 

The Cannons weren’t without their chances either recording three behinds for the quarter in an inaccurate display. 

“I thought there were some really good individual performances down back, obviously there was a lot of ball down there so Brodie Newman did some really good work I thought,” Gourley said.

“At times we moved the ball really well, I don’t feel like we ever gave up, obviously goal-scoring accuracy has got to be something that we improve on a little bit but we had opportunities to move it forward, their pressure was just too good around the footy.

“I don’t see too much changing in training, we’ll lift the intensity probably and just make sure that we come with the right attitude and be really positive this week heading into the Oakleigh game.”

The result puts the Cannons momentarily on the bottom of the ladder, but they’ll gear up and look to bounce back this Sunday against the Oakleigh Chargers at Highgate Recreation Reserve. J