Run away from Bairnsdale in second half
Warragul bounced back to keep its season and finals’ hopes alive with a come from behind win at Bairnsdale on Saturday.
The Gulls ran out 1412 to 9-17 winners to post their sixth win from 12 games.
The Redlegs jumped Warragul early and with better accuracy near goal could have opened a more than handy lead but by quarter time the Gulls had fought back to be within five points, 3-7 to 3-2.
Again Bairnsdale had the better of the early stages of the second quarter before Warragul clicked into gear.
At half time the Redlegs were still in front, by two points 5-8 to 5-6.
Gull Leigh Smith was moved onto Bairnsdale prime mover Tom Hams and kerbed his influence and the rest of the Gulls lifted.
A bit tentative until midway through the second term Warragul found some zip and took the game on to create more and better scoring opportunities.
The third term was the match-winner outscoring Bairnsdale four goals to one and the Gulls went on with the job in the last quarter with five goals to Bairnsdale’s three.
Up forward Matt Rennie was superb, four goals for the game and damaging with his liveliness and creativeness.
Brayden Fowler was back to some of his best form, also booting four goals and giving drive during stints around the middle of the ground.
The Gulls’ defence also got well on top.
Nick Stevenson was outstanding with his dash from the backline and fellow defenders Leigh and Brendan Sheehan rarely put a foot out of place as they dried up Bairnsdale’s scoring avenues.
The Redlegs, also playing to keep their finals’ chances alive, were limited with its two major goalkickers James Gibbs and Simon Deery missing; Gibbs’ season probably over after breaking an arm in the previous round.
But that’s not denying Warragul anything.
The Gulls responded in the best way to a “must win” contest.
After the slow start they lifted the work rate, had across the ground contributors and gave the forwards - especially Rennie and Fowler chances to contest oneon-one with quicker and more direct movement of the ball.
The Gulls brought Smith, Peter Davine and Under 18 player Dan Giardina back into the side.
But they had to contend with only one available on the interchange for half of the match.
Jake Hughes was off with a hip injury 10 minutes after the start and Jared Lane was later sidelined with a hamstring injury.
A big plus was that Warragul did not have to rely on the efforts of ruckman Chris Carey and on-ballers Brad Scalzo and Nathan Parades to the extent it often does although the trio were again important.
Scalzo and Parades really stepped up in the second half.
Carey received some welcome support in the ruck from Giardina and was able to spend more time as another forward target.
Dylan Proctor and Simon Fairbairn, both only a few weeks back from injury, were in great form.
Proctor, who’d had a long absence with a punctured lung, put in four top quarters and broke open the game at times while Fairbairn was busy whether on the ball or playing deep forward.
In addition to Fowler and Rennie’s four-goal contributions Warragul had a good spread of goalkickers.
Steve Kidd, Ambu Uliando, Carey, Fairbairn, Proctor and Scalzo each got a goal.
Coach Kidd says he is trying to ignore the Fword (finals) at this stage.
“If we are good enough to get there okay, but we have to concentrate on our own game week by week and not concern ourselves what the others (teams) might do,” he said.
The Gulls are at Morwell next week against a side they beat earlier in the year and another win would have them in a strong position to push for the “final five” although they have a tough run of opponents over the last five rounds.