‘Silk’ soars as Magpies sink struggling Stars
An ex-AFL superstar taking the field was the highlight this week in the West Gippsland Football Competition, while other results continue to shape the top six as we inch closer and closer towards finals. Dalyston vs Garfield
Dalyston claimed their second win of the season against Garfield with a little help from a very special guest.
Former AFL superstar Shaun Burgoyne joined the Magpies for a one-off appearance, bringing his 407 games and four premierships worth of experience to use to help lift the home side to a special victory, 11.9 (75) to 3.10 (28).
This was thanks to the Carlton Draft, an AFL Victoria initiative that has seen numerous exAFL stars play for struggling country clubs.
With the whole town showing up to watch 'Silk' in action, things started off a little more slowly than the locals would have liked, as Dalyston kicked two goals to Garfield's one in the first term.
Early in the second, however, they got what they wanted as Burgoyne slotted a trademark skilful goal on the run to start a run of Magpies goals that would prove too much for Garfield to overcome.
Blake Carew would end the game as Dalyston's top goal scorer with four, managing one more goal than the Stars did for the entire day.
Yes, once again Garfield were held to an extremely low total, though their inaccurate kicking did little to help their scoring potency.
By three quarter time, the margin was out to 29, and the final quarter turned into a bit of a party for the locals.
Fittingly, it was Burgoyne who kicked the final major of the day, after which he was swamped by eager teammates, who were just as keen to get him involved in a raucous singing of the theme song post-match.
For a team that has wrestled with so many issues over the years, this was a day that nobody could take away from them.
Dalyston's best were Michael Marotta, Blake Carew, Curtis Murfett, Matthew Howell, Brendan Walsh and Shaun Burgoyne.
Zac Soutar, Angus Emery, John Zaccari, Jett Pickering, Josephh Verleg and Jake Thomas were Garfield's better players.
Inverloch-Kongwak vs Warragul Industrials
The Warragul Industrials were given a stark reminder of how far they have to go in this year's competition as they were thoroughly outplayed by Inverloch-Kongwak.
Following a strong run of form in recent weeks, the Dusties were never really in the contest in the 5.6 (36) to 8.12 (60) loss.
In fact, by three quarter time, Warragul had managed just 1.2 for the match, with a solid last quarter making their final score look a lot more flattering.
Tristan Van Driel continued his strong run of goalkicking form with three goals for the Sea Eagles, taking his tally to 29 for the season.
The Dusties were hardly embarrassed around the ground, staying in the contest reasonably well as Todd Beck and Anthony Bruhn put in solid stints in the midfield.
What they couldn't find was consistency up forward. With usual spearhead Mason McGarrity being well held by the Inverloch-Kongwak defence, the Dusties couldn't find other easy ways to goal.
Some poor goalkicking stopped the Sea Eagles from totally blowing out the margin, but for much of the match it was clear that they had the forward options to punish Warragul when push came to shove.
As a result, the Dusties remain in fifth spot and are now two wins behind fourth, though are two wins clear of seventh-placed Bunyip who appear the team outside the top six most likely to push for a finals position.
A match next week against the resurgent Cora Lynn, who are one win behind the Dusties in sixth, may be telling for which side sits higher in the competition's pecking order.
Todd Beck, Anthony Bruhn, Matthew Herbert, Michael Ablett, Will Gibson and Kyle Staples were named as the Dusties' best.
For Inverloch-Kongwak, Ethan Park, Oscar Toussaint, Lewis Rankin, Shem Hawking, Jarvis Pryor, Dylan Clark put in great performances.
Kilcunda Bass vs Korumburra-Bena
Kilcunda Bass has won consecutive games for the first time this season, and in doing so heaped even more pain on Korumburra-Bena.
Marcus Baxter was the star up forward with six goals, while last week's nine-goal hero Taylor Gibson played another critical role as he kicked three, and ruckman Dale Gawley ran absolutely riot in the middle in the 11.16 (82) to 9.10 (64) win.
For the Giants, it was a much-improved effort from their humiliation against Nar Nar Goon last round, but their inability to contain opposition big forwards when they get on a roll again proved to be their undoing.
After an even first term, the Panthers blew the margin out with a four goal to one term to lead by 28 points at half time.
The Giants actually had the game on their terms in the third quarter, dragging the margin back to 15 at the final change of ends to threaten a potential comeback.
It wasn't to be though, as both sides kicked three goals in the last quarter to ensure Kilcunda Bass would win their third game of the season.
And with a match against Garfield next week, the Panthers will be strongly favoured to make it three on the trot, a nice contrast to their early season form which showed little promise.
Dale Gawley, Marcus Baxter, Cam McKenzie, Nathan Foote, Daniel Mock and Lleyton Cartmel were strong for Kilcunda Bass.
Kodie Walker, Alex Walker, Chris Kirk-Williams, Joshua Westerman, Daniel Brown and Joel Cuman were Korumburra-Bena's better players.
Koo wee rup vs Cora Lynn
The ledger is now totally even for Cora Lynn after easily accounting for Koo wee rup over the weekend.
