Dusties exorcise their Demons
The home and away season has officially reached the halfway mark and the Warragul Industrials are two games clear in fifth. Meanwhile, the competition now has a clear premiership favourite that will certainly require a special effort to overcome. Warragul Industrials vs Koo wee rup
There are some games that, when considering the effect they can have on the ladder and the season as a whole, are called 'eight-point matches.' This was, without a doubt, one of them.
And ultimately, it was the Warragul Industrials who claimed a vital victory in their campaign for a maiden finals appearance in the West Gippsland Football Competition as they defeated Koo wee rup in a tight, seesawing affair.
With usual spearhead Mason McGarrity held to one goal, the Dusties were forced to find alternative avenues to goal to win 11.11 (77) to 10.7 (67).
Midfielder Kane Taylor was the unlikely hero in the forward line for the Dusties, kicking four goals to lead his team's scoring.
For the Demons, Jason Wells was the constant thorn in Warragul's side, his contested marking a highlight as he booted six goals to consistently keep his side in it.
The win sees the Dusties retain their fifth spot on the ladder and, with other results falling their way, it means that they are two games clear in fifth at the halfway mark of the home and away season.
Prior to this round, Koo wee rup had been one of the sides just four points behind them, making this result an incredibly important one in the context of both teams' seasons as they strive for a top six finals spot.
The match was never a comfortable one, as neither side could build a comfortable lead beyond two goals or so for much of the day.
Both teams clearly understood the significance of the game, as the tackling pressure resembled that of a finals game.
Late in the second quarter, the Demons found themselves 10 points up and threatening to push the margin out further, though a late Dusties goal ensured the half time margin would remain in single digits.
A four goal to two third term allowed Warragul to retake the lead going into last, as fans of both teams would hardly have had any nails left to bite.
The Demons pushed hard in the final stretch, but some desperate defensive efforts from the likes of reliable Dusties stars Luke Walker and Anthony Bruhn ensured that when the final siren sounded it would be Warragul on top, much to the relief of the passionate home crowd.
The Dusties have now won five of their past six matches and are full of confidence, though there is an entire half a season to go. They must not become complacent if they hope to break through for their first finals appearance since moving to the West Gippsland Football Competition in 2019.
Luke Walker, Anthony Bruhn, Todd Beck, Kane Taylor, Kane Oldham and Bailey Beck were the Dusties' best players.
Koo wee rup's stronger players were Nathan Muratore, Matthew Voss, Jason Wells, Mitchell Cammarano and Mitchell Davey.
Tooradin-Dalmore vs Phillip Island
The West Gippsland Football Competition now has a clear number one seed after Tooradin-Dalmore demolished Phillip Island over the weekend.
In what was Phillip Island's first loss since 2019, the kings of the competition simply had no answers as the Seagulls put the game to bed early to win 15.14 (104) to 3.12 (30).
Incredibly, Tooradin-Dalmore had eight goals on the board before the Bulldogs could find their first.
Stewart Scanlon did most of the damage up forward for the Seagulls as he terrorised the normally stingy Bulldogs defence to end the game with eight goals.
And while Tooradin-Dalmore's incredible forward line is normally their main weapon, it was their efforts defensively that would most please their coaching staff.
To hold Phillip Island, who have in the past seemingly scored at will against teams, to just three goals is an unbelievable effort.
It was clear from their early defensive pressure that the Seagulls were intent on sending a message to the rest of the competition, that being that there's a new top dog in town.
By half time that message had been received loud and clear, as Tooradin-Dalmore had the champions of the league 50 points down and on the canvas.
A six goal to two second half the way of the home side meant that by full time the Bulldogs were down for the count, their incredible streak dead and buried.
While many observers had picked that Tooradin-Dalmore were the likely best team in it this year, the margin of this result would have shocked even the most ardent Seagulls advocate.
It leaves the rest of the competition with one question: just who can beat them?
Matthew Livermore, Jordan Kelly, Stewart Scanlon, Steven Robb, Dylan Wilson and Piva Wright were best on ground for Tooradin-Dalmore.
Phillip Island's better players were Daniel Pearce, Jack Taylor, Max Blake, Cameron Pedersen and Billy Taylor.
Cora Lynn vs Dalyston
Like a zombie from a horror film, Cora Lynn's season has returned from the grave after winning their fourth straight game to put them back into finals contention.
It was yet another commanding performance from the Cobras, who put the game against Dalyston to bed in the first term before running out winners 18.8 (116) to 2.7 (19).
By the time of the first change of ends, the scoreboard read 7.6 to 0.0 as the home side put their foot down early and never looked back.
Nathan Gardiner was once again a wrecking ball to the Dalyston defence, kicking five, while classy forward Cory Machaya was electric with four goals of his own.
The win, combined with other results going their way, sees the Cobras move just into the top six on the ladder.
The Cobras will be very optimistic about their chances going into the second half of the season.
For Dalyston, it was a disappointing performance given the spirit and fight they displayed last week against the Dusties.
Mason Storr kicked his team's only two goals, one in the second quarter and one in the last, as the Magpies' relatively barren forward line was once again exposed.
