SFL Livestream: Huonville down Sorell in big clash
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THE Huonville Lions have feasted on the entree, now time to take on the main course.
After dismantling Sorell at Pembroke Park on Saturday by 51 points, 15.8 (98) to 7.5 (47) to sit in third position, the Lions will now steel themselves for the next two rounds taking on ladder-leader Lindisfarne at Anzac Park before a home clash with reigning premier and Huon rival Cygnet.
Previous meetings have seen the Lions come up well short against the big two, but playing-coach Brady Jones was hopeful his side would be far more competitive this time.
“Everyone being fit and well I think it will be a different contest,” Jones said.
“I would hope we wouldn’t get flogged like we have the last two times but you don’t know until you have another go at them.
“We obviously weren’t good enough the first two times we played them.
“We did have a few injuries and Covid issues but it is kind of hard until you get another go at them so we are looking forward to the next couple of weeks to see where we are at.”
Against a Sorell outfit at home and looking to make its first return to the finals since 2009, the Lions set the tone early.
With the help of the breeze, the visitors pounced on the Eagles, leading 8.4 (52) to zip at the first change.
To Sorell’s credit, it never threw in the towel and made a brief run either side of half time much to the home side’s supporters.
Brady said it was important to make a statement early.
“You could tell in the third quarter when they got a bit of a run on their crowd just outside the bar got nice and loud which cheered them on,” he said.
“These guys are in finals contention and are capable of scoring really quick with some decent forwards so it was important to try and get a head start which worked out all right in the end.”
Mitchell Walker was outstanding at centre half-forward in a best afield performance, while Will Quarrier — who did the job on Nick Baker — and the ever reliable Cameron Johns were also brilliant in defence.
In other games, Lindisfarne’s former AFL small forward Josh Green kicked a bag of 10 goals in a 159-point mauling of Claremont, while Cygnet smacked Hobart by 133 points and Dodges Ferry has a strong 46-point win over New Norfolk.
PREVIEW: Sorell reveal tactics for possible upset
Sorell says if it’s any chance of upsetting Huonville at a mud-spattered Pembroke Park on Saturday it must beat the Lions at their own bruising game in a matchup crucial to ladder positioning on the eve of finals.
With just four rounds to go Saturday’s result is set to play a huge role in the final standings, with the Lions currently in third spot just a game clear of Dodges Ferry while the Eagles sit fifth with an improving Brighton on their heels just one game back.
After wins against struggling sides Hobart and Claremont in the past two weeks, Sorell captain Mark Johnson said the Eagles were looking to put the league on notice with a win over the Lions as they aimed to end their longstanding finals drought.
“It’s good to get a few wins up against teams we should be winning against but it would be nice to get a win against the teams above us as well,” Johnson said.
“This weekend is a good opportunity for us to stamp ourselves against a better team like the Huonville Lions who have been a finals staple for the last few years and the premier just two years ago.
“We haven’t played finals since 2009 so we really want to try and stamp ourselves into the finals this year which would be a good achievement for the club.
“But we aren’t just hoping for finals, we want to see if we can bat deep into them and beating Huonville this week would give us a good staple for the rest of the season.”
Johnson said while both teams were hoping to play a quick brand of footy on Saturday the condition of Pembroke Park meant it would likely be a bruising encounter.
“We’d like it to be a little bit more open for our run and spread but against the Lions it’ll be a nice tight contest because she’s [the ground] definitely a heavy tent and not improving anytime soon.
“At the moment with the ground the way it is it might be a real scrappy affair.”
The well-built midfielder said a key to beating the Lions would be winning the ball at the coal face, noting Lions skipper Brady Jones as a man that needed to be stopped.
“Brady is obviously one of their big strengths which is their inside mids.
“They are very strong at the contest and their willingness to win and work for each other is something we want to adapt into our game.
“If we emphasise beating them at the footy and winning contested footy we should be OK.”
The Eagles and the Lions will get under way from 2pm on Saturday at Pembroke Park.
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