By RORY O’NEILL
JACANA and Moonee Valley lined up in a pre-match tribute to those who served our country, with the last post echoing across Jacana Reserve.
Moonee Valley started kicking with the wind and piled on seven goals to two through fast ball movement and strong forward marking.
The Jaguars could only manage two goals into the wind. At quarter time, Jaguar coach Aaron Collins implored his team to work harder and to switch the ball whilst opposition coach Peter Gleisner asked his players to run and play the percentages.
The Valley led at quarter time 7.3.45 to 2.2.14.
In the second quarter, Jacana increased its tackle count and won more contested possessions.
With two majors each to Bryce Kimulitas and former Brisbane Lion Chris Johnson, plus a late goal to Eddie Edis, the Jaguars pressed hard.
They kept the Magpies goalless and at the halftime break trailed by a mere point, 7.4.46 to 7.3.45.
Early in the third term, Rhys Brown scored and for a brief period, the home team had their noses in front.
The Valley started winning contests and put on three quick goals to wrestle back the lead, then consolidated with late goals to Seb Monka and Zeke Bunge in the dying minutes to head Jacana 12.6.78 to 8.6.54.
Despite kicking into the stiff breeze, Moonee Valley maintained the ball in their forward half for the first 10 minutes without scoring a major.
Jacana progressively pegged Moonee Valley back via a Chris Johnson risky play-on goal, Jake Galizia intercepting a kick-in and making a seven-point play, and a coast-to-coast passage that ended with a goal to Matt Siciliano.
The men in purple ran out of time and fell seven points short of their black and white rivals.
Moonee Valley maintained their top spot with a 12.9.81 to 11.8.74 victory.
After the game, victorious coach Peter Gleisner thought that his team’s intensity and numbers around the ball helped them win the game.
He was pleased with how his boys were challenged in the final quarter and were able to hold them off.
Jaguars coach Aaron Collins conceded that Moonee Valley were harder at the ball and were more desperate for the win.
Collins believed his team did reasonably well because his leadership group was down a few key players.
He was pleased with how Mitchell Uaongo and Daniel Arnold performed.
Jacana | 11.8.74
Best: M. Uaongo, D. Wolfgramm, R. Brown, D. Arnold, C. Johnson
Goals: C. Johnson 3, B. Kimulatis 2, M. Siciliano 2, E. Edis 2, J. Galizia, R. Brown
Moonee Valley | 12.9 (81)
Best: B. Padmore, T. Gleisner, S. Gales, A. Ciancio, D. O’Connell, T. Furphy
Goals: T. Gleisner 2, A. Faba 2, B. Padmore, J. Covelli, Z. Bunge, T. Edwards, T. Furphy, S. Monka, S. Cox, D. O’Connell
