Loss costs place in ‘five’ but not out of race
Saturday’s loss at Maffra has dropped Warragul from the “five” on percentage.
The 13-10 to 3-5 defeat, Maffra kicked five goals to nil in the final quarter, saw the Gulls percentage tumble from 93 to 85.
But it is still only four per cent out of fifth place and five per cent from fourth position on the ladder.
Realistically winning against Maffra, one of the top three sides, on its home ground was always going to be a tough assignment.
On a positive side Warragul should be happy that at the halfway point of the home and away season it is in the middle of a cut-throat battle for one of two positions in the “five”.
What would have been disappointing on Saturday was that the Gulls didn’t make a better fist of the challenge Maffra presented.
History over the past decade or more shows the big ground at Maffra has not been one of the Gulls’ “favourites” and pre-match they changed things up a bit to try to build themselves for a strong showing.
They met at the clubrooms in Warragul to have their pre-match planning meeting than set off in a pool of cars for the trip.
In the opening 10 or 12 minutes of the game that looked as if it might have had a beneficial effect as Warragul started brightly enough, had plenty of control of the play but just couldn’t do the damage on the scoreboard.
They managed just 1-1 for the term against Maffra, that scored relatively easily when it went forward, posting 4-5.
It was a struggle in the second quarter coping with a strong cross wind and a ground surface that was “soft”.
Maffra added only one goal, Warragul none as the gap stretched to 29 points by half time.
For the first time for a number of weeks the Gulls’ midfield and on-ballers lowered their colours with the height, reach and talent of Maffra’s former AFL ruckman Trent Knobel giving his team plenty of opportunities.
Warragul did show some fight early in the third quarter that produced two of its three goals for the game. That cut the gap to about three goals. Knobel, resting up forward, scored two late goals in the term to help the Eagles shrug off the challenge.
They then ran away in the latter stages, something they’ve done in most games during the season.
Five unanswered goals by Maffra in the final term swelled the margin to 65 points.
Warragul was forced to make three changes to the previous week’s side.
Jake Proctor, Lucas Monacella and Scott Douglas came in for injured trio Peter Davine, Brad Hefford and Simon Fairbairn.
Leigh Sheehan (back) also missed again.
Sam Russell continues to get better for Warragul after missing most of last year and a fair slice of pre-season with injury and put in a strong four quarters on the ball.
Fellow on-baller Brad Scalzo did all he could to lift the side, Tom Kelly on a wing had his best game for the year as did Matt Moseley stationed at full back.
Nathan Paredes and Dylan Proctor also came under notice.
The Gulls’ season - and chance of playing finals - will hinge on how it performs over the next four rounds.
It needs to sharpen up the way it brings the ball into attack to give key forwards Brayden Fowler and Matt Rennie and the “crumbers” chances to kick winning scores.
Rennie got two of the three goals on Saturday, Fowler the other.
Coach Steve Kidd says training will be “ramped up” with the aim of finishing the season well.
Next Saturday’s clash with Moe at Moe is huge for both teams’ finals aspirations.
The Gulls won when they met at Warragul in round one and both teams have stepped up a notch or two since then.