THE Cygnet Football Club made the long trip north to the home of the Eagles last weekend and once again dominated the contest for the best part of four quarters. In a master class of precision team football, they ran out big winners by 109 points as they look ahead to another big finals campaign for season 2026.
The Eagles were in the contest until halfway through the second term, but Port took over in most areas of the contest and were too powerful in attack with tall forwards James Zeitzen (nine goals) and Joe Direen (five goals) which was too much for the Eagle defence to handle.
The Eagles went into the contest with Jacob Wigg, Hayden Davis, Tobias Bradford and Blake Mayne all coming into the side, making up for the absences of Torne Tangata and Tyler Benson both unavailable, Wade Lockley (injured) and Tyler Purdon.
Matchups to start the contest had Eagle ruck Caleb Mayne renew acquaintances with Cygnet’s tall ruckman Will Polley. Port defender Lachie Griggs picked up Eagle forward Blake Mayne. Eagle high flyer Tyron Bailey was picked up by Port veteran defender Luke Ashlin and Eagle young gun Mikel Blundell lined up on dangerous Port forward James Zeitzen.
Port snagged an early goal through Joe Direen, but the Eagles answered with a clever snap around the body from Jye Bearman. Port midfielder Lachlan Watt was busy early as Port pushed forward finding James Zeitzen who marked and goaled. Eagle midfielder Ryan Wakefield produced a slick pass to Jacob Wigg who put through the Eagles’ second major.
The Eagles looked lively and Wakefield once again bobbed up sharking the footy from a stoppage in the forward pocket and steered the Sherrin through the big sticks for the Eagles’ third goal. Port responded with leg speed and finding the wide-open spaces of the big Boyer Oval with polished ball use as they bagged a number of goals with key forward James Zeitzen kicking two majors in succession taking a handy 28-point lead into quarter time: Cygnet 7.5 (47) to New Norfolk 3.1 (19).
The quarter-time message from Eagle coach Josh Farrow was to drop the zone and go man on man in the second term to curb Port’s momentum in the latter stages of the first term. Early in the second quarter, Eagle speed machine Jye Bearman passed to Liam Lowe who took a great overhead grab 35m from goal and kicked truly for
the Eagles’ fourth major.
Port quickly answered with goals to Joe Direen and Jack Tammens to hold a 32-point lead at the 11-minute mark. Port entered their forward line once again, finding Codie Rawnsley to convert another major for the visitors. The Eagles transitioned the footy from half-back with some great team football moments, later finding Jye Beaman who marked and goaled from a set shot. Port bagged the next two goals to keep a handy 44-point break on the Eagles.
Classy midfielder Jake Bearman kept the Eagles in touch with a great goal followed by another from key forward Blake Mayne to cut the margin back to 33 points. Port steadied in the dying minutes of the quarter with goals from Direen and Zeitzen to get back to a 43-point margin at the main break: Cygnet 13.10 (88) to New Norfolk 7.3 (45).
The Port powerhouse stamped their authority on the game with an eight-goal burst in the third term while the Eagles only managed one major from Josh Farrow. The Eagles tried hard at the contest, but Port’s pace and slick ball handling was too much for the home side and a few ghosts of the past started to creep into the Eagles’ mindset which put them on the back foot for the remainder of the contest. Three-quarter time scores: Cygnet 21.10 (136) to New Norfolk 8.3 (51).
Port continued to run away with the game, booting another five goals in the last term which showed what a good side they are as they fine tune with only one round to go before the finals. The Eagles can only learn from a fit, well-drilled team that has been at the business end of the season with a number of grand final appearances under their belt and take away some positives, especially for the younger members within the group.
For the Eagles, Caleb Mayne battled hard all day against Port’s tall players. Jake Bearman has been great to watch every Saturday winning the hard ball and using his explosive pace. Ryan Wakefield was good once again at centre bounce and around the ground. Jye Bearman was his usual creative self, bagging three goals. Tyson Eiszele was tough in the clinches and Mitchell Jones showed he has what it takes at Senior level.
The Eagles’ next challenge is against the Dodges Ferry Sharks in their last roster match for the season at Shark Park this Saturday. Can the Eagles grab a last gasp win to finish off their season on a high? Let’s see what the next chapter brings.
Final Scores
New Norfolk 9.6 (60)
Cygnet 26.13 (169)
Best – New Norfolk: Caleb Mayne, Jake Bearman, Ryan Wakefield, Tyson Eiszele, Mitchell Jones, Jye Bearman. Cygnet: J. Zeitzen, T. Clark, E. Cowen, A. Gill, N. Duggan, L. Ashlin.
Goals – New Norfolk: Jye Bearman 3, J. Farrow, Jake Bearman, R. Wakefield, J. Wigg, Blake Mayne, L. Lowe. Cygnet: J. Zeitzen 9, J. Direen 5, C. Rawnsley 3, A. Gill 2, R. Bradburn 2, J. Tammens 2, J. Cowen, H. Watt, F. Polley.
RESERVES REPORT – WAYNE WALKER
THE New Norfolk Reserve squad ran into a Cygnet side that is hungry for success heading toward finals and showing good depth as they ran over the Eagles by a massive 123-point margin in the curtain raiser on Saturday.
Port jumped the Eagles early in the first term, booting seven unanswered goals in the first 14 minutes keeping the Eagles to just one behind for the term taking an almost match winning lead of 42 points into the quarter-time break.
If the Eagles had any chance of getting back into the contest it had to be in the second term hoping to reduce the margin by half time. Port had other ideas extending their lead to 62 points and had a number of options in attack with veteran ex senior forward Ben Halton and tall target Charlie Polley along with Josh Doyle which was too much for the Eagle defence.
Port continued their dominance in the second half while the Eagles were chasing tails for most of the contest unable to gain many effective forward entries. Eagle half forward Hayden Smith showed good form throughout the contest. Jayden Triffett played his best game for the season. Corey Ransley battled hard in attack and
tried to lift his side by going on the ball and helping out in defence.
Jack Evans continued to put his head over the ball and contested everything possible. Bailey Wheeler played his usual great game on the ball and in the ruck but left the field late in the last term with an ankle injury. Tyler Purdon did some great work in defence with a number of spoils and clearing kicks.
The Eagles face ladder leaders Dodges Ferry in their last encounter for season 2026 this weekend at Shark Park.
Final Scores
New Norfolk 1.3 (9)
Cygnet 20.12 (32)
Best – New Norfolk: H. Smith, J. Triffett, C. Ransley, J. Evans, B. Wheeler, T. Purdon. Cygnet: J. Walter, M. Dare, A. Plottier, R. Jager, C. Gane, N. Meredith.
Goals – New Norfolk: C. Ransley. Cygnet: C. Polley 4, J. Doyle 4, C. Walter 4, N. Meredith 4, B. Halton 3, R. Jager.
NEXT GAMES
Saturday, August 15 at Shark Park, Dodges Ferry
Reserves v Dodges Ferry at 10am
Women v Dodges Ferry at noon
Seniors v Dodges Ferry at 2pm.
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