The Panthers have been touted as one of the AFL Vic Masters league’s top teams, so the Emus were in no doubt they had their work cut out for them.
The Panthers started with the wind behind them in the first quarter and used it to their advantage. However, the Emus were able to score themselves against the breeze through Matthew Hawken and Blair Pascoe, with half-forward Dave Chapman providing a good link between the arcs and midfielder Lucas Walker busy all over the ground.
The Panthers just edged out to lead the Emus at quarter time, however the latter gained the wind-advantage in the second and didn’t waste it, drawing Melton’s lead back to be even with them by half-time following goals to full-forward Clint Jurey, Walker and first-gamer Jack Kreymborg. Ash Smidge was providing some strong backline support to help stop the Panthers from gaining more ascendency in the second term.
After half-time and again going with the wind, the Panthers were able to get more ball-movement out of the centre bounces and quickly move the ball to their forward line in an impressive 10-minute period, and as a result gained a healthy lead going into the last quarter, but not without some great work from Damo Hammond in midfield and Glenn Murrells at half-back.
The lead gained by Melton by the last quarter was too much to draw back for the Emus, but did not stop Echuca-Moama from providing some fight until the end, with last-quarter goals to Chris Hagan and another to Jurey. The final result was not what the Emus were after, but they were able to hold their heads high after the last siren after a gallant effort.
Emus Best: Walker, Hagan, Hawken, Chapman, Smidge, B. Pascoe, Jurey.
Emus Goals: Jurey 2, Walker, Hawken, Hagan, B. Pascoe, Kreymborg.
