Kingston started their season with a strong victory in round one against Padthaway.
The Saints started strong and never looked back as they controlled the contest across the four quarters.
Padthaway attacked early in the game from the opening bounce but couldn’t get a goal on the board. Kingston’s Campbell Watts and Chris Draper were doing some great work off the half backline early to help stop Padthaway from getting early goals on the board. Both players would sweep across and then crumb the ball off the spoils enacted by Mackenzie Slee and Ben Rogers when in the contested situation in defence. Kingston worked hard and got the season’s first goal through Jack Harding. Jack was presenting well and got rewarded with the season’s first goal. Kingston coach, Alex Barns, then put his imprint on the game as he was winning ruck taps and working forward to provide an extra target. Alex put through two goals in a row as the Saints opened up a 17-point lead. Kingston recruit Ben Kennedy was in everything for the Saints and impressed with his clean hands and use of the ball by foot. Padthaway kept working hard and had plenty of their own chances to score. The Lions finally got on the board after Danny Juckers brought up the Lions’ first goal for the new season. Riley Faehrmann, Jordan Hooper and Nathan McCarthy were providing a strong running presence in the midfield for Padthaway. Kingston went forward again and scored a goal through James Siviour, who was looking strong in attack. Kingston had started the way they wanted and went into quarter time with a lead of 15 points.
Kingston took control of the game in the second quarter, and it started to show on the scoreboard. The Saints burst out of the blocks and quickly had two goals on the board through Todd Lockwood inside the opening 3 minutes of the quarter. Kingston was getting silver service from Alex Barns in the ruck, and players such as Ben Kennedy, Harry Tunkin, William Watts and Thomas Matsouliadis were reading the taps and driving the football forward at every opportunity. Padthaway hit back with a much-needed goal through the boot of Tobin Cox. Tom Moyle-Read, Jason Dicker and Jordan Hooper were giving the Lions a lift around the ground. Kingston hit a purple patch as they put through four goals in a row as Liam Braithwaite, Todd Lockwood, James Siviour, and Alex Barns added majors to the Saints tally. Kingston had stretched out the margin to 46 points. Kingston had some strong contributors in William Watts, Ben Warner, Tom Rogers, Campbell Watts and Ben Kennedy during the second quarter. Kingston’s Hagan Wright also looked good moving around in his comeback game after a couple of injury-affected years. Kingston went into halftime 47 points in front.
Kingston continued to put on a strong showing in the third quarter as they put through the first two goals on the board through James Siviour. James looked like he liked spending more time forward than in the previous couple of years. Alex Barns’ ruck taps and his clearances were good to watch as he used his mobility to cause Padthaway problems. Harry Tunkin and Ben Kennedy’s clean, quick hands in close and the ability to break out into the open on foot were setting up lots of attacking attempts for Kingston. Padthaway were working against the run of play but were able to get the ball forward where Tobin Cox was able to score the teams third goal. Padthaway’s Riley Faehrmann and Jordan Hooper continued to work hard and get plenty of the ball. Lions’ key position player Brad Ficken competed well for the Lions in the marking contests and wherever he was needed. the Lions had back-to-back goals for the first time in the game after Troy Menzel put through his first for the game. For most of the quarter, the Saints held the Lions’ forward attacks. Mackenzie Slee was strong in defence for the Saints. Campbell Watts, Orestis Gambranis and Chris Draper were others who helped work back and defend for Kingston. The Saints continued to attack hard as they got a goal through Will Watts that helped the Saints open up a 49-point lead by three quarter time.
Kingston ran the game out well in the fourth quarter as the Saints looked to build percentage in the final quarter. Ben Kennedy capped off his strong first game for Kingston with a goal as the Saints stretched the margin out to 55 points. The saints continued to attack and run. Sam Robertson and Todd Lockwood added goals to the scoreboard as the Saints’ lead was pushed out to 69 points. Kingston had strong contributors in the fourth quarter as Alex Barns, Ben Kennedy, Harry Tunkin and Hagan Wright continued to accumulate disposals around the ground. Mackenzie Slee was very impressive in defence for Kingston as he read the play time and time again to put in a spoil or a tackle on a Padthaway opponent. Brandon Tapfield was another Saint to work his way into the game with a good second half. Padthaway worked hard against the Saints’ pressure all during the quarter. The Lions broke through with their first goal of the fourth quarter from Brad Ficken. Riley Faehrmann worked hard and showed he will be a good recruit for Padthaway as he continued to be involved in the play. Jordan Hooper, Jason McCarthy and Jason Dicker continued to attack the ball right up until the final siren for the Lions. Kingston proved too strong for the Lions in the end and recorded a 54-point victory.
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