Dusties downed again
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Warragul Industrials' tough start to the season continued over the weekend after they were thoroughly beaten by reigning premiers Inverloch-Kongwak.
As they were two weeks ago against Phillip Island the Dusties were competitive early but fell away late as they went down 9.2 (56) to 19.12 (126).
It's been a noticeably different Dusties team taking the field – with plenty of senior regulars missing the club has had to tap into their talented pool of young players for the time being.
And while they've shown plenty – debutants Regan Awty and Mulual Aleer both made good accounts for themselves on Saturday – against the reigning premiers things were always going to be tough.
Veteran Nic Visser provided some spark for his team, kicking four goals while the returning Matthew Herbert and recruit Lachlan Bambridge were solid.
Spectators at Western Park looked to be in for a solid game in the first term on as the home side were able to match the Sea Eagles, largely through controlling the ball.
The Dusties racked up uncontested marks as they moved forward, kicking the first goal of the contest.
And while they were down by a goal at the quarter time break early signs were good.
From there it fell apart however, the experience of the Sea Eagles winning out.
The visitors closed the space, and without that ease of control Warragul Industrials struggled to find other avenues through the field.
Nicholas Baltas was at his punishing best for the Sea Eagles in a seven-goal virtuoso performance, while usual suspects Will Hams and Ethan Park played their parts in putting the Dusties to the sword.
The Sea Eagles nailed the first major of the second term before Ben Nichol responded for the Dusties. From there the visitors took control, putting through the final three goals of the term to go into the sheds 28 points up.
That lead was mostly maintained through the third, though the home side found some joy through Aleer's first senior goal, though in the final term with the game lost Warragul Industrials benched a few of their older names to give their kids a proper run.
The Sea Eagles pounced, piling on eight goals in the back end of the match to turn the final score into a drubbing.
Warragul Industrials senior coach Michael Duncan said postgame that there were a few more positives than their first match but it was still a tough pill to swallow.
"The first quarter we played the way we've been working on during the off-season," he said.
"When we controlled the footy things went our way but they're a very good side, after we lost our way a bit they got right on top."
The club is hoping to welcome back a host of names in the weeks to come, including Mason McGarrity, Ben Northover, Brayden Fowler, Todd Beck, Will Gibson, Anthony Munkara and Corie Intveen.
It's been a trial by fire for Duncan, who has opened his time with the Dusties with back-to-back games against last year's grand finalists.
Despite the difficult introduction, he said he's up for the fight.
"I can't blame the draw, we just have to tough it out. We'll keep learning from it. It's a long way to go."