STORY : TIM MICHELL SUNBURY LEADER
QUEENSLAND proved its southern sojourn was anything but a holiday with a 27-point victory over Calder Cannons at Highgate Reserve on Saturday.
After overcoming reigning TAC Cup premier Oakleigh on their home turf last weekend, the Maroons shook off a sluggish start to hand Calder a 13.8 (86) to 8.11 (59) defeat.
The Cannons could barely have asked for a better opening kicking with the breeze, booting four majors to establish a 20-point break at the first change.
But Queensland was just as clinical with the wind at their backs, producing a flurry of goals in the second term to head to half-time with a seven-point lead.
The visitors controlled the tempo for much of the third quarter, dropping a player behind the ball to thwart Calder’s attacking efforts.
The tactic worked to a tee for Queensland, which mopped up attacks with ease to stay within one-point at three-quarter-time as a heated clash threatened to boil over.
The Maroons settled the better of the two sides after a brief melee, hitting the front at the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
The sealer came after 13 minutes, before Dyson Budarick produced a moment of brilliance to ice Queensland’s win.
Budarick spun out of a pack before snapping truly on his left boot from the forward flank, rubberstamping a fine performance from the interstate side.
“I thought we played really well in the first half and didn’t get reward for our effort in the first quarter,” Calder coach Andrew Johnston said.
“We needed to really get some scoreboard pressure … and then they were able to get back into the game a little bit in that second quarter.
“The third quarter, again, they played the way we needed to play in the last quarter, they were composed and used the ball and hit their targets.
“We weren’t able to get them on the rebound and put some real scoreboard pressure on.
“Again, in the last quarter, we were pushing it uphill a little bit with the wind.”
Calder’s defeat was compounded by a broken collarbone suffered by key forward Jaidyn Owen, who was immediately taken to hospital after a heavy collision in the fourth quarter.
The Cannons sit 10th after Round 10 ahead of their meeting with Sandringham Dragons this Sunday at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
Results
Queensland 1.1.7 7.1.43 8.2.50 13.8.86
Calder Cannons 4.3.27 5.6.36 7.9.51 8.11.59
Queensland
Goal Kickers: C. Filewood 3, D. Budarick 3, C. Wagner 2, B. Keays , M. Spencer , W. Buzza , C. Marsden , R. Blood
Best Players: C. Wagner , D. Budarick , B. Keays , A. Maricic , C. Filewood , N. Dennis
