Waite, there’s more: Benalla's Jarrad Waite flies past United's Patrick Thompson to mark the ball.
Photo by
Brenden Paddock
It’s been close to a calendar year since it was last sung, but Benalla belted out its victory chant with zeal at the weekend as it toppled Shepparton United in a Goulburn Valley League thriller.
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All that separated the sides at the siren was two points, with the Saints holding on white-knuckled at the death for a 10.14 (74) to 10.12 (72) win to have Benalla Showgrounds rocking.
Ex-North Melbourne star Jarrad Waite marked his return to the red, white and black with a six-goal haul, while stalwart James Martiniello had a 200th game to remember as he starred in midfield for the victors.
It was the milestone man who gave Benalla the needed motivation according to co-coach Will Martiniello, paying tribute to his brother’s determination.
Mid-air: Benalla's Josh Mellington contests with United's Kyle Clarke.
Photo by
Brenden Paddock
“I think he was really inspiring, especially in that last quarter,” he said.
“I think he was out of gas, but he just kept on fighting and diving on the football.
“I’m really happy for him that we got the win, the boys dug deep to get it for him and that was mine and Macca’s (co-coach Mark MacKenzie) address at the start of the game – lets go about it as Jimmy does on the ground.”
Benalla’s hunger was as clear as day from the jump, recording the hottest start of any side this season.
Waite was at his menacing best after missing the past few games through a calf injury, assuming the target man role as he shot Benalla out to a 33-point lead at the first break.
The Saints booted eight goals in the opening exchange, but remarkably, they’d only go on to kick two more majors for the latter of the match, both coming in the second quarter.
Shepparton United readjusted and grew into the game, kicking 4.4 in the third to Benalla’s 0.3 to heap the pressure back on the home side, but a stoppage-heavy final stanza restricted the Demons’ ability to cut loose and steal the win.
Effort: Benalla's Sam Harris is chased by United's Kyle Clarke.
Photo by
Brenden Paddock
“We didn’t start well, they moved the ball really well and were clean into the forward line, United coach Duane Hueston said.
“We made a few changes, got a few match-ups right coming into the second quarter and kicked about 2.6 – we needed to capitalise on our great work and reward our effort by kicking the goals which we didn’t do.
“We had a really good third quarter and the last quarter was just stoppage after stoppage.
“We tried to open the play up and get moving because we knew were running over the top of them, but we ran out of time in the end and a couple of things just didn’t go our way.”
His day: Benalla's James Martiniello.
Photo by
Brenden Paddock
NTFL duo Lewis Stanton and Jayden Magro combined for eight of United’s 10 goals, while youngsters Oscar Ryan and Declan Newbound caught the eye of their mentor.
“Oscar Ryan was really good around the ball, for a 17-year-old kid, he was strong, he was fierce with his tackling and tackling strong, adult senior footballers and bringing them to ground,” Hueston said.
“Declan Newbound on his debut game actually played really well – he got a heavy knock early which was late and he bounced back up and got in front of some big bodies coming at him.
“He played an excellent game, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him develop as a senior footballer.”
