Warragul gives scare but no win

Warragul ended its season giving finalist Moe a big fright but, as has happened a number of times this year, not able to get full return for its effort.

Moe won the match played on its home ground in near gale force wind 7-16 to 7-4.

What hurt the Gulls most was a scoreless first quarter when it had the advantage of the wind.

Their 3-2 in the second quarter got them back in the contest but still 16 points down at half time.

Although they’d levelled scores by three-quarter time the advantage was with Moe through the wind in the final term.

Warragul struck quickly as the two teams fought desperately in the difficult conditions, a goal to Tom Kelly - his second for the game - six minutes into the last term put Warragul in the lead by five points.

The Lions pushed hard as they sought the four premiership points that might have claimed them a finals’ double chance, some missed shots at goal managing to peg the gap back a point at a time.

But Warragul had a late chance – about eight minutes from the finish – to kick another hard to come by goal that would have put it back in front.

Nic Mulqueen, who has had a great season and was named by the club as Saturday’s best player, roved a pack brilliantly to gather the ball and break free but missed a “sitter”.

It summed up not just the day for the Gulls but much of its season. Season ending injury setbacks to a couple of players around which much pre-season planning had been devised added to the challenge for first year coach Ben Hughes.

Call-ups to VFL clubs and Gippsland Power added to team selection dilemmas and well as other injuries during the course of the year.

Under those circumstances a five-win year was a reasonable effort and there was some progress made.

The progress could be well seen on Saturday with the continuing development of Mulqueen, ruckman Sam Whibley, on-baller Kim Drew, Tom Kelly, Brad Hefford and Sam Russell.

Mitch Nobelius, Dan Giardina and Jake Hughes were others to take important steps forward and several from the junior grades were given opportunities at the senior level.

Warragul’s goals at Moe came from Kelly and Matt Ross with two each, Hefford, Drew and Nobelius.

RESERVES Warragul reserves that contended for the “five” for much of the season finished off with a heavy defeat to Moe that will play finals.

Scores on Saturday were 4-4 to 15-10.

Best for the Gulls were Scott Kelly, Harley Nobelius, Leigh Smith, Jamie Somers, Jake Orlicki and Brad Nott.

The goals came from Brad Coates, Toby Bransgrove, Nobelius and Kelly.