By Will Jeffares
Frankston has snapped a five-game losing streak to record an important 19-point victory over Collingwood on Sunday afternoon, in front of 3,500 fans at Kinetic Stadium.
The Dolphins, who took control of the contest in the second and third quarters, were made to fend off a late Magpies charge on their way to victory, with a late Matt Johnson major sealing the 13.16 (94) to 11.9 (75) result for the home side.
Frankston started the match up strongly, winning the footy and applying plenty of pressure around the ball but they were unable to put away their early chances in front of goal until Noah Gown kicked his first from the set shot after taking a courageous mark inside 50.
The momentum then began to swing in the Pies’ favour, with the visitors taking control over the territory battle as they kicked four unanswered majors in 10 minutes to open up a 17-point lead.
However, two late goals for the Dolphins via in-form ruckman Angus Grant and a second from Gown after the siren cut the margin back to 5-points at the first break.
In his return to the side, Josh Stern got Frankston off to a quick start in the second as they regained the lead, using his craft to dribble home a clever goal through multiple Collingwood jumpers. While captain Trent Mynott converted an important set shot to extend his side’s lead.
After Collingwood got one back through Liam Purcell, Mynott was again instrumental out of the centre clearance, hitting Jeremy Burton lace out with the speedster kicking truly from the set shot for the instant response. Grant kicked his second moments later, after winning himself a freekick deep inside 50, to get the lead out beyond two goals.
Despite Collingwood’s Ash Johnson kicking his second as a result of a 50-metre penalty, a brilliant burst goal from Seb Quirk and a late Matt Johnson snap got the Dolphins’ lead out to 22 points at the main break to cap off a superb quarter from Jackson Kornberg’s side.
Frankston started the second half where they left off, with Mynott kicking his second from long range and Gown getting his third, after taking a strong contested grab, to open up a six-goal buffer early in the term.
After nearly 20 minutes without a major for either side, a late goal to the Magpies had the margin sitting at an even five goals at the final break.
Johnson would kick his third and the first of the final term for the Pies, before Lochie Reidy dribbled home a great response to push the margin back beyond five goals.
The pressure then began to mount for Frankston, as Collingwood would kick the next three goals of the contest, through Finlay Macrae and two more for Johnson, to have the margin back to just 13 points with plenty of time on the clock.
The Dolphins were able to withstand a tense final 10 minutes, with plenty of great defensive moments, before Matt Johnson’s long-range checkside dribbled through to secure the victory for Frankston, to the delight of the packed home crowd.
Quirk was outstanding in the midfield, recording 29 disposals and eight clearances along with his major, as were Tom Murphy (20 disposals) and Mynott, who finished 23 disposals, nine clearances and two goals.
Grant (two goals, 16 disposals, 28 hitouts, four clearances) continued his fine form in the ruck. Tyson Milne (21 disposals, 12 marks) and Taine Barlow (19 disposals, 10 marks) were great in the back half, with returning defender Josh Smith (12 disposals, five marks) taking several important marks down back late in the game.
Gown caused headaches for the Collingwood backline, kicking three goals but also crashing packs and bringing the ball to ground up forward, while Lachie Riley (14 disposals) brought the pressure with a team-high six tackles.
Frankston will be hoping to back up the win with another four points on Saturday afternoon, as they take on the Northern Bullants at Genis Street Oval at 2:05pm AEST.
FRANKSTON 3.4 9.8 11.12 13.16 (94)
COLLINGWOOD 4.3 6.4 7.6 11.9 (75)
Goals:
Gown 3, Mynott 2, Johnson 2, Grant 2, Reidy, Stern, Quirk, Burton
Best:
Quirk, Mynott, Grant, Gown, Murphy, Milne
