Dusties exorcise their Demons
Warragul Industrials find themselves inside the top six after round six of the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition.
Elsewhere, Cora Lynn pulled off a stirring win against a fellow top six contender. Warragul Industrials vs Koo wee rup Warragul Industrials are into the top six courtesy of a solid win against Koo wee rup.
In a game they were expected to take care of the Dusties put aside some early goalkicking woes to put the contest to bed in the third quarter, where they booted six goals to break open a match winning lead.
Some late complacency saw the margin reduced a little more than they would have liked, but they'll be happy to be in sixth position regardless after the 10.12 (72) to 8.3 (51) victory.
Big man recruit Josh Eyre kicked three goals in his senior debut for the club as Travis Ogden and Todd Beck were strong around the ground.
Wilson McGillivray was a big factor defensively as the Dusties kept Demons spearheads Jason Wells and Adam Amin to just two goals each.
Warragul Industrials were generally on top stats-wise for much of the first half but just unable to finish their work, a half time scoreline of 3.7 well below what they would have liked.
The third quarter blitz was much more pleasing for the home fans, as they finally found reward for their effort around the ball.
A much leaner fourth term saw them slow down, letting Koo wee rup double their goal count from four to eight as the Dusties missed out on some potential percentage, but at the end of the day they did what they had to and got the job done.
A genuine highlight of the second half was a goal to youngster Cody Templeton.
In just his second senior match, the 15-yearold managed to hit the scoreboard with his first major, sending teammates and fans into rapturous joy.
For Koo wee rup captain Mitchell Cammarano never stopped trying, as did Luke McMaster and Tim Miller, but it just wasn't their side's day as they sunk to their fifth straight defeat.
The Dusties will now prepare for a monster clash next week against Nar Nar Goon in what looms as a classic mid-season "eightpoint game" in the race for the top six.
Bunyip vs Phillip Island
Bunyip's rebuild hit its biggest stumbling block yet as they were annihilated by Phillip Island.
In the battle of the Bulldogs, Bunyip simply had no answers against their vastly more experienced opponents, losing by a whopping 199 points.
The 1.0 (6) to 31.19 (205) scoreline reflected what was an utterly merciless showing from Phillip Island, who had a remarkable 15 individual goalkickers.
The sheer gulf between the two teams was evident from the first bounce as the visitors piled on 10 goals in the first quarter alone.
By contrast, it took until the final term for Bunyip to register their first score of the game thanks to a Ned Ashton major.
Brendan Kimber and Travis Woodfield both booted five for Phillip Island, as Max Walton and Daniel Pearce were also among their best.
Among Bunyip's more solid players were Curtis Jenkin and Jason Williams as well as emerging youngster Alex Dijkstra, but it was tough going on a day they'd rather forget.
Things don't get much easier for Bunyip in the weeks to come either, with genuine top six calibre sides Cora Lynn, Nar Nar Goon, Inverloch Kongwak and Tooradin-Dalmore all looming over the next four weeks.
Nar Nar Goon vs Cora Lynn
It was an old-fashioned battle of the key forwards on the weekend as Dermott Yawney's Nar Nar Goon took on Nathan Gardiner's Cora Lynn.
Both men delivered with six goals each, but in the end it was Gardiner who had the last laugh as his Cobras managed to steal a thrilling eight-point win.
It was almost a finals-like feeling to the match, given how close these two sides were coming into it – Cora Lynn at fifth and Nar Nar Goon at sixth – and the razor thin edge of the margin represented it.
In the end though, Cora Lynn found just enough class to seal the 12.8 (80) to 10.12 (72) win, kicking half of their 12 goals in the final term alone.
It was enough to see them overcome the 11-point deficit they faced at the final break and retain their spot in the top six, sending Nar Nar Goon to eighth in the process.
Outside of Gardiner, who remained their most threatening forward throughout the day, Matthew Briggs and Lachlyn Peluso were immense, particularly in the clinches when it most counted.
Nar Nar Goon, for their part, will see this game as a serious opportunity lost.
With Yawney in the form he was – playing his first match since round two – and some of their other big names in Brendan Hermann and Matt Homfray firing, to come away with a loss would be disappointing.
The Goon looked the better team for solid periods of the game, particularly in the middle two quarters where some inaccuracy prevented them from taking an even bigger lead into the last.
They left the door ajar, and against a team of Cora Lynn's calibre that's always going to leave you vulnerable.
They'll have a chance to right some wrongs next week in another match with serious implications on the top six when they face off with Warragul Industrials.
Kilcunda Bass vs Garfield
Garfield's hunt for a second win in a row ended in disappointment when they fell to Kilcunda Bass.
The Stars had no answer for Panther Taylor Gibson, whose seven-goal heroics proved to be their downfall as they lost 7.6 (48) to 11.9 (75).
They started brightly, banging on 3.4 to 1.0 in the first term to take an early lead in the match.
But that's when the Panthers clicked into gear, kicking 5.1 to 0.1 in the second to turn the game on its head.
Gibson helped lead the Kilcunda Bass charge, looking dangerous every time he went near the football.
The battle around the contest also took a sharp turn in favour of the home team. Nathan Foote was electric, ably supported by Ben Eddy and Dean McRae.
For the Stars, Nicholas Lang did his very best to match Gibson's threatening presence for his side as he kicked four, while the Pickerings – Will and Jett – worked tirelessly.
But after the second quarter barrage Garfield were unable to work their way back on the scoreboard. They threatened at times, but whenever they asked the question the Panthers had the answer.
By the time they final quarter came around the Stars had a 23-point deficit to overcome, and though not for a lack of trying, it was a hurdle they just couldn't overcome.
The Stars will now have to gear up for a challenging game next week against Dalyston.
The Magpies were the one side Garfield defeated last year, but the Magpies are a very different prospect this year.
Korumburra Bena vs Tooradin-Dalmore
A clinical Tooradin-Dalmore got the job done exactly as expected in a big win over Korumburra Bena. The reigning premiers rarely looked troubled by the 11th-placed Giants, eventually winning 14.19 (107) to 3.7 (25).
Six goals to Julian Suarez was a highlight for the Seagulls, as were the performances from Brad Butler, Brad Lenders and ruckman Piva Wright.
Despite some poor goalkicking from the visitors, by half time they had established a dominance at the clearances, giving them ascendancy around the ground and a 27-point lead.
It only grew from there, despite some resistance from Giants Paul Fermanis (three goals), Jay Walker and Blake Webb.
The final quarter especially saw the Seagulls putting on some percentage, booting seven goals to blow the margin out.
Korumburra Bena will have to pick themselves up quickly, given the undefeated Inverloch-Kongwak await them next week.
Dalyston vs Inverloch-Kongwak
Inverloch-Kongwak have put the brakes on Dalyston's four-game winning streak as they stormed to a thumping win.
It was a defensive masterclass from the Sea Eagles, who blunted the freewheeling Dalyston forward line and managed to keep them to just five goals in the 15.13 (103) to 5.5 (35) victory.
Tom and Will Hams formed a lethal combo for the visitors, the former kicking three goals, as Nicholas Baltas provided plenty of spark with four goals of his own.
Some early inaccuracy kept the Magpies believing they could mount a challenge, but a six-goal-to-none final term ensured any spark they had was quickly snuffed out.
The Magpies struggled to find a consistent avenue to goal, thanks mostly to the Sea Eagles' hardness around the contest and in defence.
Brad Monson and Michael Harris wore their hearts on their sleeves for the home side on a tough day.
Given the status of their opponents and the improvement they've already shown this year Dalyston shouldn't be too disappointed, but will no doubt be keen to make a better impression the next time they play against a contender.