By Tara Murray
Defender Samuel Van Taarling was the unlikely hero as the Gisborne Giants won a shootout against Melton Centrals after the siren.
Both sides entered the Riddell District Football League clash looking for their second win of the season and it would come down to the final kick of the game.
Van Taarling was able to kick truly to give his side the 16.15 (111)-16.10 (106).
Hall said Van Taarling had come off his man and decided to go forward and was able to seal the deal.
“He’ll say that he was 70 metres, but he was probably 40 out,” he said.
“Being the defender that he is, we were hopeful. He took responsibility and kicked truly and we were really happy for him and happy for the group.
“It paid off and the coach was really happy with his decision making.”
Hall said it was a really good game and it was one of those games where you want both sides to walk off happy.
The Giants were slow out of the blocks before being able to build into the game.
After trailing by 27 points at quarter quarter they were able to bring it back to just three points at the final break..
“It was a shootout in the finish,” he said. “They got the jump in the first quarter and we had a lot of looks inside 50 and could not convert.
“We let the ball out too easily, defensively we were poor. After quarter time we just started to adjust.
“Things we put in place and started to play off and the players took ownership and played a really compelling three quarters of footy.
“In the last quarter it was an absolute shootout and it was really exciting with both teams in the game.”
Brad Mangan kicked three goals for the Giants in the win, with another three players kicking two goals each.
He was among the best with Thomas Doyle and Matt Quigley.
The win was the Giants second in what has been a real learning experience for the group.
Hall said they have taken a lot out of every game, whether they win or lose.
“The heavy loss to Riddell was properly a real wake up call,” he said. “I think off the back of a competitive game against Diggers Rest… I think our boys needed a bit of a recheck of exactly what the top level looks like.
“I think the players felt real embarrassment after that game.
“I don’t think it hurt us at all. Sometimes out of that sort of loss you can gain a lot.
“Then we had the double break. Against Macedon we were really competitive for a half before we dropped off terribly.
“We’ve done some significant review of what we want out of the season and what the players want out of games.”
The Giants face Romsey this week, before games against Lancefield and Woodend-Hesket which are both at the bottom half of the ladder.
Other winners on Saturday were Riddell, Diggers Rest, Wallan and Macedon.
