Defiant Dusties down Sea Eagles in final
Coming into their first-ever final since joining the West Gippsland Football Netball competition, some may have forgiven the Warragul Industrials had they rested on their laurels.
The side finished sixth, claiming the last available position in the finals series, and were going into an elimination final against one of the competition's very best teams in Inverloch-Kongwak. The same Inverloch-Kongwak, it must be said, that had dispatched of the Dusties to the tune of 35 points just two weeks prior.
So the script had this game being a relatively straightforward win for the Sea Eagles, who would have had bigger prizes on their mind.
As it turns out though, if that was how the match was supposed to go, somebody forgot to tell the Warragul Industrials.
The Dusties instead put on one of their best performances for the entire year, weathering an early storm from the Sea Eagles before putting their foot down and taking over the game, before prevailing 9.7 (61) to 6.11 (47) to knock their opponents out and progress to the semi-finals next week.
In a tight and defensively tight tussle, Anthony Bruhn and Adrian De Sando were both able to hit the scoreboard for the Dusties, kicking two goals each. Matthew Herbert and Kyle Beveridge were able to effectively play their roles at opposite ends of the ground, while Will Gibson put on one of his strongest performances of the year on the ball.
The signs appeared ominous early though for the Dusties, as despite having a breeze working their way in the first term, they were forced into defending grimly for most of the quarter.
The ball seemed to live in Inverloch-Kongwak's forward half, with the Sea Eagles able to generate repeated entries thanks to some excellent pressure forcing the Dusties into some errant mistakes. But for as much as the Sea Eagles were able to generate inside 50s, it was the Warragul defence that held up remarkably well.
Inverloch-Kongwak are a powerful side at their very best, able to take the game away from an opposition at a moment's notice with a strong forward line capable of challenging some of the league's best sides. There's a good reason they finished third on the table, only below the likes of Tooradin-Dalmore and Phillip Island.
The Dusties defenders, however, were relentless in their own efforts, and where earlier this year the side was guilty of some defensive lapses in their game bringing them undone, they weren't to be found here. It meant that despite having much less opportunity to score, the Dusties were even with their opponents goalwise at the first break.
From there, the second quarter saw Warragul take the lead, which they would not give up at any stage. In general, the Dusties were just much more effective going forward, as their front six worked as a unit to better effect than their opponents.
That being said, the Sea Eagles would be left to rue some of their own missed opportunities, particularly in the third term where they could have taken control of the game but were instead left to settle for kicking 3.4.
The final term had the Dusties just four points up to begin, but in another brilliant display of defensive prowess, they were able to restrict Inverloch-Kongwak to just the two behinds while kicking two more goals themselves to seal a famous victory.
Warragul Industrials coach Harmit Singh lauded his team's efforts, saying it was a "pleasing result."
"Coming from sixth position to knock off a quality team, I think it shows how much growth we've had over the last two-and-a-half years," he said.
Given the Dusties' last full season in the competition had them finish last with just two wins, Singh certainly wasn't wrong.
The win now sees the team move onto a semi-final next week, where they will face Cora Lynn. The Cobras got the better of the Dusties in their recent round 18 match-up, largely thanks to a seven-goal masterclass from superstar forward Nathan Gardiner.
Gardiner's influence on the game will play a major role in the result, something that Singh is very aware of.
"A lot of teams will be speaking about Nathan and how to stop him, he's one of the premier forwards in the country at the local level," Singh said.
"Your work around the contest can really help, if you defend around the ball as you want it'll help restrict the supply."
Despite the challenges in front of them, Singh said the club were embracing everything that's coming their way.
"We have a strong belief that our best is good enough," he said.
"I have utmost belief in our boys."
Now fans will just have to wait and see how far the side can go.