General News
15 June, 2022
‘We owe it to Paddy’: Power rolls Panmure
KOLORA-NOORAT dug deep to beat second side Panmure at home after one of their young players suffered a serious injury early in the match and was taken to hospital.
KOLORA-NOORAT dug deep to beat second side Panmure at home after one of their young players suffered a serious injury early in the match and was taken to hospital.
The Power’s Paddy Baker went down with a broken leg after barely five minutes of play, and both sides spent over half an hour waiting for the ambulance and deliberating on whether to continue the match.
Eventually both teams agreed to resume play and, inspired by their young half-forward’s bravery, Kolora-Noorat went on to beat Panmure 10.5 (65) to 8.10 (58).
“The choice was kind of ours, so I put it to our kids,” Power coach Nick Bourke said.
“There were a few players that are really good mates with Paddy, and they were certainly shaken up, but they decided to put their hand up."
“From there, I said to the team, we owe it to Paddy and to ourselves to go out there and give it our best shot. And I couldn’t be any prouder of the performance that the group put together.”
Bourke led by example, kicking three goals from half-forward in a low-scoring match where the margin rarely reached double figures.
The Power led for much of the first half in the wet and windy conditions, leading by five points at half-time, but Panmure rallied in the third to reach the final break ahead by two points.
However, the Power triumphed in a hard-fought fourth term, out-kicking the visitors three goals to one to seal the seven-point win.
Luke McConnell, who has had an inconsistent first half of the season due to illness, injury and unavailability, realised the form he’d displayed through the pre-season, leading the team in effort and intensity to provide crucial run and carry through the midfield.
Ryan O’Connor was also instrumental in the victory, moved from his usual position at half-back to the forward line and contributingtwo goals.
Bourke said the win would give his players real self-belief ahead of the match against league leader Nirranda this week.
“We certainly didn’t play our best against Panmure earlier in the year, but I knew if we played our best footy we’d give it a red-hot crack,” he said.
“We’re starting to build some momentum and confidence within the group. Panmure and Nirranda are probably the benchmark at the minute, so to roll Panmure on the weekend gives the whole group, and the club, plenty of confidence in what we’re doing."
“Nirranda gave us a fair touch-up at the start of the year, but our performances, not just last week, but the last few games, are starting to build some real confidence amongst the group."
“And a lot of our kids are starting to have some really big moments in big games, they’re starting to believe that they belong there, which is great to see.”