They will be keenly looking to next week's match against the winless Garfield, where they will welcome former AFL superstar Shaun Burgoyne for a one-off appearance.
Perhaps he can provide the spark they desperately need.
Cora Lynn's best were Dillan Bass, Chris Johnson, Cory Machaya, Matthew Ryan, Rylan Smith and Tristan Warkuss.
For Dalyston, Michael Harris, Curtis Murfett, Brad Monson, Clay Tait, Matthew Howell and Michael Marotta were the better performers.
Garfield vs Inverloch-Kongwak
Garfield was once again put to the sword this week, this time by Inverloch-Kongwak at home.
Despite a relatively better effort from the Stars as compared to some of their previous matches, the Stars were outclassed by a team that just knows how to put away sides below them, losing 4.5 (29) to 14.12 (96).
Toby Mahoney and Tristan Van Driel kicked three goals each for the visitors, while Garfield's four goals all came from individual players.
Inverloch-Kongwak burst out of the blocks early, keeping Garfield scoreless for the first term while kicking 4.6 themselves.
The second quarter, however, was one of Garfield's best for the season, as they kicked 3.1 while keeping the deep forward line of the Sea Eagles to just 2.1.
It meant at half time the margin sat at just four straight goals.
Unfortunately, though, unlike most teams that kind of deficit has often proved overwhelming for Garfield, whose own forward line has failed to fire for much of the year.
Just two behinds in the third quarter for the Stars allowed the Sea Eagles to pull away, and by the final change of ends the game was well and truly over.
Zac Soutar performed strongly for Garfield in the middle, while Jake Thomas played an admirable game in the backline under immense pressure, but the Stars just didn't have enough winners around the ground to mount any sort of challenge.
They remain the only winless side in the competition, though a match against a fellow struggler in Dalyston next week could be promising.
Garfield's best as named were Zac Soutar, Jake Thomas, Joel Batson, Zach Dalton, Andrew Fitzpatrick and Lachlan Sauze.
Ethan Park, Shem Hawking, Michael Eales, Thomas Wyatt, Corey Casey and Lewis Rankin all had great games for Inverloch-Kongwak. Kilcunda Bass vs Bunyip
Bunyip's chase for the top six hit a massive hurdle over the weekend as they were thoroughly outplayed by Kilcunda Bass.
The result was a significant upset as the Panthers, who hadn't won a game since round two, preyed upon a listless Bunyip to win 13.12 (90) to 7.6 (48).
Taylor Gibson was the hero for Kilcunda Bass, as he kicked nine goals to steer his side to victory, while reliable performers Dale Gawley and Nathan Foote were on fire in the middle.
The result was set up in the second quarter where the Panthers, who trailed by eight points at quarter time, piled on 10 goals to one to blow the game wide open.
The Bunyip defence just couldn't find any answers to counter Gibson, who marked the ball at will and took every opportunity he was given.
By half time the margin stood at an imposing 43 points.
The third term saw a better effort from the Bulldogs, particularly defensively, at they restricted the Panthers to one behind while kicking three goals of their own to make the match at least somewhat contested going into the fourth quarter.
Kilcunda Bass weren't to be denied, however, as some more Gibson magic allowed them to claim their second win of the season in front of a raucous home crowd for the first time.
Bunyip have now fallen to seventh place as a result, just outside the top six as their season looks to be at a crossroads going into the second half of the season.
Most pundits would have pencilled them in to win this one and, with other results not going their way, they'll have to pull off some upsets of their own if they want to play finals footy.
Matthew O'Halloran, Brent Heus, Dylan Quirk, Nathan Allen, Xavier Kinder and Jeb McLeod were Bunyip's better players in the loss.
Taylor Gibson, Dale Gawley, Cam McKenzie, Daniel Mock, Nathan Foote and Christopher McKay were all brilliant for Kilcunda Bass. Korumburra-Bena vs Nar Nar Goon
Nar Nar Goon bounced back from the disappointment of their first loss as they completely trounced Korumburra-Bena.
Star forward Dermott Yawney once again monstered a helpless defence as he helped himself to eight goals, while young Mitchell Homfray booted a personal best five goals.
A big first quarter allowed the Goon to take a 40-point lead into the first change of ends, and though the Giants showed some resistance in the second term, that lead never looked in any danger as the visitors ran out 24.15 (159) to 5.5 (35) winner.
From the first bounce it was clear that Nar Nar Goon were hellbent on making up for their defeat last week at the hands of Phillip Island. Their midfield was completely ferocious both at the ball and at their Giants opponents.
The luxury of their strong forward line was on full display, and the Korumburra-Bena defence just didn't have the answers necessary to make it a contest.
A 16-goal second half from the visitors ensured they would enjoy a big win while consigning the home team to their second loss by over 100 points.
Nar Nar Goon move to second on the ladder as a result, and will next week meet ladder leaders Tooradin-Dalmore in what is sure to be another significant test to their premiership credentials.
Trent Armour, Mitchell Homfray, Sam Blackwood, Jeconiah Peni, Dermott Yawney and Jake Smith were all in Nar Nar Goon's best.
Nicholas Besley, Josh Hargreaves, Zach Walker and Kodie Walker were Korumburra-Bena's better players.