Gulls soar in final round victory
Warragul finished off their season in style over the weekend as they defeated Bairnsdale to claim one last bit of joy before the end of the season.
Having lost 15 of their past 17 games against the Redlegs, the Gulls appeared destined to yet another defeat in the early stages of the game, where they were simply unable to get their hands on the ball with any great purpose.
However, showing signs of maturity and football intelligence that would have had clubs higher-up delighted given the relative youth of the side, Warragul were able to slowly even the contest before totally getting it on their own terms, eventually winning 13.15 (93) to 7.9 (51).
The seeming dominance of the final margin did no favours to Bairnsdale, who as previously mentioned looked like they were well and truly on for their third win of the season in the first half, kicking four goals to one in the first quarter. Even when the Gulls began to fight back in the second, the Redlegs still maintained a two-goal advantage at the half.
From there though, the game was absolutely won in the midfield, as where Bairnsdale had enjoyed a strong advantage in the contested ball numbers early, Warragul managed to put their heads down and get to work at the coalface.
Through the work of ruckman Sam Whibley, in combination with the usual suspects in the middle like Nick Mulqueen and Tom Stern, the Gulls took control of the clearance game, while Sean Masterson shored up the backline. Where they had earlier been deprived of forward half opportunities, suddenly they were coming thick and fast, and the forwards were more than happy to capitalise.
In fact, the second half turned into a one-way show for the home fans, who were able to enjoy seeing their side kick 9.10 to just 1.2 to not only wrest control of the game away from Bairnsdale, but totally dominate them in the process.
Superstar goalkicker Jed Lamb finished his year with a bang, kicking five goals, while Brayden Fowler booted three, an equal season-best for him.
With his haul, Lamb also sewed up the JC Lawless Award, which is the Gippsland League's senior goalkicking award. Finishing with 70 goals from his 18 games, it's been an excellent year for the former-AFL talent. While the Gulls have been guilty of relying on him too often to propel their scoring, its undeniable that Lamb is one of the biggest threats in the league around the big sticks, with deceptively strong body work for someone his size as well as a strong football IQ.
Equally pleasing for the Gulls in this game was the performance of youngster Kai MacLean, who has performed exceptionally well in middle for the senior side after spending much of the year plying his trade in the under 18s team.
Warragul has made a concerted effort to inject their senior team with some of their younger talent as the season has progressed, and its players like MacLean that make it clear why they hope this strategy will pay dividends.
Warragul coach Dean Alger paid tribute to his mids, who he said were the main factor in turning the game around.
"We just weren't winning the contested ball early, but our boys got to work and after that we took control," he said.
"We wanted to finish off the year well, finish on a good note, so it was really pleasing to get the win."
Bairnsdale, meanwhile, were simply overwhelmed past the halfway mark of the match. The signs had been there in the second term that their fast start may not have been enough, but the manner in which they capitulated would have been disappointing regardless.
When these two sides last met back in the Queen's Birthday match, the Redlegs has clearly seen it as a both a big occasion and opportunity, and as such loaded up on talent for the match, calling in players such as country footy star Shane McDonald and even former AFL-talent such as ex-St Kilda superstar Sam Gilbert.
It meant that the Gulls had to face the Redlegs' clear best squad for the entire season last time, but with those recruits turning out to be one-game cameos, the visitors this time had to face Warragul with their regular side, unable to rely on an injection of outside talent. And unfortunately for them, they were clearly found wanting.
As the midfield battle slipped away from them, as did the will and want of many of their players, who have endured a long and at times torrid season. The Redlegs finished their season with nine straight losses, as their aforementioned previous match with the Gulls turned out to be their final win of the year. Players like Byron Vickery, Daniel Eastman and Randall Stewart were still giving it their all, but were simply swept aside as Warragul mounted their charge.
It will be back to the drawing board for the club, who have only just barely managed to avoid the wooden spoon.
Warragul, meanwhile, may not have claimed as many wins this year as they would have liked, but considering they won just the one game in the shortened 2021 season their four-and-ahalf wins is cause for optimism.
Dean Alger said the side's best was capable, but said they had to work on solving "lapses" within games.
"We're definitely generating momentum in the right direction." he said.
Warragul now has the off-season to figure out exactly how to continue going in the right direction. Their top-end talent cannot be questioned, but beyond their best 6-8 players the drop-off is more significant than many of the top sides. Whether this is solved internally through the club's developing youth or from outside recruiting remains to be seen, but one thing is sure: Warragul see themselves as being able to improve, and improve quickly.
We'll just have to wait and see if they can do it.