Following a disastrous start to the season that saw them lose all five of their opening matches, the Cobras have now rebounded with five straight wins to sit four points clear in the top six.
Some early inaccuracy threatened to derail both sides, but it was Cora Lynn who found their way to win easily in the end, 10.11 (71) to 3.11 (29).
Nathan Gardiner once again enjoyed a day out, this time kicking four goals. Gardiner has now kicked 29 goals in his past five games, and looks to have fully recovered from his injury issues that hampered the start of his year.
Ruckman William Thomas also enjoyed a strong showing for the visitors, which allowed the Cobras midfield to go to work.
Cora Lynn's radar was off in the first term, kicking 0.5 to Koo wee rup's 1.2. After that point, they began to find the middle more regularly, kicking 10.6 in the following three terms.
It was an earnest effort from Koo wee rup as their young side fought valiantly all day, but ultimately the experience of the Cora Lynn side proved overwhelming.
The result was a vital one in terms of the ladder, as Cora Lynn moved a game clear of the Demons through their victory. They now look to be a strong chance to end the home and away season in the top six.
Meanwhile, Koo wee rup's finals hopes are slipping away. Given their poor percentage, they'll need some wins - and will need them soon, if they hope to make it.
Cora Lynn's best were William Thomas, Rylan Smith, Matthew Ryan, Robert Hill, Cory Machaya and Gus Da Costa.
Matthew Voss, Nathan Muratore, Player, Travis Bindley, James Voss and Nick Prowd were all solid for Koo wee rup.
Nar Nar Goon vs Tooradin-Dalmore
Nar Nar Goon became the latest side to succumb to the might of Tooradin-Dalmore, though not without a significant fight.
The Goon were able to stay with the Seagulls for much of the day, but just couldn't match the top side in the crucial moments as they fell 7.6 (48) to 12.8 (80).
For the second time in three weeks, the Nar Nar Goon forward line, which has looked as dangerous as any other, were restricted by an elite defence.
Trent Armour and Dermott Yawney both kicked two goals each, but struggled to find the rhythm they usually enjoy.
At the other end, Stewart Scanlon once again caused massive problems for an opposition defence as he booted five majors for the visitors. His season tally now sits at 36 goals after just nine games.
The first quarter saw Nar Nar Goon seemingly having the better of the contest, kicking four goals to three to lead at the first break.
A three goal to one second term saw the Seagulls take the lead, though with the margin at just seven points at half time a truly epic contest loomed.
Unfortunately for the home side, however, Tooradin-Dalmore showed why they had been able to destroy Phillip Island the week before, booting 12 goals to six in the second half to ensure that the Goon would never find themselves in front again.
The Seagulls, currently at least, appear to be the most well-balanced side in the competition.
Boasting a fearsome forward line, a strong contested ball midfield and a defence capable of locking down even the most powerful forwards, they currently have many different ways to beat other teams.
For Nar Nar Goon, they remain a strong side but after another loss to a top contender it will be back to the drawing board as they try to unlock the secret of going from a very good team to a truly great one.
Nar Nar Goon's best were Trent Armour, Nate Pipicelli, Tex Marsham, Bradley Homfray, Jake Smith and Eamon Trigg.
Lewis Hill, Brent Macaffer, Stewart Scanlon, Trent Adams, Adam Galea and James Trezise were all outstanding for the Seagulls.
Phillip Island vs Bunyip
Following their first loss since 2019, it was going to be interesting to see just who would feel the wrath of an angry Phillip Island. Unfortunately for Bunyip, it was them.
In the ‘Battle of the Bulldogs', it was Phillip Island who came out breathing fire, putting 6.6 on the board in the first quarter while keeping Bunyip scoreless to essentially settle the result in the first 25 minutes.
Ultimately, Phillip Island would keep their opponents to just one goal for the game as they put in a dominant display to win 11.12 (78) to 1.12 (18).
The game showed that while Tooradin-Dalmore proved Phillip Island are fallible, you have to be playing some great football for four quarter to do it.
And Bunyip, while a solid side capable of producing bursts of brilliance, just aren't currently a team capable of sustaining it for long enough to do so.
It was a better effort after quarter time from Bunyip, as they kept Phillip Island to just one goal in the second term while kicking a goal of their own to match it. But the fact that it was their only one for the match meant that a comeback never looked likely.
In his first senior match since round two, Orlando Kane Gillard top scored for the home side with three goals, while Aaron Paxton was the only Bunyip player able to find the big sticks.
Thanks to Nar Nar Goon's loss, Phillip Island now sits a game clear in second, while Bunyip are now in desperate need of some wins if they are to keep in touch with the top six.
Jordy Patullo, Jaymie Youle, Jack Taylor, Cameron Pedersen, Jesse Patullo and Harry O'Brien were all great for Phillip Island
Bunyip's better players were Jeb McLeod, Jye Keath, Alexander Dijkstra, Matthew O'Halloran, Aaron Paxton and Heath Morgan-Morris.