Recruit Runnalls guides Magpies to 18-point win

28 Apr Recruit Runnalls guides Magpies to 18-point win

North Geelong will remain eighth on the ladder this evening despite capturing an 18-point win over old rival Anakie.

For the second straight week the Magpies would rely on small forward Beau Runnalls up forward and the former St Kilda City forward would again find five goals.

However this time he would inspire his side to a runaway victory when freeing up Tom Smith and Shaun Kingwell to land the deciders in the final term while hiding a finger injury.

Magpie coach Darren Ryan now hopes to assist his marquee recruit with another forward option.

“You can see when the ball is in his space he’s really dangerous so we’re probably lacking the bigger forward up there to help him out,” Ryan said.

“Hopefully over the next few weeks we can have a few guys go forward and take some pressure off him.”

Anakie matched their counterparts early with Jamie Phillis finding two goals and eight of his eventual 22 disposals in the first term.

Yet both he and fellow interleague nominee Brad Gerrard (21 disposals) would go missing in the final term.

Ryan admits the absence of Daniel Kee, Darcy Eales, Thomas Davis, Luke Schwennesen (injured), Matt Runnalls (overseas), Steven Richert, David Crook and Jonathon Woods (work) allowed him to appreciate the victory which now sees the Pies with a 2-2 record.

“We’ve got a group of about nine players missing from the group with seven of them walk-ins to the senior side,” he added.

“Luke Parker (work) doesn’t count in that group either because he hasn’t trained yet.”

He continued, “Last week we had six changes and then we had another six this week so I was really pleased with how our young blokes have been going about themselves.”

North Geelong will now travel to Winchelsea and Bannockburn before hosting Thomson and Werribee after the interleague bye.

“The last few weeks we’ve steered away from our skills at training to focus on our structures so after our poor skills today we’ll no doubt return to our skill sessions from now on.”

“They are obviously going to be two big games for us and half that group won’t be back until after the break unfortunately.”

Yardz Hotel Player of the Day Votes

6 – Beau Runnalls (North Geelong)
5 – Tom Mathieson (North Geelong)
3 – Dylan Fisher (North Geelong)
2 – Jamie Phillis (Anakie)
2 – Brent Schwennesen (North Geelong)

Alex Tigani
3 – Beau Runnalls (North Geelong)
2 – Brent Schwennesen (North Geelong)
1 – Dylan Fisher (North Geelong)

Dale Smythe
3 – Tom Mathieson (North Geelong)
2 – Dylan Fisher (North Geelong)
1 – Jamie Phillis (Anakie)

Grubby Cations
3 – Beau Runnalls (North Geelong)
2 – Tom Mathieson (North Geelong)
1 – Jamie Phillis (Anakie)

MEANWHILE Werribee hosts fellow finals contender Geelong West under lights while the second half of the round commences tomorrow.

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By Alex Tigani
GDFNL Media (28/04/2016)