DUSTING OFF THE COBWEBS: After four months of training, Wangaratta’s Jamie Allan and coach Judd Porter found plenty of the ball in Saturday’s match against Yarrawonga. PHOTO: The Duke
Porter happy with opening hit-out despite first-team regulars missing
Written by JEREMY WILSON.
WANGARATTA coach Judd Porter said he was happy with his side’s performance against Yarrawonga on Saturday despite having a number of players unavailable for the match.
In their first official hit out of the 2010 season, the Magpies went down to the Pigeons by nine points in a reduced three-quarter match with both sides missing a number of star players.
Wangaratta was without star recruit Brendan Liddell while regulars Jai Canny and Luke Mullins were also absent in the 10.3 (63) to 8.6 (54) loss.
But Porter said the side got plenty from the clash and he expected those players to return for this weekend’s clash with Tatura.
"It was good to have a hit out after all the training," he said.
"We got no injuries so that was the main thing.
"There was a fair few guys out so that made it hard to get our structures right but the boys that were playing had a great hit out.
"I think Brendan Liddell, Jai (Canny) and Luke Mullins should be right next week."
While plenty of talk surrounded the debut of star Pigeon Michael Egan, Wangaratta found plenty of positives in its own side.
Daniel McCormick was brilliant, Jamie Allan worked into the match well, Brendan Keir was strong in the ruck while Matt Kelly was at his usual ferocious best.
Youngster Tyler Robinson also impressed in his first hit-out with the senior squad, playing mainly across half back.
Against Tatura, the Magpies will come up against former teammates Paul Kirby and Ben Cosgriff, and Porter said it would be good to play a full match.
"We’ve played a couple of three quarter matches on the weekend so it will be good to actually play a full four-quarter game," he said.
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