Warragul unable to curb late charge
For more than a half Warragul was a match for top of the table Maffra at Western Park on Saturday.
But as has been the story with the Gulls for much of the year the inability to sustain maximum pressure over four quarters proved its downfall.
The cause wasn’t helped when one of its leading defenders Jake Hughes was off the ground with concussion in the first quarter and by the last term its interchange rotations were heavily affected with another two sidelined.
That was another setback after Luke Tynan was called up to play with VFL side Casey Demons on Sunday.
Warragul was competitive in the opening quarter but Maffra was more efficient with its attacks to post a handy lead of 5-3 to 1-1. The Gulls fought on strongly. They kicked four goals to two in the second quarter and matched Maffra’s goal in the third.
The margin was down to 16 points at three-quarter time and Warragul was still with a chance.
However, as top sides do, and as Maffra also did a week earlier, it was able to find another gear when it counted.
The Eagles almost had full charge in the final quarter booting 7-6 to Warragul’s 2-3.
At the siren it was Maffra 15-16 to 8-9.
The defeat has again consigned Warragul, four wins for the year, to the foot of the ladder but it is only one win away from sixth place.
It has winning chances in each of its next three games against other teams outside the “five” – Morwell, Traralgon and Bairnsdale.
The loss to injury this year of key forward Brayden Fowler has proven a blow.
That has left coach Ben Hughes as the only “go to” forward target and most oppositions make sure he has to contend with at least two opponents when going to contests.
Despite that shortcoming the Gulls did give Maffra a bit of a scare on Saturday and it took the Eagles’ best in the last quarter to break away.
Warragul’s defence, even with Jake Hughes an early departure, stood up pretty well for most of the game and often when they got caught out it was more due to a lack of upfield pressure that enabled Maffra to pin-point passes.
James Davidson gave Warragul terrific service across half back, Sam Russell’s game was close to his best for the season and Brad Hefford was a more than handy defensive accomplice to Davidson and Russell.
Mitch Nobelius, a consistent contributor each week with his hard work around contests, and Kim Drew earned their share of the ball and Nic Mulqueen was good again.
Mulqueen has further developed this season to be a reliable performer week on week.
The Gulls’ goals came from Mitch Nobelius and Tom Kelly with two each with Will Jolley, Ben Hughes, Matt Rennie and Sam Whibley scoring single goals.