Inspiring team effort against all the odds - Injury toll hits Hay Lions hard

AFL

Hay Lions were back on the road last week to take on ladder leaders Ultima.

Lions, minus some big recruits, were keen for the contest against the team on top of their game and undefeated after six rounds.

The match did not disappoint with Hay challenged through a damaging injury toll.

Although they lost, the scoreboard does not reflect the effort and odds against Hay – the Lions did not surrender.

The first ten minutes of the game was an arm wrestle and both teams were switched on from the first centre bounce.

Neither gave an inch, with multiple turnovers from both teams in a frenzied start to the contest. Defensive pressure was high from Lions, exhibiting a ferocity that did not waver for the entire game.

Smart ruckwork from James Moran meant Hay had plenty of first ball use through domination in clearances.

Though inside 50 entries were fairly even, Hay were unable to convert their opportunities into majors as efficiently as Ultima, and the quarter time score was in the home team’s favour.

To throw a spanner in the works, dynamic forward Declan Watson sustained an injury early in the quarter which saw him sidelined for the remainder of the game, in a huge loss for the Lions.

In the second quarter Hay’s intensity lifted to another level which caught Ultima a little off guard.

Both teams had an even spread of possession through clearances, but the inside 50 count was in the Lions favour.

Ultima was forced into multiple turnovers in the middle from a defensive onslaught lead by tackling machine Hugh Crighton, who rattled more than a few bones in his path of destruction.

Purposeful and clean disposal into the forward line saw Hay look dangerous adding three majors to their score to show they were more than competitive against the best in the competition. While this was a great quarter for the Lions and they outscored Ultima to close the gap at half-time, it unfortunately came with further injury woes.

Game ending injuries to key forward Simon Bunyan and backman Daniel Gash meant the bench was reduced to just one rotation heading into third quarter, presenting an unforeseen challenge for the Lions to respond to.

At half-time the Lions trailed - Ultima 6:4 40 Hay 4:6 30.

In the second half the differential inside 50 counts between both teams weighed heavily in Ultima’s favour but nothing was made easy for them.

Every single Lions player lifted and despite eventually running out of interchange options not one player gave up the fight.

The backline players were immense in their defence holding back an onslaught of inside 50 entries.

While Ultima had the ball camped in their front half for much of the second half, they had to work hard to find goal scoring opportunities.

Kynan Headon made sure every Ultima player entering the Lions defensive zone knew what it was like to earn their shot at goal with a few sore and sorry bodies no doubt feeling it the next day.

James Eddy again punched above his height in one-on-one contests against taller opposition with his last man goal saving marking at critical times. Jeremy Watts, as reliable as it gets in ground ball contestation from the backline, used his speed to the contest to instigate multiple rebound attacking movements down the line. Despite Ultima having an inside 50 count that was triple to the Lions total, they only managed to kick four more goals for the half, reflective of the huge effort from the Lions players.

To maintain hunger for the contest with one rotation in a physical and fast game is credit to all.

Despite the loss, there are many positives to take out of this game.

The Lions outscored Ultima in two of the four quarters, no more impressive than the last when they had minimal forward zone entries and no bench to call on.

The Lions showed that they can out-perform the team who are clear competition favourites.

This must install a quiet confidence they have what it takes to go deep into September.

Final score - Hay 7:10 52. Ultima 13: 8 86. Better players - Ferg Cattanach, Daniel Stewart, Hugh Crighton, James Eddy, Kynan Headon and Dean Aylett. Goal scorers - Liam Whitbourne (2), Ferg Cattanach, Jensen Hargreaves, Simon Bunyan, Brad Pocock and Tom McGufficke

Hay is back at home on Saturday for round eight. The team is taking on second placed Moulamein Swans who sit two games clear of the Lions in third position. With a few big outs through injury and unavailability it will be another intriguing contest.