By ADEM SARICAOGLU
LOOKING at the goal-kickers list, Chris Tarrant’s one-off appearance for Hillside against Keilor Park on Saturday didn’t go to plan.
The former Magpie and Docker went goalless in the Division Two Essendon District Football League clash at Hillside Reserve, but for coach Steve Kolyniuk, the Sharks’ eventual 32-point win over its Brimbank rival was more important.
“Having Chris play for us was a great opportunity for the footy club, but we wanted him kicking (off-field) goals for the club,” Kolyniuk explained.
“It was more about the footy for me – it wasn’t about (Tarrant’s) result.
“But it was pleasing to get the win with Chris not having a great influence on the contest.”
Tarrant was well-held by Keilor Park defender Dean Kalviskis, who forced the former AFL gun up the field for most of the game, giving him little opportunity close to goal.
Kolyniuk admitted the plan was to isolate Tarrant one-on-one close to goal, but it never eventuated that way.
“To Keilor Park’s credit they didn’t allow that,” Kolyniuk said.
But for all of Keilor Park’s hard work throughout the day, they couldn’t hold back a rampant Aisakie O’hAilpin, who kicked four goals and nearly single-handedly turned the game on its head in the third quarter. The visitors went into the main break 22 points ahead off the back of brilliant sharp shooting around goal from Jake Thomas (five goals) and Salvatore Castello (four).
However, the class of a strong Sharks outfit came to the fore in second half, as they ran away with the contest and killed off any Keilor Park challenge by the early stages of the final quarter.
Eleven Hillside goals to Keilor Park’s three ultimately split the two Division Two contenders, leaving the Sharks on top of the ladder undefeated after four games.
Kolyniuk told Star his “go back to basics” message at halftime allowed Hillside to overcome the Keilor Park challenge in the third quarter.
“I think we were probably over-awed with the situation,” he said.
“The guys may have just thought they’d go out there and win comfortably, when in this competition you’ve got to be up for the full hundred minutes. You can’t lapse and we probably lapsed a bit.”
Keilor Park coach Rob McCluskey was upbeat about his side’s performance, despite sinking to their second consecutive loss.
McCluskey noted the late omission of ruckman Ricky Misiti, among others, as a key factor in the final result.
“We’ve just about got a new side, so a new side’s going to take a few weeks to gel together,” McCluskey said.
“But I thought we played well, our pressure was good, it was just that we were probably one big man down for the day having Tarrant and O’hAilpin in.”
After the game, it was revealed O’hAilpin accepted a two-week ban for an incident behind the play.
