Dusties miss out against Goon as top teams gear up for finals
With finals just around the corner, things are heating up in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition, as the top sides showed their mettle with a number of thumping wins this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Warragul Industrials showed that while their best is solid, they'll have a bit to work on before the finals series begins.
Nar Nar Goon vs Warragul Industrials Sometimes the worst wounds in footy are self-inflicted, something the Warragul Industrials learned the hard way over the weekend as their three-game winning streak came to an end against Nar Nar Goon.
While the Dusties were able to match their opponents in the midfield and around the ground, it was their inability to take their chances up forward that ultimately consigned them to a 7.10 (52) to 13.5 (83) loss.
In fact, the difference between the two sides was at its most stark at half time, where the Dusties had managed to kick just 1.7 while the Goon were almost at the opposite end of the spectrum with 7.2.
And while the Dusties just couldn't find a way to get the ball through the big sticks, one man that found no such trouble was Goon forward Dermott Yawney.
Yawney was in fine form after being absent the week before, extending his lead at the top of the league goalkicking table with seven majors, while Trent Armour, Flynn Parker and Brendan Hermann were also in solid form.
For the Dusties, it was some of the usual suspects in Bailey Beck, Wilson McGillivray and Matthew Herbert all playing strongly. But time and time again, any work the team put in came undone when it came time to capitalise. And while some of their shots were relatively difficult or under pressure, others should have been put away easily.
It meant that the entire second half had the Dusties trying to play catch-up. Though their goalkicking woes were eased and they threatened at times to get themselves back into the contest, Nar Nar Goon had an answer for each and every question they were asked.
With the loss, the Dusties are now above Cora Lynn on the slimmest of percentages only, and look unlikely to progress any further up the table. They'll be there come finals time, but the only question left is whether they finish fifth or sixth.
For Nar Nar Goon, their match next week against Korumburra-Bena should be another win, but the real test will come after when they play Tooradin-Dalmore and Inverloch-Kongwak back-to-back in the lead up to finals. They've so far failed to defeat any of the top three sides this year, but a win or two there may hold them in good stead in the premiership race.
Cora Lynn vs Garfield
Cora Lynn continued their march towards finals with a thumping win over Garfield, pouring yet more misery on the latter's season.
The Cobras were untouchable in the first half of the game as they powered away to record a 22.10 (142) to 7.5 (42) win.
Nathan Gardiner topped the scoresheet with seven goals, while the Briggs boys, both Jaxon and Heath, were in rare form as they terrorised the Garfield midfielders and backmen on a consistent basis.
Cora Lynn set up the massive victory with a blistering nine goal first term, blowing the margin out beyond 50 points before the first change of ends. A further eight goals to one in the second term had it hovering just below 100 points at the half, leaving some of the competition's stats fans to wonder if there might be a new record for winning margins on the way.
To the Stars' credit though, their effort showed plenty of improvement when they came back out, led by the likes of Matt Jones and Angus Emery.
Somewhat surprisingly, Garfield actually managed to win the second half by three points. However, given the state of the game, the fact that Cora Lynn took the foot off the pedal was hardly a surprise.
Cora Lynn remains in sixth but, with winnable games against Dalyston and Koo wee rup to come, they'll be looking to improve their positioning.
For Garfield, the end of the season can't come quickly enough, especially with a game next week against Inverloch-Kongwak looming as another massive hill to climb.
Phillip Island made it look easy against Dalyston for the second time this season, romping to yet another massive victory.
The Bulldogs looked hardly challenged for much of the day and primed for a big win, before an 11-goal final term saw them turn the match into a massacre, the final score being 28.17 (185) to 7.3 (45).
Reigning league best and fairest Cameron Pedersen was at his best both in the ruck and around the ground in the marking contests, while also finishing his work up forward with three goals. Teammate Jack Taylor booted six of his own.
For Dalyston, Michael Harris, Curtis Moffett and Jack Paravicini were solid, but the Magpies are one of a few sides who will be looking keenly towards the end of the season.
Phillip Island will now prepare themselves for a rematch next week against the undefeated Tooradin-Dalmore in what looms as a blockbuster game. The Bulldogs were thoroughly demolished in their last meeting and, with both sides looking like strong chances of making the grand final, they will certainly want to make a better show of things before finals.
Kilcunda Bass vs Inverloch-Kongwak
Inverloch-Kongwak once again got the job done against a lower ranked team, this time against Kilcunda Bass.
Inaccuracy threatened to curse the Sea Eagles at times, but in the end the sheer weight of numbers was more than enough to get the visitors a solid win.
Tom Hams put in a power of work through the middle for Inverloch-Kongwak and Lewis Rankin did the same to help their side eventually prevail 12.20 (92) or 4.7 (31).
There would have been some nervous moments for the Sea Eagles though, as at half time they had cruelled themselves on multiple occasions with some truly poor goalkicking. Despite having generated 12 more scoring shots than the Panthers, they had kicked 3.14 and led by only 17 points.
Regardless, the dominance they enjoyed through the midfield ensured they still didn't look like losing, and any sniff they had given Kilcunda Bass was quickly taken away in the second half.
Clinton McCaughan was an unlikely hero for the Sea Eagles, being the only forward to consistently hit find the middle with four goals, while no Kilcunda Bass player could manage more than one goal.
The Sea Eagles will now face the winless Garfield, while Kilcunda Bass will play Bunyip who they scored a significant upset win over in their last meeting.
Koo wee rup vs Korumburra-Bena
Koo wee rup has moved up into seventh spot courtesy of a big win over Korumburra-Bena.
The Demons were made to work for the victory for various stretches of the game, but were ultimately just too strong around the ground as they won 18.13 (121) to 9.5 (59).
Jason Wells continued his stellar season in the forward line to finish with six goals. He was ably supported by Luke McMaster and Nathan Voss, who kicked five and four goals respectively.
The first half, however, did not give much indication that the margin would blow out the way that it did, as the Giants were clearly up for the fight.
Led by Joshua Westerman and Josh Hargreaves, Korumburra-Bena would make up for their lack of genuine forward targets through their defensive application, to the point where the half time margin stood at just 10 points the Demons' way.
The resistance was short-lived, with the likes of Cosi Anagnostou and Bailey Galante taking over in the second half. It allowed the Demons to kick 12 goals to four and run the game out as easy winners.
With just three rounds remaining, the Demons are two games outside the top six, leaving them as essentially the only team left with a mathematical chance of breaking in. Though, with their last three games all against top six sides, the likelihood remains small.
Tooradin-Dalmore vs Bunyip
Tooradin-Dalmore has brutally ended Bunyip's admittedly slim finals chances with a thumping win, keeping their perfect record for season 2022 intact.
The Seagulls were in no mood to mess around, putting in an utterly dominant performance all around the ground to win 18.17 (125) to 4.4 (28).
While Tooradin-Dalmore has built their brand around their brutal midfield and forward line, it was their defence that would have pleased them most. They kept the Bulldogs completely scoreless for the first quarter and to just the one goal for the entire first half, while piling on the pain up the other end to have the game settled early.
Stewart Scanlon did plenty of damage with five goals, while Brad Butler chipped in with four of his own. But, in truth, the Seagulls had a plethora of winners all around the field.
For Bunyip, the game continued their trend for much of the season, that being they can put on the goals against the lower sides but run into significant issues against the best.
They have plenty to work on, but that will now have to wait until next season as they won't be a player come finals time.