Spirited Gulls fall short
Warragul have continued to show they won't be a pushover in season 2024 in a spirited away loss to Sale on Saturday.
The Gulls, who defeated last year's runners-up Wonthaggi in round one, gave the Magpies a big scare before falling away late to lose 12.10 (82) to 16.13 (109).
Before the final term, however, it was anyone's guess who was going to come out on top as momentum changed hands multiple times.
Seven points was all that separated the sides heading into the fourth as the Magpies held onto a slender lead - one they would extend with five goals to two in the fourth term to run away with the game.
While the visitors would have been disappointed not be leaving Sale oval with the four points, there were plenty of positives to take away from the contest.
The Gulls' youth - who received a bit of a trial by fire last year thanks to the club's injury crisis - has stood up in their first two games.
Riley Senini, Luke Garner (three goals) and Lucas Carter, all of whom were playing in the club's under 18s team last year, were outstanding, putting their bodies on the line against a team boasting a wealth of experience.
Inside bull Isaac Wallace continued from where he left off last year as defensive pillars Patrick Carpenter and Sean Masterson also put in a strong body of work. The club's newfound resilience also was on display for large parts of the contest. At various times the Magpies looked primed to break Warragul's spirits with repeated inside 50s and scoring chances.
It would have been easy to see the Warragul of past seasons falling away under the pressure, losing by 10 goals or more as they so often have in recent years.
The Warragul of 2024 seems to be a bit of a different beast, however.
Whenever Sale asked the question, Warragul found the answer, managing to stick around with a goal against the momentum to keep Sale within arm's reach.
In the third term they even threatened to wretch momentum away for themselves, taking the lead late in the quarter before the Magpies kicked a late major to take it back.
Ultimately though there's a reason why Sale are a perennial finals team.
They have the tools to challenge anyone, and although they maybe haven't looked quite like the best version of themselves, they know how to win.
It was the usual suspect running riot too as superstar Shannen Lange ran riot through the middle.
Hudson Holmes provided plenty of class and has been a solid acquisition since crossing from Maffra before last season and Jack Leslie's performance showed why he remains one of the premier big men in the competition.
Against players of that quality you can't afford to make too many mistakes, and unfortunately for Warragul as the game went on and their younger players tired errors crept in and the home side capitalised.
Early, however, it was evident the Gulls were switched on.
Midfield maestro Tom Hobbs set the tone for the Gulls early with the first goal of the game, a long range set shot from the top of the 50 metre arc.
But just as quickly as he did, Sale key forward Brad Dessent marked and goaled from close range to show everyone that this was going to be a fight.
With the lead changing hands multiple times a Gulls upset was always on the cards, though in the end it proved to be a bridge too far.
Warragul assistant coach Sean Masterson said although it was a good showing at a ground the club had struggled at in recent times, the players were still hungry for wins.
"There were positive signs but I think we're trying to move past these kinds of honourable losses," he said.
Warragul look a vastly improved side in 2024 off the back of some shrewd recruiting and the return of some injured stars.
Next week's Western Derby against Drouin is going to provide plenty on and off the field.
Both sides will fancy themselves and regardless of the outcome we're going to learn plenty about who's improved more.